The Best City To Live In If You Have Seasonal Depression
As the sun begins to set earlier and the weather cools down, you may start to feel downcast, more tired, and less motivated. Sound familiar? If so, you may experience something called seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, which typically starts in the fall and ends when the weather warms up in the spring. Other symptoms include a lack of interest in regular activities, weight gain, and anxiety. While 10% to 20% of the U.S. population experiences a mild case of winter blues, 5% has actually been diagnosed with SAD, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to treat this disorder. If you've been diagnosed, your doctor may recommend therapy, antidepressants, or vitamin D supplements. However, regardless of the severity of your symptoms, there are some other ways to combat seasonal depression, which include spending more time outside and living in an area that has more warm weather and fewer cloudy days.
To that end, those that experience symptoms of SAD may consider moving to a sunnier city. If so, you'll find a place that should be at the top of your list. In fact, it's even earned the nickname The Sun City, per Visit The USA.
Escape to The Sun City
If the nickname of El Paso, Texas, isn't enough to convince you that it's sunny, take a look at the following statistics. According to SmartAsset, the sixth-largest city in Texas experiences sunshine 80% of the time during winter, which means more than three-fourths of its cooler days have clear skies. Further, according to Weather Spark, the average high temperature during the winter is 66 degrees and 89 in the summer.
Additionally, though El Paso's winters are cool, they only last for a short time, from November to February, and the temperature very rarely drops below 34 degrees. Low Budget Movers adds that, while the rest of the U.S. typically experiences 39 inches of annual rainfall, El Paso only receives 10 inches on average. The same goes for snow: While the national average is 26 inches per year, it typically only gets 7 inches. Thus, even when the weather is a bit chilly, residents are still able to spend time outside without worrying about precipitation.
Other benefits of living in El Paso
While the sunny weather is a major benefit, there are many other considerable advantages of moving to El Paso. For instance, if you like to spend time outdoors, you won't be disappointed by the surrounding terrain. According to Visit The USA, El Paso is located at the base of the Franklin Mountains and is just a short drive away from both the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.
Additionally, the city is quite diverse, as it's influenced by Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Western cultures. In fact, Low Budget Movers says that almost 70% of the population speaks Spanish. Those who love attending events will be ecstatic to learn that it's bustling with activities. As such, you could attend the Hueco Rock Rodeo competition in February, the Viva! El Paso in June, and the Plaza Classic Film Festival in July.
Another huge benefit is the low cost of living. El Paso's cost of housing, utilities, and healthcare is lower than the national average (31%, 10%, and 3% cheaper, respectively), notes RentCafe. The average monthly rent is just under $1,000, while an average home costs just above $260,000. Finally, Low Budget Movers adds that El Paso is extremely safe, offers high-quality education, and has an unemployment rate lower than the national average.