Tips To Beat The Winter Blues

Long and cold winter seasons like the one we are experiencing right now in North America have been known to affect many people in a variety of ways. Most commonly with the winter blues, otherwise known as seasonal depression.

Symptoms of seasonal depression can include: mood swings, anxiety, weight gain or loss, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, lack of motivation, and depression.

Millions of people are effected by this every year, and if you are one of them. Here are some simple tips on how to curb those winter time blues.

1. Exercise

Exercising is a well known way to improve depression of any type. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. The feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as euphoric. That feeling, known as a “runner’s high,” can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.

Even just doing some exercise or stretches for 20-30 minutes every morning, can have a huge impact on your mental state.

2. Sunlight

Well this one is easy to see. People with depression or not, are always cheered up when the sun comes out. Studies have shown that sunlight increases levels of a natural antidepressant in the brain. the studies shows that the brain produces more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin on sunny days than on darker days.

Unfortunately winter does not include many sunny days, but there are ways to get around that.

A main treatment for seasonal depression is light therapy (heliotherapy). This treatment includes sitting in front of a ultraviolet lamp for 30 minutes a day. A good thing with this therapy is that you do not need to go and sit in a doctors office or a clinic. It can be done in the comfort of your own home.

3. Vitamin D

Many studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression, and many of the researchers note that vitamin D interactions with the brain is not fully understood.

On average the majority of Canadians are vitamin D deficient, regardless of what season it is. Because of our location, we only get a half hour of good vitamin D exposure from the sun. For a half hour a day, in the summer time. In the winter it is even less.

You can purchase vitamin D supplements in any health food store. In pill form or liquid drops.

4. Make changes to you diet

Processed and high sugar foods are known to induce and worsen depression. By cutting them from your diet and incorporating several food types, your mood can greatly improve.

Eat a Diet High in Nutrients, essential Antioxidants, and Protein-Rich Foods. All of which, can be found in fruits and vegetables. By cutting out the fake foods and incorporating real foods, the chances of curbing depression increase greatly!

5. Embrace the Season

Rather than moaning and groaning about the cold and snow. Get out and enjoy it! Take your kids out an build snowmen, go tobogganing, or have a snowball fight.

One of my favorite hobbies in the winter season is to get out into nature and check out the beauty that is present in the season.

Taking up winter sports is also a good way to enjoy the season. Hockey, ice skating, cross country skiing, or any other that you would prefer. Will get you out and enjoying winter.

I hope that some of these tips will help you get through the winter season and if you have any more suggestions on how to beat the winter blues, we would love to read about them in the comment section!