7 Healthy Ways to Fight Off the Winter Blues
LIVE WELL
7 Healthy Ways to Fight Off the Winter Blues
BY: Yuki Klotz-Burwell
By the time late February or early March rolls around, most are done with winter. However, in many parts of the country, the cold still permeates our bones while we wish for warmer days and the promised spring. This time of year can be tough, but there are ways to lighten the mood rather than brace yourself and merely endure. Whether you’re dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or just the occasional case of winter blues, here are seven ways to combat feelings of melancholy during the coldest season.
1. Start your morning off with natural light
One of the best activities you can do for your body is exposing it to sunlight soon after you wake up. By getting outside for even five minutes, the sun lets your body know that you’re awake and calibrates your biological clock. This little trick won’t guarantee you’ll have a great day, but it’s a solid start to helping things go right. Bundle up and get out there!
2. Dive into a sunny book
Who says beach reads have to actually be read on the beach? Books really do have the ability to transport you to another world—or in this case, another season. With entertaining plots and bright, colorful covers, a summery book might be what you need to combat the winter blues. If you’re looking for a fast-paced romance, we recommend The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, or if you’re craving a dramatic yet indulgent thriller, check out The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John.
3. Cook up a comfort dish
Food nourishes your mind as much as it does your body, and wam, comforting dishes are the ideal winter menu item to replenish your wellness and mindset. Our plant-based shepherd’s pie recipe is hearty, healthy, and an instant mood booster. It’s packed with colorful veggies and our savory Abbot’s Butcher Ground “Beef.” This dish also freezes beautifully. Whip this up when you feel inspired to cook and freeze the leftovers for when you’re feeling down and need some comfort but lack the energy to do more than reheat something.
4. Pick up a passion project
Sometimes the best way to avoid cabin fever is to focus your energy on something else. Finding a passion project or a side hobby is a great way to exercise your mind and keep you busy, and you can choose something that’s only for you—it doesn’t have to be fully finalized or perfected. If you’re artistically inclined, try venturing into knitting, origami, or ceramic-making. If art isn’t for you, consider hobbies like indoor gardening or jigsaw puzzles.
5. Get help from a mood light
Light therapy is a legitimate practice that’s used to treat SAD. With light therapy, light boxes simulate natural light at a level higher than light from a traditional lamp or bulb. You can carve out 20-30 minute sessions in your day to sit next to the light box, or turn it on right when you wake up in the morning. Others have found that a nighttime light session helps boost their mood and sometimes improves their sleep quality! You can also leave light boxes like this one next to you when working on a hobby or reading.
6. Exercise
When you’re deep in a wintery slump, exercise might be the furthest thing from your mind. But even light to moderate exercise has been shown to treat depression. Yoga and walking are great for blood flow and for your brain by produce mood-boosting endorphins. To power up your workout, optimize your food to prepare yourself with the right amount of energy for exercising.
7. Lean on your loved ones
Winter doesn’t have to be a lonely season. Schedule time to see your friends and family, and make plans especially after sundown. The limited daylight might make the day seem shorter, but there are still the same amount of hours to connect with others. Invite your friends over for dinner or pick up the phone and call an out-of-town friend to make each day a bit more sociable.
For more health and wellness tips, check out the other posts in Our Journal.