Many believe that there is no reason to find yourself down during the winter months, however, there’s sound scientific evidence to support the idea that the seasons can affect our moods. Most scientists believe that the problem is related to the way the body responds to daylight due to shorter daylight hours in the winter. Here are some fun ways to beat the winter blues this year, and take control of your health:
- Give those resolutions another go: Don’t give up on changes you want to make. Review your goals and narrow them down to maybe just 3 of your most important ones and then once you’ve done that create daily mini habits around each goal. For example 10 minutes of daily exercise, reading, journaling, quiet time etc… Women who implement small healthy behaviors each day experienced fewer depressed days than those with less-healthy behaviors
- Get moving: Exercise can change the level of mood regulating chemicals in the brain and boost our feelings of well-being and help us stay positive. Many think that we need to get a half hour or more of exercise to benefit but just taking 5-10 minutes a day to get your heart pumping can make a difference. I’ve found simple ways to get my heart pumping like walking up and down my stairs, pulling up a workout on my phone, or doing some sit ups and jumping jacks first thing in the morning. The important thing is to create a habit of doing some heart pumping activity each day to up your brain’s feel-good chemicals.
- Serve someone: This may not feel natural but when we feel down or unfulfilled this is a call to activate giving. When we get outside of ourselves we boost feelings of well being that give us purpose. So find a friend or neighbor in need. Find opportunities to volunteer.
- Take a vitamin D break: Winter blues have been linked to lack of sunlight. So if you feel low in the winter it is important to expose yourself to sunlight. Get outside as often as you can, especially on bright days. I know that one of my best winters was when I worked as a kindergarten instructor and had to go outside each day for recess. I got a dose of sunlight almost every day and a consistent dose of vitamin D which boosts serotonin levels. It’s always great to get up above the smog line and enjoy some fresh air and time spent in nature. Sitting beside a window where sunlight comes through can also be very helpful. Schedule a vacation somewhere warm and sunny, even just changing your scenery for a weekend can be a great way to get through the tough winter months!
Implement one or all of these ideas and hopefully it will make a difference for you as we make it through the long cold winter into warmer months ahead!
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