If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, achy, or just a little “off” lately, you’re not alone, and it’s not all in your head. It’s actually in the air and in the atmosphere.

Across large parts of the country, people are reporting deep fatigue, sore joints, headaches, and a general lack of energy coinciding with extreme cold and fast-changing weather patterns. While winter always has its challenges, this year’s combination of ultra-cold temperatures and rapid swings in barometric pressure may be having very real effects on our bodies. Many of us are feeling almost flu-ish, even as we hide out indoors.

Here’s what’s going on, and what may help.

What Cold Does to the Body

We know that cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable; it changes how your body functions.

When temperatures drop, blood vessels constrict to preserve core warmth. That can reduce circulation to muscles and joints, which may contribute to stiffness and aches, especially for people with arthritis or prior injuries.

Cold also increases the body’s overall workload. Your metabolism revs up to maintain body temperature, which can leave you feeling more fatigued than usual. Add bulky clothing, less outdoor movement, and disrupted routines, and the energy drain adds up quickly (see Baby, It’s Cold Outside! What You Need to Know to Stay Safe).

Cold, dry air forces the body to use more water to humidify inhaled air, while, paradoxically, you often feel less thirsty, leading to lower fluid intake. The result is increased dehydration, which makes it more difficult to manage the changes in barometric pressure.

The Beastly Barometric Pressure Factor

Barometric pressure, the pressure of the air around us, tends to fluctuate more during stormy, unstable weather systems. Rapid drops in pressure often precede snowstorms or cold fronts, like the ones we are living through this season, and many people report feeling worse during these shifts.

While research is ongoing, one leading theory is that changes in air pressure affect tissues and joints, especially areas already sensitive due to inflammation or injury. As pressure drops, tissues may expand slightly, increasing pressure within joints and triggering pain or discomfort.

Barometric pressure changes have also been linked to headaches and migraines and may contribute to feelings of brain fog and serious lethargy in some people. Combine achy joints with dragging fatigue and you’ve got a strong desire to hibernate and an inability to get much done.

Why This Feels Especially Intense Right Now

What makes this stretch of winter harder than usual is the combination of factors:

• Prolonged extreme cold in many parts of the country
• Rapid weather swings rather than steady winter patterns
• Repeated pressure changes from frequent systems moving through
• Shorter daylight hours that already challenge sleep and mood

Your body is constantly adjusting, and adaptation takes energy.

Note: if you are feeling unusually sad you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, which requires different sorts of adjustments. See It’s Mid-Winter, How SAD Are You?

Is there anything we can do?

We can’t control the weather, but we can support our bodies while they deal with it.

A few practical steps that may help:

• Prioritize sleep, even if that means going to bed earlier than usual
• Stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty during cold or rapidly changing weather
• Keep moving gently: light stretching, walking, or mobility work can help reduce stiffness
• Layer warmth, especially around joints like knees, hips, and hands, even indoors
• Listen to your body, as these may not be the weeks to push personal records

During periods of cold and barometric instability, the body suppresses thirst signals and increases water loss through breathing, sweat evaporation, and something called “cold-induced diuresis.” Even though you may feel less thirsty, dehydration can quietly worsen fatigue and joint pain.

If fatigue is extreme, persistent, or paired with other symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness, it’s important to check in with a medical professional.

The Bottom Line

Feeling worn down right now doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. In many cases, it means your body is responding to a challenging environment.

If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is weather-related, or something else, our Amaze medical team is here to help you sort it out. Sometimes reassurance is enough. Sometimes guidance or treatment is needed. Either way, you don’t have to guess.