Winter blues got you down?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression is related to changes in the seasons and is most prominent during the fall and winter months when days are shorter and the weather is colder.
Whether you suffer from SAD or just feeling the winter blues, here are a few things you can do to alleviate the symptoms.
Get Outside
Being outside, especially in nature, is a great way to elevate your mood, reduce stress and shake off the winter blues.
It is important to make a concerted effort to spend time outside, especially during the winter months. Exposure to natural light helps our bodies produce Vitamin D (during the summer months), improves our circadian rhythms, helps us to focus, and reduces depression.
Also, spending time outside in nature has a positive impact on your mental health. Not only does it significantly reduce stress and anxiety, but people who spend more time in natural spaces are overall happier and experience less symptoms of depression.
Take Vitamin D
During the summer months, our bodies are able to produce their own vitamin D from exposure to the sun. However, over the winter months, especially in more northern countries,not only is our exposure to the sun limited, but when we do, its strength is too weak for us to get any real benefit.
Vitamin D helps to build strong bones, helps to reduce the risk of some diseases, as well as improving your mood and reducing depression. That’s why this supplement is very helpful for beating the winter blues when you can’t get access to the real deal.
Socialize
Not enough can be said about the mental health benefits of going out and relaxing or having fun with friends. This is especially true when the dark cold days of winter have got you down.
Exercise can also be a great avenue for socializing. Whether you are on a team or have a regular exercise buddy, these social activities create meaningful personal connections, which is very important for our mental wellbeing.
Move Your Body
As we know, regular exercise is important for building a strong body, maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing diseases, but it also offers a host of other benefits. Regular physical activity makes us feel good, because exercise releases euphoric hormones, while also suppressing stress-inducing hormones. This can help reduce anxiety and depression.