Are the frigid, grey and gloomy days of winter making you feel like staying in bed until the thermometer reads above 65 degrees? I m sure you’re not alone. I, for example, am currently staring out my window at the gray sky and it just makes me feel colder, less energetic. During our dark winters, we get less of the mood-boosting help of sunlight, which
helps to bring on the winter blues. How can you beat the blues when the short, dark days are getting you down?
Kicking the winter blues to the curb
Here are 7 ways to get past the winter blues
1. Exercise
Bundle up for a walk, take a hike, swim indoors, or take a virtual fitness class (Yup, It's a good idea!) or put on some music and dance. Anything to get you moving. Exercise can work just as
well as antidepressants in fighting mild-to-moderate depression. This is amazing news! But it means you have to get off your rump and sweat a little! There are many great options that you can find enjoyable. Of course, www.fitnesswithfriends.net is our first choice not just for you but for your mini me's and older parents too! There are classes for kids, adults and seniors!
2. Make Sure You Have Enough Vitamin D
Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, a nutrient linked to sharper thinking and better emotional health. Check with your doctor about whether a vitamin D supplement is right for you.
3. Get Some Light Therapy
Take every opportunity to see some daylight, such as placing exercise equipment or your work area near a window that get sun. You can also get a lamp that simulate natural light can also help. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that begins in fall or early winter and fades as the weather gets better, may feel depressed, irritable, lethargic, and have trouble waking up in the morning—especially when it’s still dark out. Studies show that a dawn simulator ($50; walgreens.com), a device that makes the lights in your bedroom to get brighter over a period of time, can serve similarly to an antidepressant and make getting your booty out of bed a bit easier.
4. Eat a Healthy Diet
Fitness with Friends speaks a lot about healthy eating. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains can really boost your energy and are imperative to you year round. Fruits and veggies of deep green or orange, like broccoli, kale, and carrots, have nutrients that promote better mood and total health. There are some foods, like chocolate, which can help to enhance your mood and relieve anxiety. Other foods, like candy and carbohydrates can give you temporary feelings of euphoria, but may ultimately raise your feelings of anxiety and depression so try to steer clear of those.
5. Read a Good Book
Slow down.. I know it's hard, and curl up in a cozy chair with a good book or write in your journal. This provides a little "me" time while getting into an adventure or
mystery or express your feelings in your own journal. My daughter just finished the first Harry Potter book- I have started to read and have been taken to another place and I forget all about how cold it is outside!
6. Turn On The Tunes
A 2013 study, showed that listening to cheery and upbeat music significantly improved peoples mood in both the short and long term. Get a spotify or Pandora account and you can pick all the upbeat music you can handle! Even better, set some time to dance to the music with your kids if you have them and watch your mood sore
7. Plan A Vacation
Longing for a pina colada while sitting at the beach? Research shows that simply
planning a vacation can cause a tremendous increase in overall happiness. I know that I get euphoric when booking trips to the Caribbean, Mexico or Tahiti! This pandemic has certainly made traveling a bit more challenging to say the least (if not impossible), but there is no harm to book a trip for future travel that is can be rescheduled if necessary. What would improve your mood even more is if you're able to use some miles that you had laying around!! Easy ways to look for an book travel are Expedia and Travelocity! Please send postcards.
These are just a few ways you can work on improving your mood. It's already mid February and warmer weather is on the horizon but this time of year, especially with all the snow, is the roughest.. Stay positive and you will get through it!