This is a guest post by Kimberly Hayes.
You feel depressed and don’t want to go out. You lose your energy but have trouble sleeping nonetheless. You can’t concentrate and get easily agitated. These are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, and they can make the winter months torture if you’re among the millions of sufferers. “Just snap out of it!” some would say, but that seems impossible when all you want to do is crawl into bed. That’s not an option, however, as there’s work to be done and social obligations to meet. The world hasn’t stopped, and neither should you.
Many people turn to antidepressants, but there are other solutions. A few lifestyle changes could make the world seem brighter and give you hope for a better day. Even if you don’t suffer from this disorder, you can help those that do by being a support system.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care means making your well-being a priority. Stop putting others ahead and make time to relax, whether that’s by having a massage or getting a haircut. Once that’s done, take a close look at how you take care of your body and mind, as proper self-care means more than just fun. Have you meditated recently? Have you eaten enough fruits and veggies?
Move Your Body
Exercise can lift your mood in many ways. First, the obvious: When exercising, you burn calories and tone muscles for a better physique, and that gives you something to smile about when you look in the mirror. Then there’s that endorphin rush. If you’re wondering what that is, it’s your brain secreting a neurotransmitter that kills pain and makes you feel good.
Go Outside
Researchers believe this disorder is triggered by shorter days and less sunlight, so get those healing rays whenever you can. If you’re at work, that means taking advantage of your lunch break to go for a walk at the park while you’re munching on your sandwich, then think about what you’ll do on the weekend. Perhaps a bit of sledding or ice-skating?
Get Some Light
Those precious hours of sunlight may not be enough to keep your body in sync, but there are artificial sources that fill in the gaps. A doctor speaking with Well+Good recommends starting your day with a dawn simulator, a device that sits next to your bed and begins gradually emitting light at roughly the same time as the rising sun in the spring.
Try Aromatherapy
How aromatherapy works is a mystery. The experts at Healthline cite a study claiming that chemicals in essential oils trigger receptors in your nose that send a message to the mood-controlling part of your brain, though more research is needed. There’s no question that people have been using scents like sandalwood, jasmine, and lavender to feel better for ages.
Meet Up with Friends
Whether you like it or not, you’re a social animal and need company. However, when you feel down, the last thing you want to do is go out, which just makes you even more isolated and depressed. Break that vicious circle by making plans and sticking to them. Go out for a drink or a cup of joe, or invite them over to watch the game or just hang out.
Declutter Your Home
A disorganized and messy home can leave you feeling anxious and complaining excessively. Go through each room in your home and toss out any items you know longer need, and dust and clean as you go. You may see a significant improvement in your mood.
Keep a Schedule
Once you feel your mood start to lift, stick with what you’re doing and at regular hours, especially when it comes to waking up and going to bed as a healthy sleep pattern is a major component in improving your mental health. An evening routine involving a warm bath, a cup of herbal tea, and a good book could be just what you need to get back on track.
Make an effort and you may fall in love with winter, taking delight in each snowfall that covers the lawn in a layer of white. And if not? Well, you’ll find enough energy to make it through to spring with your head held high and a smile on your face.
