If you suffer from depression or just find yourself going through a bit of a ‘down’ phase, the arrival of winter can often only exasperate things. After all, in many areas of the world, the arrival of the winter months can mean far fewer daylight hours and weeks of endless grey skies and miserable weather (not to point any fingers – the UK – *ahem*).
For many people it can become the norm to wake up and travel to work in darkness, only to emerge from their artificially lit offices at the end of the day, into yet more darkness. And that’s got to have an impact on a person’s health and happiness, right?
So if you are someone struggling with the change in moods that winter can bring, first of all, know that you are not alone. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or more commonly known as the ‘winter blues’ is thought to affect around 2 million people each year in the UK alone.
This is positive proof that there are many, many people out there who understand how you are feeling. It also means that there are countless others whose own stories demonstrate that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that things do get better.
But if you, or someone close to you, are going through these difficulties right now, what should you do? Where should you start when feeling better is your goal? Here are 6 ways to go about beating the blues, naturally.
You wouldn’t tolerate harsh words from a friend or ever dream of speaking cruelly to someone you love, so why treat yourself any differently?
Negative self-talk fuels the fire of depression, so make self-love your number one priority right now. When you feel down, it can be tempting to fall into the trap of blaming your negative emotions on yourself. Don’t do it. Instead, be kind and be loving. Show yourself the same compassion that you would toward a beloved friend.
It’s simple, you are what you eat. Once you start putting whole, nutritious, and delicious foods inside of you, not only can your physical health improve for the better, but so should your mental health. So start small; how could you improve your eating habits?
Just like a nutritious diet, good-quality sleep is also incredibly important. This can be easier said than done, especially when your low moods are making it difficult to sleep.
However, it’s important to make an effort to find a sleeping solution that helps you to get the most out of a regular good night’s sleep. If you struggle to empty your mind before bed, just 10 minutes of meditation can help.
On the other hand, if you are sleeping too much, start each morning with some exercise or set your favorite upbeat tune as an alarm clock. See what works for you!
The winter blues are called as such for a reason… it is during the winter months that people are often unhappiest. Why? Well, science would suggest that it is due to the lack of vitamin D people are exposed to.
Without regular exposure to the sun, people are missing out on a lot of those feel-good chemicals that only sunshine can offer.
Combine this with being stuck in an office environment all day, where the only light people are exposed to comes from their PC or light bulbs, and it’s obvious to see why it is such a big problem.
So what can you do? Firstly, try incorporating more vitamin D rich foods into your diet; oily fish, mushrooms, eggs, cheese… You can also find many vitamin D fortified foods and supplements in your local health store.
You may also want to explore any holistic options that are available to you, of which there are now many. For example, light therapy is often highly recommended for anyone suffering from low levels of vitamin D.
At some time or another, everyone could use a helping hand. There’s absolutely no shame in asking for help when you need it. Again, think about the people that you love most; wouldn’t you want to help them in any way that you could, if you knew that they needed it?
Having a support network of friends, family, colleagues, doctors, and support groups, whoever you need, can make the world of difference.
The importance of exercise for a happy mind cannot be underestimated! When you’re feeling down, understandably, exercise is probably the last thing that you want to do. But it is no exaggeration to say that exercise is THE number one anti-depressant that there is.
You don’t have to become a track athlete… but just by incorporating as little as 30 minutes of movement into your life each day, you should immediately begin to notice significant improvement. Whether you’re walking your dog, swimming, cycling, dancing, bouncing, skipping; you are doing yourself a tremendous help.
Make sure that you really start making the most of these 6 tips! And whilst these are all without a doubt fantastic ways to stay on top of your winter blues, don’t forget, you should always reach out to your doctor if you feel you need to.
It may not feel like it right now, but there’s sunshine waiting just around the corner! Until then, it’s got to be all about feeling good, loving yourself, and taking each day as it comes because soon enough, you’ll be all the sunshine you’ll ever need!
It can be very hard to stay positive at times, especially if you are suffering from depression or SAD. Another natural way that you can help yourself beat the winter blues is through self-hypnosis.
Self-hypnosis can help you to re-write your limiting beliefs and become more positive about yourself and your life.
Take a look at the Overcome Depression Hypnosis track here, and change your mindset today.
