KAWARTHA LAKES-Winter is hard for many Canadians. It’s long, dreary, and cold. Some of us may experience the winter blues and some of us may experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. I think we can all agree that winter has a great impact on our moods and therefore, our perception and quality of life during these darker months.
Trying to maintain a positive and upbeat disposition during the long winters has been a personal quest for me for a long time. Here are my 5 non-negotiables that I recommend every single day to battle those winter blues.
1.) Get Outside and Breathe Fresh Air
While it is cold outside, it does not mean you should shut yourself in and wait for spring-though you may want to! A lot of us end up only getting that beautiful fresh air while going out to our cars in the morning for work and back into our cars to go home.
Schedule in one outdoor session per day, even if it’s just a quick 30 minute walk, your body, brain, and immune system will thank you. Indoor air in the winter is very dry and dehydrating and being closed inside also keeps germs closed in. Go out and breathe in that crisp, clean air and you will find yourself becoming more adapted to winter rather than fearing it.
2.) Move Your Body
Daily movement is key for a happy day in any season. I find it’s easier to fit in daily movement in the warmer months when we are out and about and doing things outside, but place that daily movement high on your priority list in the winter months, too!
Movement not only makes us feel like we did something for ourselves and boosts our self esteem, but on a physiological level, it also boosts happy hormones like serotonin and tryptophan.
3.) SAD Lamp
A SAD lamp is a device that mimics the sunlight we get in the summer, but are deficient in in the winter. You can find these devices on amazon or in some health food stores. Basically, you sit with this lamp (mine is no bigger than my phone) for 30 minutes per day and it regulates your circadian rhythms (helping you to sleep better at night), boosts happy hormones, and makes you feel like you just spent some time on the beach.
4.) Remove Stressors
If you have extra stress to deal with, it might seem even more difficult during these darker months.Personal Stress can come from work, family or financials. However, I’m talking about Physiological stress which is how your body responds to certain foods, stimuli, caffeine and alcohol. It’s funny how when we are stressed, we tend to rely on these things more. But if you are feeling sensitive to any of these things, or notice your stress levels creeping up, try removing them for a little while until your start to feel more balanced.
5.) Consume Some Positivity
You are what you consume and that includes your conversations you have with others, and the media you consume. We live in a digital and “social” world where we are consuming images and words at a much faster rate than ever before. This can be either powerful or detrimental.Choose positivity. Choose positive people, positive conversations, positive news, and positive articles.
You’d be surprised how much negative media can really bring down your mood.
I hope these tips are helpful to you during these dark months. Just remember, winter can’t last forever and every day is a new day. For more helpful information, please visit www.sweathappywellness.com
Becky Sheehey is a Holistic Health Coach, and a Pilates and Movement Expert with a background in Kinesiology. She lives in Lindsay.
