If you are anything like me, when winter finally comes around, you can’t help but feel the effects emotionally. You become sluggish, bored and just all-around sad. And this seasonally determined depression is something many people face, especially those who are unfamiliar with the harsh New England weather. Luckily, there are steps we can take to minimize the sadness and keep emotions up, despite the lowering temperatures.
1. Enjoy the sun whenever possible
Part of the reason why people are so affected by the winter months is because of the lack of sun. Between the snowstorms and the all-around cloudy days, it seems that the sun is a rare commodity between the months of December to March. So when the sun is out, it is important that you take advantage of it. Be sure to go outside and soak up the Vitamin D. Just make sure you bundle up first.
2. When the sun isn’t available, turn on the artificial lights
Just because it is a cloudy day, doesn’t mean that it is okay to sit in the dark in your bed until the sun comes out. When you don’t have the real sun to brighten your mood, try an artificial one. While any light is better than none, there are some that are specifically made to emulate the sun’s light and help with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Luckily for us, Emerson’s Counseling and Psychological Services (ECAPS) has “Happy Lights” that are available to all students.
3. Eat healthy and exercise
It is not surprising that when we eat junk and don’t exercise, we are much more likely to feel bad. So if you top that off with feeling depressed due to the cold weather, you just get a whole bunch of sadness. When you are feeling sad and want nothing more than to dig into that big bag of greasy chips, try reaching for fruit instead. Or when you are bored and plan on just taking a nap, head for the gym instead. You will feel much better in the long run.
4. Take up a winter activity
If the winter is usually something that you dread, turn it into something to look forward to. Try taking up an activity that you can only do in the winter months. Examples would be skiing, skating, snowshoeing, etc. That way, instead of dreading the time when the weather gets colder, you can look forward to when you can enjoy this fun activity.