As the nights get longer, the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we all have experienced a bout or two of depression. The “winter blues” are identified by experiencing light depression, no motivation and low energy, which seems to get worse as the winter goes on.
There are things you can do to prevent the blues from coming on, or even ways to fight them off if they have already hit you.
One of the best things you can do is exercise. (I know what you’re thinking, “As if we need another reason to get in better shape”. Am I right?) Well, sorry to tell you, but exercise is the best way to lift your spirits in any kind of weather. Get outside and let the cool, crisp air re-energize you. Breathe in the cold, fresh air. It will revitalize your senses and bring a burst of energy. You will immediately feel better. Even if a slow walk is the best you can do, it’s better than sitting on the sofa eating cheese puffs and watching the soaps. I, myself, hate exercise. But I do enjoy the fresh air and I can tolerate (sometimes with a smile, even) a brisk walk every day.
Also, eating a healthy diet helps to improve your mood. (I know, I know… you can stop rolling your eyes, now) We hear it all the time, but it is actually true. Starchy and sweet foods actually zap your body of energy, which gives your bad mood a serious increase in momentum. Avoiding those particular mood zappers will help your body recover from the blues.
The sun. Yes, you will see it again. It does actually come out to greet us in the winter, too. Problem is, we’re too busy with those cheese puffs to notice it. A few minutes in the sun can do wonders to lift your mood. There have actually been experiments where people were kept away from sunlight and they found that they all became depressed! With that in mind, a few minutes a day in the sunshine isn’t really too hard to do. (You can sneak in a little exercise at the same time, maybe you won’t even notice you’re exercising.)
So, there you have it, some easy ways to beat the winter blues. Exercise, eat right and enjoy a little sunshine.