We’ve all heard the terms to describe the overwhelming feeling to become boo’d up when the sun hits. You might call it spring fever or say you’re in the mood for a spring fling, but remember the cuffing season known as winter that just passed?

Truth be told, we’re actually all pretty much in the mood for romance no matter the time of year, but the type of loving we’re looking for is totally affected by the seasons. According to Dr. John Sharp, a leading Harvard psychiatrist and the author of The Emotional Calendar: Understanding Seasonal Influences and Milestones to Become Happier, More Fulfilled, and in Control of Your Life, the sooner we realize what each season has to offer, the better off we’ll be in love.

“When one has ‘seasonal awareness,’ he or she can gravitate to the emotional center of a given season and embrace what it offers,” he said speaking on our “emotional calendars”. “What does this mean? Strive, for example, to be empowered by the feeling of ‘spring fever’ in spring, or that feeling of freedom in summer. Even winter offers wonderful possibilities for romance, a time for getting close and warm. Summer’s coming around the corner, and that’s a great season for love — especially if you are feeling positively about yourself. Do a little something to be healthier right now. Feel better about yourself and you’ll get in the mood for love.”

Here’s the breakdown of what’s going on. Dr. Sharp says spring fever is absolutely real because like animals who have been in hibernation all winter, humans have built up cellular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine-based  energy that we’re ready to release after the winter months. If you’re already with someone, it doesn’t mean you need to find someone new, you just want to harness what you have and make sure what you’ve got is what you really want. For single people, it’s time to figure out what you want and get in the game and go after it.

Once you get your spring fling on for a bit, by late spring and summer, you’re probably ready to lock something down—at least for the season. That’s because there’s still a lot of that restive energy around, plus the sun puts us in a good mood, people are out and about (most times in less clothes), and passions are enabled. Dr. Sharp says it’s totally normal to want to have a carefree summer romance, in fact you should embrace it. Safely, I’d like to add.

By the time winter comes around,  lot of people tend to keep that spring or summer thing around just so that they don’t have to spend the holidays alone but Dr. Sharp says that’s a mistake.

“The unhealthy thing would be to take refuge in the context of a relationship in an attempt to avoid the pain of the season. Yet, this is actually a most natural temptation…avoidance, distraction, and intoxication with a dramatic love affair trades one set of problems for another. You’d better make sure you understand what your motivations are and be wise to the fact that healthy relationships almost always come from a feeling of personal strength and positivity, not neediness and vulnerability.”

So what should you do?

“Problem-solve in advance for hotspots on your emotional calendar that have proved difficult in the past. A holiday season, negative environment, or specific trigger in the past is likely to prove to be difficult again unless you approach it differently.”

However the different seasons set you off, Dr. Sharp says the important thing is to recognize it and approach love and your life as a whole accordingly.

“Some people never take a moment to really realize it, but weather affects how we experience our own selves and how we feel in our relationships with others. It doesn’t have to be fairytale beautiful outside to enjoy yourself and relate well to others. Bad weather, for example, can have a terrific bonding effect, making you want to help a neighbor or cozy up at home. Or maybe a weather-inspired adventure injects some unexpected delight into your everyday picture…. just don’t try to pretend that weather isn’t a big factor in your life.

“The key is to recognize how you are being affected. Whether you then decide to try and balance out the effect or go with it, smooth it over as best you are able or accentuate it, it’s all up to you.”

Sounds like a plan. How does the weather put you in the mood (or not) for love?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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