Have you also noticed that it seems like this winter is dragging on and on? Would you like to do something to fight those winter blues, also known as “seasonal affective disorder” ? You’re definitely not alone. As you probably can’t book a flight to some sunny equatorial island anytime soon, you’ll just have to make due with the colder days and extended hours of darkness here. Nonetheless, there are a few things you can do to brighten up your mood.
Try to get enough sleep, because too little sleep makes you feel worse and it also hampers your immune system. To make sure that you’re well rested, try go bed early enough…then you’re sure to be ready to take on tomorrow. Enough sleep is good, but laying around in bed too much can be a bad thing, in fact in some cases too much sleeping can even make you more tired. Maintaining a good balance is the way to go if you want to fight the winter blues.
Around midday the rays of the sun are at their strongest, and that makes it the best time to go out for some fresh air. At the same time, you can load up on vitamin D and increase your motivation for the afternoon. Days are shorter, so it’s important to make use of the daylight hours. Physical activity and sports positively influence your mood – a good reason for adding a good amount of movement to your days, even in the wintertime.
Tea does more than warm you from the inside when you are feeling cold, it can also improve your mood. Beneficial herbs like hops, raspberry leaves and St. John’s wort can lighten up your spirits and improve your mood. In addition, it is also important that you make sure that you are always well hydrated. Here our water challenge can be a big help as staying hydrated with others is a good way to make drinking enough even easier.
Cheerful and warm colors can bolster your mood. You could buy some brightly colored sheets or curtains, or just a colorful pillow. Sometime a dab of paint somewhere is enough to improve your mood. Remember that colors can add to that feeling of anticipation for the springtime – spring is on the way!
Make sure that you take in enough vitamins and minerals! It’s clear that eating badly makes you feel worse in general. During the winter months, it’s an especially good idea to eat more foods rich in vitamin C like tangerines and root vegetables. When you eat right, you are doing something to counter the winter blues…and at the same time you can stay fit and trim throughout the winter.
From time to time enjoy doing something good for yourself, for example a sauna visit. In the wintertime, warming up and relaxing your body at the same time is especially advisable. You can do it once a week or once of month – the main thing is that you detoxify your body regularly. You will certainly feel all the positive effects right away!
This time of year, it can feel pretty ideal to plop down on the sofa by yourself and just do nothing. To improve your wellbeing, spending time with family and good friends is the right way to go. When we’re socially engaged, we both feel better and we become more calm. Take the leap and give someone a call, then make plans and go spend some time with them! You might also find out that you’re not the only one with a case of the winter blues.
Sometime it’s good to do something that you’ve never done before. You could visit that museum that you’ve never been to before. You can check out the public library. What about signing up for a dance class or learning a foreign language? It could even be something as simple as taking a different route to work – sometimes small changes can make big things happen. Doing something new provides you with a distraction from the hours of darkness and cold temperatures…and moreover learning new things can distract you from the winter blues.
What’s been your strategy for fighting the winter blues? Do you have a few good tips for other people who are dealing with the winter blues? Leave a comment, or write to us at hello@goalifyapp.com. We really like reading all the new messages!