Winter is here and will be gone soon! However, during the meantime cold days with little sunlight could make anybody feel in a gloomy mood. As seasons change, these feelings will also pass. Read below for four healthy ways to lift your spirits during the winter season.
1-Lighten Things Up
During the winter season, there is little to no sunlight on some days The darkness affects your outdoor plans and your commute. It also impacts your mood.
Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused.
Exposure to the ultraviolet-B radiation in the sun’s rays causes a person’s skin to create vitamin D. The vitamin D made thanks to the sun plays a big role in bone health.
Lighten the mood by:
Going for a walks during daytime
Opening the blinds or curtains
Wearing vibrant colors
Paint your walls with happy colors
Also, take your vitamin D supplements and eating health foods.
2-Get Up and Move
Some of us tend to hibernate during winter like bears. Do not use the winter season as an excuse not to exercise!
Exercise benefits both mental health and physical health. Your body responds post-exercise with feel good hormones.
Do at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity five days per week. If the weather does not allow you to go outside, you do not need a gym to break a sweat.
During cold days, warm things up indoors by doing yoga or cardio. YouTube has many videos online or you can download an app.
Nevertheless, there are many ways to exercise outdoors, even during winter. When it is sunny outside go for a walk or light jog to soak up some vitamin D and get your heart pumping. If you live in a snowy area, winter hobbies like skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing are great ways to get your body moving while having fun.
After working out, soothe your joints and muscles with Simple Pleasures CBD Salve.
3-Create a Calming Ambiance
Things will tend to slow down in the winter and after the holidays, which can make each day feel a little dull. It is up to us to change things up.
This means more time indoors during the winter. Rearrange your living space to create a more calming ambiance.
Try these tips to lift your mood:
Play soundscapes, classical, or relaxing music in the background
Diffuse essential oils, like lavender, or sandalwood
Turn on your fireplace
Rearrange furniture to have more space
Light candles or meditate
Little changes can go a long way. Make one at a time. Enjoy the newness of the moment. And when the winter gloomy mood returns, make other changes.
4-Interact with Loved Ones
When we get in a funk, many of us tend to shut out our loved ones. In reality, we should be doing the complete opposite!
It is crucial to surround yourself with positive people that can lift your spirits. Your family and friends are there to support you and to be happy!
If you can visit family or friends, there is so many different technologies to connect to chat or see their faces. Being able to see a loved one over a screen puts a smile on your face and feel happy.
Try this technology:
Cooking a meal with your friends
Face time with parents
Having a read along with the nephews and nieces
Playing video games with your family
Sipping wine with friends
Sometimes we cannot talk to our family and friends and need to vent to a professional, that is absolutely ok. There are many resources to reach out for help. However, do not hesitate to reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or contact a mental health provider near you.