With August coming to a close, that means winter is right around the corner and that is the one time of the year that is statistically when we become depressed, unmotivated and likely to slow down or even stop what ever progress we've made leading up the winter. So here are my suggestions to help combat those winter blues !
Vitamin D3
Due to its effects on hormones in the body, it's thought to affect your mood by improving your sense of well-being. Vitamin D can be highly effective in high doses such as 1000-5000 IU for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Vitamin D levels can be checked by a simple blood test-speak with your Doctor.
Use light therapy or a sunlamp
As little as 15 minutes of light therapy treats the cause of SAD- lack of light- without any side effects.
Take time to rest and to hibernate
Go to bed early, say no to too many activities / making other people happy, and neglecting yourself.
Eat warm and warming foods (soups,curries, and stews)
Go outside to get sun (when its available to you) and fresh air (ice skating, walks, skiing,sledding)
Find some friends and get together for a laugh.
Humor and laughter can strengthen your Immune system, trigger endorphins, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Laughing with others is even more powerful than laughing alone. Try watching improve or stand-up comedy in your town.
Hot tubs (great for stimulating blood flow and helping tie it down)
Movement every day that gets you sweaty (dancing, hot yoga, indoor cycling, sex) etc.
Get some great looking vibrant colored, well fitted winter clothes to help keep them warm without feeling dumpy.
Take up a new hobby or learn something new !
Singing, Knitting, keeping a journal, learning a language or writing a blog. The important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate on as a result.
There are probably a dozen more tips to get you through the winter blues, but I will keep it at 10 for now. So if you find yourself approaching winter and your feeling down, just go through this list and you'll be back to feeling energized, motivated and back on track to tackling your goals !
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