With the winter season approaching, it’s easy to fall into the winter blues or some Seasonal Affective Disorder. Due to the cold weather and daylight savings, staying under the covers seems a lot more appealing than being an active member of society. But there are ways to make this season more bearable. Therapy, taking your vitamins, having a balanced schedule, getting fresh air, and journaling are all great ways to deal with the winter blues.
Sunlight is a great source of serotonin- the happy brain chemicals. Unfortunately in the winter, we get less sun and the days are much shorter. Without natural sunlight, our mood decreases significantly. A way to get around this is by investing in light therapy which is essentially a device that emulates artificial light that mimics natural sunlight. It increases serotonin and is super useful in environments that don’t get natural sunlight.
If light therapy is not accessible to you then another thing that gives you the same effects such as sunlight is vitamin D. This vitamin acts in a similar way as SSRIs by increasing serotonin. Along with vitamin D, it is important to make sure you are sufficient in all of your vitamins. You can find out your vitamin deficiencies by going to your family doctor and asking for blood work. Once you figure out which vitamins are right for you, you will find your mood, energy, and focus increasing. Make sure you speak to a medical professional about this, as they know which vitamins you need to take and how/when you should take them.
Creating a balanced schedule is very important for your productivity and motivation which are two things that usually decline during the winter. By schedule, I don’t just mean work and academics, you should be actively making time for things that are important for you. Social time, exercise, and picking up a hobby should all have space within your schedule. You don’t have to follow this schedule strictly as things do come up but make sure you are making time to do things that make you happy and enjoy the season a bit more.
Journaling is another great way to keep your mind active during the winter blues. You can journal about whatever you find interesting whether it’s about your feelings, short stories, movies you watched, books you’ve read, etc… A journal can be used in a variety of ways and you can make it unique to your needs without overwhelming yourself. Journaling is a healthy outlet and a small way to establish commitment, routine, and something to look forward to.
Although times may seem rough right now whether it’s because of how dark and cold it’s becoming or school stress, or even troubles with mental health, just remember that this season will pass. There are even things to look forward to within this season, but if you are not looking forward to these things that’s okay! There are different ways to cope and you might even find something that works for you. There is light at the end of the tunnel.