Beat The Winter Blues

Is the cold, wet, darkness of winter getting you down??

Beat the Winter Blues and avoid being overcome by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by making the most of the rare sunny days when they appear!

MayoClinic defines SAD as a “type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons – SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.”

I don’t know about you but I already have enough to worry about in winter, what with frizzy hair; trying not to eat that second helping of lasagna just because it’s there; and struggling to get out of bed every cold morning!…now I hear that my small bout of the winter blues could escalate into full blown SAD.

So, I was intrigued to find out what I could do in winter to avoid the blues and here’s what I found…

There are so many health benefits to exercising that we all know about, but sometimes to choose to overlook, and although the button on your jeans will certainly thank-you for this one, what ‘s more important is the ‘feel good chemicals’ that are released when you work up a sweat. Our good friends Endorphin’s will help you reduce stress, ward of anxiety and boost your self-esteem, which is a good thing at anytime of the year!

Refer: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression

Our bodies produce Vitamin D when exposed to the sunlight and similar to exercise, has been found to not only lift your mood, but is vital to overall good health. With the days now at their shortest it can be hard to get much sunlight on your skin, so make an effort to take a stroll around the block when the sun is out, open your shutters during the day and just try your best to enjoy the beautiful sunny winter days.

Enjoy life but eat a healthy well balanced diet…we all know this one, but I found some other fun information when researching. Some researchers believe that red wine possesses antioxidant resveratrol which….. ah who cares! A glass or two a week can be a good thing, that’s all I needed to read!

Get out there with a ‘Hug me’ sign and light up someone’s day! Haha jokes! If that idea seems understandably ridiculous just keep it simple; get out for a cup of coffee or a game of pool with some mates! Spend your precious spare time with the kind of people that make you smile and laugh!

All in all, I’ve decided not to let winter get me down this year!!! Don’t let it get you either! Combine getting out in the sunshine, making an awesome new friend and sipping on a glass of red wine in one super activity…by going skydiving!!