Posted by Billy Davis
The weather is colder, the days are shorter and many struggle to maintain a happy, healthy mindset. This time of year, during the cold, dank, dreary months of winter, seasonal affective disorder, SAD, sets in for many people, and according to Psychology Today they often suffer symptoms like extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, low motivation and weight gain.
With SAD, the lack of sunlight causes the brain to work overtime producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates your body clock and sleep patterns and a hormone that has been linked to depression. That’s why all things considered, the farther north from the equator you live, the greater the risk you’ll have some degree of winter depression.
Here are 8 ideas to get past the winter blues:
- Exercise – Bundle up for a walk, swim indoors, or head to the gym. Exercise can work as well as antidepressants (drugs to control a person’s mood) in fighting mild-to-moderate depression.
- Check your vitamin D levels – Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, a nutrient linked to sharper thinking and better emotional health. Check with your doctor about whether a vitamin D supplement is right for you.
- Get some light therapy – Give yourself every opportunity for daylight, such as placing exercise equipment or your work area near a window. Lamps that simulate natural light can also help.
- Eat a healthy diet – Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains can boost your energy and are vital year round. Fruits and veggies of deep green or orange, like broccoli, kale, and carrots, have nutrients that promote better mood and total health.
- Stimulate your senses – Some people find that painting their walls a bright color — or even their nails — can improve their outlook. Scents can add to your feeling of well-being; try peppermint essential oil or some other energizing scent.
- Nurture your spirit – Slow down and curl up in a cozy chair with a good book or write in your journal.
- Head to a sunnier climate – If time and budget allow, plan a midwinter visit to a warmer, sunnier climate.
- See a therapist – A therapist can help you train your brain to think more positively, which can also make you feel better physically.
The winter blues can take a toll on your physical and mental health. And while you can’t change the season, you can make choices and new goals to help minimize the effects of feeling down.
New Year New Goals.
With the new year knocking on our doors, many of us are setting new goals for the 2022 year. Make sure to have one of these goals include having your current insurance policies reviewed. Many things may have changed for you in 2021. New home addition or improvement? New or used car? Maybe you picked up a fun motorized toy or property to rent? Or even a new family member?
Whatever it maybe, you want to make sure your insurance coverage reflects your 2022 living. Contact the Billy Davis Insurance Group in your Merrillville and the greater Chicago land area to schedule a review. It will be one goal you’ll be able to cross off your list early!
The winter blues can take a toll on your physical and mental health. And while you can’t change the season, you can make choices to help minimize the effects of feeling down.
New Year New Goals.
With the new year knocking on our doors, many of us are setting new goals for the 2022 year. Make sure to have one of these goals include having your current insurance policies reviewed. Many things may have changed for you in 2021. New home addition or improvement? New or used car? Maybe you picked up a fun motorized toy or property to rent? Or even a new family member?
Whatever it maybe, you want to make sure your insurance coverage reflects your 2022 living. Contact the Billy Davis Insurance Group in your Merrillville and the greater Chicago land area to schedule a review. It will be one goal you’ll be able to cross off your list early!
