Unhappy? 6 Tips for Beating Winter Blues

Personal Development | 16 comments

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been something I’ve known about since I was a teenager. It wasn’t until I was quite a bit older, however, that it became more clear to me how I can deal with the effects of this. So I’ve put together some of my favorite tips for beating winter blues.

1. Artificial sunshine: You let the energy light lamp

shine on your face for 15-30 minutes during the morning or afternoon to give you an energy boost. This is a method that I have not actually used yet but loved ones have found it extremely beneficial. I just added it to my Christmas wish list for next year. It will come in handy next year when the baby doesn’t nap as frequently as he currently does. His less frequent napping schedule will limit my napping opportunities and lack of sleep leaves me with little energy to stabilize my emotions. Update Jan 2020: I recently bought this SAD Light and have been using it this winter. I love it! I use it in the morning and right after lunch and find it helps with feeling more refreshed in the morning as well as mostly avoiding the after lunch energy slump.)

2. Sunny people: Spend time with fun friends. I’m a more serious person by nature so I find others who can bring a little bit of sunshine into my life. Being married not only means I am accountable to someone with my mood (i.e. it’s not fair for him to come home to a moping wife every day), but one of the things I love most about my husband is that he can make me laugh. He lightens me up. I have been blessed with friends who lighten my mood. I also have a few sons who can “turn his goof on,” as we like to say, and can have our whole household cracking up. Laughter is a wonderful medicine.
3. Sunshine in a bottle: Vitamin D3 supplement

can be a huge help. There is not a lot of sunshine during the winter so giving yourself a vitamin boost can have some big benefits. Another wintertime supplement that can make a difference for mood stability is omega 3.

4. Go outside: Fresh air, sunshine on your face, watching your kids play in the snow, exercise. All of these things help boost your mood. After being cooped up inside during the cold snaps that occur during much of the winter, I really appreciate going outside for even a few minutes just to breath. There is also something healing about being outside in direct contact with God’s creation.
5. Countdown: Remind yourself that there are only about 2 months left of winter. It will probably be less for some of you, depending on your location. Maybe even less for me as I’m further south than I have lived in the past. I countdown until I can start my garden seeds. I count down to Easter. I count down to my oldest son’s spring time birthday. Little stepping stones that keep me pushing forward toward sunshine season.
6. Music: There are summertime songs, and there are wintertime songs. Play some summertime music and dance like no one’s watching. My kids LOVE this one and they take turns being my dance partner. It can be a lot of fun to let loose once in a while. Here’s a list of some of the ones that my family has been dancing to lately:
  • Cotton-Eyed Joe – Rednex
  • Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
  • Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
  • Kokomo – Beach Boys
  • 500 miles – The Proclaimers
  • Hey Mickey – Toni Basil
  • Wannabe – Spice Girls
  • Angel – Shaggy
  • Whenever Wherever – Shakira
  • Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
  • Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
6. Foundational Habits: The best thing anyone can do is to establish a good rhythm of self care. Establishing habits before you are in the thick of seasonal affective disorder is ideal but anyone can start with something as simple as working on gratitude. In my Self Care Series I share how I begin at the bottom and work my way up anytime that I notice I’m slipping into seasonal affective disorder or depression.
Do you suffer from seasonal affective disorder or winter blues? Please share your favorite tips beating winter blues. And drop your email in the box below and I’ll send you my free Habit Workbook and Habit Tracker. It will walk you through how to set habits fo various areas of your life and give you the tools you need to begin setting that foundation of habits where better lives begin.
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