Beat the Winter Blues
With Christmas forgotten and New Year’s Eve a distant memory, it’s not uncommon to feel a little bit down in the dumps when you return to reality and your 9 to 5 routine.
The winter blues (also known as SAD) affects a massive 2 million people in the UK every year. The symptoms include depression, feeling withdrawn or unsociable, lethargy, overeating, and sleep problems. Some suffer worse than others and not everyone finds relief in the same remedies and methods. But here are some simple tips to beat the winter blues…
Get Outside
It might be the last thing you feel like doing – but getting out and braving the cold is a great way to lift your mood and make you feel better about yourself. A short one-hour walk a day will also help with that excess flab we all accumulated over the holidays.
Get Active
If your daily walks aren’t quite doing it for you, then joining the gym will get your blood pumping! Regular exercise releases endorphins which effectively boost your mood. Not to mention regular exercise is certainly going to help fight the extra holiday weight you’ve gained.
Get Some Sun
There isn’t much of it around this time of year – but the sun does still shine! We lack vitamin D in the winter months making us feel low so it’s important to soak up as much as you can.
A New Hobby
Having a new hobby to occupy yourself with can ward off the symptoms of SAD. It can be anything from art to exercise to baking. It’s good to give yourself something to concentrate on and distract you from the dullness of winter.
Healthy Eating
Avoid the carbs and replace them with fresh fruit and vegetables to help boost your mood and energy levels. Although many of us have probably eaten enough over the holidays to last us the year…
Socialise
It’s easy to feel withdrawn and unsociable when you’re feeling down, but interacting with loved ones is a great way to distract you and is also great for your mental health. Make an effort to stay in touch!
