These are three things I do every winter to keep the Winter Blues at bay.
Winter can be tough. Especially February. It’s cold. It’s dark. There are no holidays to look forward to. You are tired of it all! This past year I made some key discoveries that have made winter more managable in the Pacific Northwest where I live.
1. Excercise, Excercise, Excercise
I cannot stress enough how much exercise helps with the overall outlook on life. It reduces stress, increases endorphins, and gets your body moving. In fact, a meta-analysis of 218 studies examinted the effectiveness of exercise to treat depression and found that it works better than a pharmaceutical antidepressant. If you can find some friends to exercise with as well it can help fight off some loneliness. So keep moving, it will only help!
2. Get a lightbox:
For years I said I needed to try one of these, but for one reason or another would put it off. Last year, I bought one in the middle of January and could not believe the difference. A light box (or SAD lamp) is a full spectrum light that you set up next to you for 30-60 minutes a day in the morning when you are just getting going. I felt better nearly instantly. My face even felt “flush” like I had sat in the sun for a bit. It is now part of my morning routine.
The uplift seemed to carry on throughout the day (some days, I would even put it on around lunch time as my previous office had no windows). Now, I use the lightbox just as the days are getting longer in the fall and am planning on carrying it on through spring.
3. Take Vitamin D:
Vitamin D supplements (2,000 IU/day) have also been quite helpful. It is good for your bones, muscles, and immune system and also good for your mood. You feel better, more alert, and a bit stronger overall. I start this in the fall as well and carry it on through to the spring as well.
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