There's no trace of summer - here's what you can do to combat the "rain blues"

The reason for the persistent rain is easily explained: A low-pressure system is located over Germany, sandwiched between two high-pressure systems. Because these aren't moving, the low-pressure system above us can't move on either – and the rain remains. The countries in southeastern Europe, where heat and even forest fires are rampant, should be happy about the rain – and we should be happy about the sunshine.

Another reason for this is that climate change is endangering air currents like the jet stream. These circulate our planet and are actually responsible for the exchange of air masses in the atmosphere and the movement of weather patterns. If this doesn't happen, the weather patterns will last longer than usual – just as we are currently experiencing. This also applies to other extreme weather conditions, such as droughts .

As if these prospects weren't depressing enough, the persistent rain also has a depressing effect on our moods: After all, it limits our leisure activities, it's colder, and generally more unpleasant. So, what impact does the bad weather have on our psyche?

One important factor: anticipation, specifically of a beautiful summer. If that's spoiled, it's no wonder you're in a bad mood. But there are also very clear physiological factors:

• Serotonin: Studies have shown that sunlight promotes the production of serotonin in the body. If the body doesn't produce this mood-enhancing neurotransmitter, mood automatically drops. This is also one of the main factors in the so-called "winter depression," since sunlight is significantly lower in winter.
• Depressive predisposition: Sounds obvious, but should be emphasized here - those who already suffer from a depressive mood or depression may notice significantly more depressive symptoms due to the bad weather.
• Summer depression : The little sister of winter depression, a phenomenon that is perceived more frequently, may be related to the altered melanin production in summer, which then causes depressive moods.

But the truth is probably that the constant rain is spoiling our leisure activities - and that's why we're in a bad mood.

So if persistent rain is forecast for several days or weeks, don't bury your head in the sand. Instead, there are some measures you can take:

• To compensate for the lack of sunlight, you can buy a lamp that mimics daylight. This will trick your body into stimulating serotonin production to brighten your mood.
• Exercise helps and lifts your mood—even when it's raining. For this reason, exercise therapy is also an important component in the treatment of mental illnesses. So, you can do yourself a favor by grabbing an umbrella and going for a walk despite the rain. If you really don't want to get out in the rain, you can also go to the gym.
• Even if meetups in the park, group hikes, or barbecues are canceled, continue to socialize. Use the opportunity to pursue activities you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do—like a game night or a museum visit.
• Try your hand at creativity – rainy days are the perfect opportunity to paint with your children, do crafts, or try out a new creative project for yourself.

After all, two studies have suggested that employees are more productive in bad weather - so if you can motivate yourself, you should use the rainy periods to get as much work done as possible.