Do you feel depressed during the bleak winter months? Do you dread the shorter days that follow the end of daylight saving?
Well, you’re not alone. It is believed 5% of the US population suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and up to 20% experience milder forms of SAD in winter.
Continue reading to learn some key tips and strategies to beat the winter blues.
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that commonly occurs between the months of October and April. The ‘winter blues’ typically refers to a milder version of SAD.
It usually ends in the spring, when there is more daylight and less time spent inside. However, some people may suffer from SAD in the summer and feel better in the winter.
SAD symptoms range from a persistent low mood, irritability, sleepiness, feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness, and low energy.
Five Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
As many of us can testify, keeping up spirits can be a challenging task when experiencing a major reduction in sunlight. For that reason, we’ve compiled our five best seasonal depression tips to help you.
Feel the Sun on Your Skin
The power of vitamin D should not be underestimated. In biting cold weather, It can be tempting to stay inside every day. However, exposure to sunshine can increase your serotonin levels and boost your mood.
If there’s little sunshine where you live, consider taking vitamin D supplements.
Meet With Friends and Family
It really is the simple things in life that can help stave off the winter blues. Make the effort to socialize with friends or family, and you won’t regret it. Socializing is understood to be very important for our mental health.
So consider asking a friend if they would like to go for a walk or meet for dinner. They may be struggling too and will likely appreciate being contacted.
Move That Body
Exercise is a wonderful way to boost your mood, although it can be a little trickier in winter. You may want to sign up at your local gym or take advantage of YouTube and work out at home.
Exercise can be as simple as taking that long walk with a friend. Taking care of your body is indirectly taking care of your mental health.
Have Fun in the Kitchen
Staying healthy is important, and eating is too! It’s the perfect time of year to prepare your favorite soup. It’s warming, comforting, and usually nutritious too.
Check out https://wholisticmatters.com/ to learn about the best nutrition practices for improving your health.
Practice Mindfulness Techniques
This can be anything from doing yoga poses with mindful breathing to taking out the time for yourself to do a guided meditation.
There is an infinite amount of free videos and apps to guide you through a range of excellent, as well as hugely beneficial, mindfulness practices.
This Too Shall Pass
Winter can be a difficult time of year for many. We strongly encourage you to apply these simple tips to boost your mood and beat the winter blues.
Sometimes you don’t want to do anything, and that’s OK too. Just remember that this too shall pass.
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