How to Fight the Winter Blues

Now that the holidays are over, the Christmas lights and tree are back in the attic and the cheery holiday music is put on pause, it turns into the season to be melancholy.

The days are shorter, the weather is colder and the winter blues are setting in. You’re feeling more tired and may be anxious or moody. The gloom caused by Mother Nature each winter can affect the body’s biological clock, governing brain wave activity and hormone production. Chances are you’ve woken up on a gray, wintry day and hoped work would miraculously be canceled.
We’ve come up with a few ways to boost your mood and motivation even on the darkest winter days. Here’s to summer days and sunlight.

Go outside within two hours of waking up. Even if it’s chilly, soaking in the natural daylight will help calm the blahs you’re feeling.

Invest in a light box. Light therapy is reported to work in most cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Doctors recommend sitting near the light box for 30 minutes each morning.

Take vitamin D supplements. Despite not being able to soak up vitamin D in the sun during the winter, supplements have been known to produce improvements in measures of mood.

Stay social. While it’s tempting to hibernate and avoid leaving your house in the winter since it gets dark at 4 p.m., force yourself to maintain your favorite social activities. Sure binge watching Friends on Netflix is fun in the moment, but being around your friends will brighten your mood even more.

Make your bed every day. Despite this minute task, it’s a simple way to feel accomplished and it will keep you from getting back into it.

Splurge on a winter vacation. Save up your frequent-flyer miles for the winter months. Take a trip to Florida or a Caribbean island if you can’t stand the cold. If snow suits your fancy, plan a cabin escape. A change of scenery will help you more than you think.