The cold and stormy weather, the cabin fever and the early darkness make winter a miserable time for many people. The winter blues are known to affect many people, and if you don’t know how to overcome them, it could cause you to suffer from severe depression.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways that you can fight the winter blues. If you are known to become moody and miserable during the winter, use the following three tips to help you combat the winter blues and get back to your normal happy self.
1. Watch what you eat.
During the holidays, you’re surrounded by parties that contain unhealthy foods and drinks. If you’re not careful, you could end up overeating. Fatty foods make you feel sluggish and gross, and this could be putting you in a bad mood. Plus, if you eat too much to the point where you gain some weight, it could put you in an even bigger depression. By watching what you eat, you will be able to make healthier choices and choose foods that will boost your metabolism and give you energy. And if you don’t gain any extra holiday weight, you’ll feel great about yourself, putting you in a better mood.
2. Get out of the house.
The harsh winter weather can make it difficult for you to get out of the house, but if you ever have a window to do so, be sure to get out. Getting outside during the day when the sun is shining can help with seasonal affective disorder by raising your endorphins. Try to take a walk or even play outside with the kids to help put you in a better mood. If you work full time and it’s dark when you arrive at work and when you leave, try to run some errands during your lunch break to get outside and take in the sunlight.
If you have trouble getting out in the sunlight during the day, you may want to invest in a seasonal affective disorder light, which produces light similar to the sun’s rays to help you boost your endorphins and raise your mood.
You also need to find activities that can get you out of the house. Plan to go out to lunch with friends or have a play date for your kids. The more you can physically get yourself out of the house, the less you’ll experience cabin fever.
3. Get plenty of exercise.
You may not be in the mood to exercise, but exercising can certainly help combat the winter blues. Exercise has been known to increase your energy levels, which is important during this time of year. Plus, getting a good workout will help you feel good about your body and eliminate the possibility of packing on some holiday weight, which can also help you to combat the holiday blues.
When creating a workout, you can opt to join a gym or fitness program, or you can find a workout program you can do from home. There are plenty of fitness routines you can do at home that don’t require any machines, so find the one that’s best for you and stick with it. If you think you’ll have trouble getting motivated to workout, try to get your friends or family members to join the workouts with you. This way, you’ll be more motivated to actually workout, and you’ll enjoy the company too.
