You Can Beat the Winter Blues
Winter can be a depressing time of year. The plants are all dead, trees are bare, the wildlife is in hiding and the weather is often terrible. It can be hard to remain happy and cheerful over the winter. The following suggestions can help you stay in a positive frame of mind this winter.
Sticking to an exercise plan over the winter will give you more energy and improve your mood even though it may take a few times before these feelings kick in. Working out is one of the best ways to feel better about yourself. Make sure you don’t overdo it, especially in the winter, because there are more risks associated with strenuous exercise in the winter. Talk to your doctor first about any exercise program you are considering.
Part of your depression during the winter may be from a lack of sunlight. There are very few sunny days in the winter, unfortunately. Sunlight helps your body produce more serotonin and puts you in a better mood.
If there is little or no sun in the winter where you are you can use a high wattage bulb (250 to 300 watts) to fake your body into thinking you are getting some sunlight. Spending as little as 15 or 20 minutes under the light bulb a day will cause a noticeable increase in your mood and outlook. Another way to get your sun in the winter is to go tanning. This will make you look and feel better.
The winter season and the holidays can be a difficult time for people who are far away from their loved ones and have no close friends near them. It can seem like everyone is having a great time with family and friends but you. Also, in the winter you are more likely to be isolated due to the lack of social situations like sporting events or picnics in the winter months.
Don’t just sit around and feel lonely if you don’t have any family near you this winter. Invite your co-workers over for a dinner party, join a group that has similar interests as you or do some volunteer work.
People often gain weight during the winter because of the availability of fattening snacks and sweets and because they are less likely to exercise. Eating too many sweets will cause weight gain and also cause you to feel more depressed. When your body processes the sugars, it first produces a chemical that makes you feel good but then it causes your blood sugar to drop and leaves you tired and sad so you go back and eat some more and do it all over again.
Instead of sweets and fattening foods, try to include a lot of fresh proteins, grains and produce in your diet this winter. You’ll feel full longer and have more energy.
You can improve your mood this winter by just making a few lifestyle changes. If you still don’t feel better, though, go see your doctor to make sure you don’t have a more serious case of depression.
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