Winter is not everyone’s favorite time of year. The days are shorter and darker, the weather is colder and wetter, and for some, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing and a big problem. If your spirits are lower during the winter and you are looking for some ways to make everything feel that little bit better, here are some tips on keeping the winter blues at bay.
Lighten Up
If you can possibly make your environment brighter and lighter, even on the darkest of dark days, you will instantly feel better. Open blinds and curtains as soon as you can to make the most of the sunlight. Cut tree branches back to let more light into your house or office. If possible, choose a seat near to the window so you can get as close to the light as you can for as long as you can. You can even invest in a light box, which is a gadget that brings artificial light into your work or living space; just half an hour a day next to one of these is seen as an effective cure for SAD.
It is even possible to simulate dawn, and make your day seem brighter and longer. This is ideal for those who have trouble waking on dark, grey mornings. A dawn simulator is another device that you can buy and place in your bedroom. It lights up gradually over a set period of time, allowing you to wake naturally feeling completely refreshed.
Warming Drinks
Having a cup of something hot to drink when you’re feeling under the weather can have a hugely positive effect. Why? It’s all down to feelings. Feeling warm makes you look at things in a positive light, even when normally things would be less pleasing. If can also prove effective in an office environment. Having a bean to cup coffee machine in your office, for instance, can brighten up a bad day, and waking up to the smell of brewing coffee can certainly give you a boost in the morning.
Choose Your Food Wisely
Just as some drinks can help at this time of year, some foods can do the same. Chocolate, for example, is proven to enhance your mood, and is a great treat at the end (or middle, or beginning) of a dull wintry day. Although it can be tempting when it’s cold, eating stodgy, heavy foods can actually make you feel worse as your body tries to combat the fats and sugars as well as your feelings of anxiety and depression. Keep things light – a bowl of soup is perfect, and a freshly made panini will work wonders.
Exercise
Exercise is another way to beat the winter blues. Exercising produces serotonin, otherwise known as the happy hormone. Once this is flowing through your body, you’ll feel cheerier about things, and you’ll be more productive. Exercise is also great because we do tend to sit around a lot more during the winter. In the summer, for example, we might do more walking or cycling – in the winter we might opt for the bus or the car. So adding an exercise class (preferably under bright lights) will help enormously.
Plan A Holiday
The mind is an amazing thing, and just thinking about something can change your mood for the better. Planning a holiday somewhere hot, for example, can make you feel happier – you don’t even have to book anything or spend any money; the act of planning is enough.
