Winter is the time when the cold weather, snow, and gloomy skies seem to literally take away our sunshine. For people who are more in tune with the universe (surroundings), our mood and energy are easily affected by these changes. After just 3 days of gloomy skies and snow, I feel like I am in the “Groundhog Day” movie where each day seems to repeat itself. I become forgetful, and it’s hard to tell whether it’s Tuesday or Wednesday. However, we should all strive to make each day a little different. It is super easy to get trapped in the routine of work, school, and study time. This is why it is vital to our existence to find hacks that can save us from an endless winter depression. Here are 5 ways in which you can fight your winter depression.
1. Spend quality time with friends and family.
Socializing might not be the ideal thing to do for introverts, but it is a vital source of our well being. Each time we have a positive encounter with someone, we get good vibes/energy from them. The positivity that comes from the mutual encouragement, support, and understanding is a basic human need. Not only will you be doing something that is for your own well being, but you will also be improving your relationships. You will become more relevant and will be able to remind your friends why your relationships are special. You will be able to update your social media with more recent events or simply keep the communication flowing in person. Your life will not be limited to only what you have in front of you, and you will feel up to speed with the rest of the world.
Image from Pexels: Friends
2. Get exercise.
I know the first thing that pops into our minds when winter comes is the need to stay indoors. Winter is a very sneaky season. It sneaks up on us with its cold winds, snow, and gloomy skies, and then before you know you’re trapped. No one likes to freeze their butts off. Personally, I prefer to be fit not just to look nice but because it feels comfortable being in a good condition. On my way to the train, I simply hate being out of breath while climbing the stairs. Exercising helps you focus on the present. What tends to happen when someone is depressed is that they lose focus and are less likely to enjoy what they are doing. The thing we want to be doing the most when we are depressed is staying at home and sleep. So, don’t stay at home but get out there and get your body moving.
Image from Pexels: Exercise
3. Have something to look forward to (plans/goals).
Make plans for a summer vacation to Hawaii or Spain. Don’t feel like you are constrained to the now only. This means that though at a given time you might feel broke and don’t really know exactly how things are going to work out, be brave enough to imagine what is possible. You might be working 40 hours a week while chained to your office cubicle, but you should not police your own thoughts. Just think outside the box, and dream a little bit. If you wish to go on a month-long Caribbean vacation, go ahead and do it.
Image from Pexels: Tropical Oceans
4. Have hobbies, they will come in handy.
What do you do when you’re at the lowest state you have ever been and can’t even get out of your bed? How do you get back the motivation you once had? This is a conversation I have with my friend and is very common among college students. The struggle of not knowing what to do when we are outside of our daily routine. There really isn’t much sustaining ourselves other than what we do for a living or as students. It is our responsibility to be in control of our emotional and mental well being. We need to do what we love each day which is why hobbies should be a reflection of who we are. Hobbies are that which causes us joy, relaxation, and excitement. It makes you feel good to have your patience, diligence, mindfulness, and skill create exactly what you had in mind. Hobbies create a satisfying feeling that makes you feel proud of yourself.
Image from Pexels: Bicycles
5. Get enough rest.
This might seem like a contradiction but getting enough rest is necessary in order for you to able to sustain yourself. Nothing feels crappier than trying to get through a day while trying to remain awake. It makes us feel like we are sleepwalking through the day, and life is passing us by. Tiredness and fatigue lead to irritation which ultimately causes mood swings that can make us depressed.
Image from Pexels: Sleep
Hope these tips will suffice and will be good enough for your winter blues to done with before you know it.