How to Beat the Winter Blues

It is four o’clock in the afternoon and the streetlights are on.  You have not seen the sun for days and even looking out of the window causes you to shudder.  Welcome to winter.  For those living north of the sunshine belt, the months from November to March can play havoc on our mental health.  The experts call it Seasonal Affective Disorder or its appropriate acronym S.A.D. and the rest of us call it the winter blues.  Take heart, there are things you can do to take the chill out of your psyche and warm up your spirit.

1. Go on a Holiday

Are you missing the sun?  If it is within your budget, go somewhere warm and sunny.  Get on good terms with relatives in a warm climate or check out Expedia.com for some great deals to southern destinations.  It does not have to be a long trip.  A long weekend is often enough to say goodbye to the blues.

2. Get Out

Bundle up in your warmest winter gear and get outside.  Building a snowman, going tobogganing, or even just walking around the block will do wonders for your state of mind.  If the day is sunny, you will even get a nice dose of vitamin D and all the other wonderful benefits our sun provides.

3. Take Your Vitamins

Most people do not get enough vitamin D in the winter and our fruits and vegetables are not as fresh as they are in the other seasons so adding a multi-vitamin to your daily diet can go a long way to making you feel better.  It will also give your immune system a boost making it less likely to get sick.

4. Wash Your Hands

Part of the problem with the winter blues is the constant colds and flu’s that come with the season.  Simply by washing your hands often and keeping phones, doorknobs, light switches and the like clean you can avoid getting sick.  Having a healthy body is a good start to having a healthy mind.

5. Get Together with Friends

Host a potluck on a dull Saturday afternoon.  Invite some good friends, turn the music up loud, relax and enjoy yourselves.  Summertime is not the only time to socialize.  Your back deck or front porch may be closed for the season but there is no reason not to bring the party inside.  Sharing a laugh with friends is one of the best ways to chase away the blues.

6. Bring Nature Inside

Fill your house with plants and flowers.  It will remind you that under all that snow there are tulips and crocuses already thinking about spring.  Green plants and fragrant flowers will help you remember that the warmer weather will be upon you soon.

Unless you have the means and the vacation time to winter in Florida, winter weather is a part of life and we must all find ways to make it more pleasant.   It is also good to bear in mind that in about six months you will be looking for articles on how to keep cool in heat waves.