5 Steps to Fighting Seasonal Depression
Winter is here. It’s cold, snowy, and gloomy. The holidays are over, and the Christmas cheer that kept the winter blues away is long gone. The twinkling lights have died out, and you can’t help but notice that the sky is the same color as the ground — a dull, lifeless white mixed with a little gray. If the winter blues start to set in, try these simple things to help boost your mood.
- Drink water! You either love drinking water, or you hate drinking water, but either way, it’s important that we drink a decent amount every day. Water stimulates the flow of the hormones and nutrients you need to release feel-good endorphins. It will also help with your overall health by clearing up your skin and curbing your appetite, so you aren’t eating as much junk food. You don’t have to go crazy and start drinking 8 glasses of water a day if you are one of those people who hate water. Start with one or two glasses and work your way up. Even one or two glasses is better than not drinking any.
2. Go outside. I know it’s cold, and there is probably snow on the ground, but I implore you to go outside and get some fresh air. If it’s not too cold, go for a walk around the block. Find a ray of sunlight and let it shine on your face for a few minutes. Sitting in the sun for as little as ten minutes helps boost your mood. Listen to the birds, breathe in the crisp air, or even indulge your inner child and make a snowball. Set aside a few minutes every day and soak up the outdoors. It may not be fun at first, but the more you do it, the easier it will get, and it will help your overall mood.
3. Find a creative/physical outlet. It’s mentally draining to be locked up inside for months. The build-up of excess energy is toxic to your mood, and playing on your phone or binge-watching Netflix and Hulu do not do you any favors. You can try several things during the winter months that you may not have the time or interest in during the summer months. You could paint, write, learn to sew or crochet, learn new recipes, learn a new language, take up yoga or look up dance lessons on Youtube. Don’t sit on the couch waiting for spring to come; use this time to exercise your body and mind.
4. Eat some vitamin D. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because your body can make it by absorbing sunlight. Your mood and health can improve by ingesting vitamin D. There are several foods that contain vitamin D, including milk, egg yolks, salmon, cheese, pineapples, and mushrooms. You can even take vitamin D supplements if none of those foods sound appealing to you.
5. Rearrange your furniture. This one may seem strange, but changing up your furniture is exciting and rejuvenating. Your environment plays a massive role in your overall mood. A little change is a great way to boost your mood as it gets you out of a routine. After switching up the furniture, the sense of accomplishment is sometimes all you need to help you out of the winter blues!
