“Christmas is over, you’ve put on weight, it’s cold out, it’s dark out, your credit card bills are in, you’re not going to get another day off until March, and you’re tired.
You might even be depressed.
If so, you are not alone, especially not today. For today, according to one measure, is Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year.” (Montreal Gazette)
I was on Global TV last week discussing Blue Monday and some tips to fight the winter blues. Please note I did not have time to address my final tip below — that if it feels more than fatigue or a fallen rut in your routine, it is time to seek medical attention.
Blue Monday sounds pretty gloomy. But for many, it truly is. For some, this January funk is a result of cold weather, overspending during the holidays, the dollar (if you’re Canadian), a relationship gone sour, or job dissatisfaction. For others, it’s something more serious.
Today, no matter where you’re at, I wanted to give you 10 power tips to help beat the winter blues. Ten power tips to get you out of the January funk. Ten suggestions you can do NOW, to give yourself some relief.
1. Make some great delicious homemade soup and feed it to your girlfriends, boyfriends, hubbies and kids. There’s nothing like a great bowl of soup on a cold and gloomy day. I enjoy following recipes from Dave Lieberman of The Food Network. He came to cook for a large group of women at a charity luncheon a few years ago, and I really loved his style- healthy and simple. Here’s a great recipe for one of my favorite soups, Butternut Squash. Here is Lieberman’s version, Butternut Squash Pear. Yum! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/butternut-squash-and-pear-soup-recipe/index.html
2. Diet has a major effect on mood. Studies have also connected depression with low levels of folic acid. So, if you’re not getting it from diet, possibly consider taking a supplement. If you want to supplement the folic acid in your diet, eat at least 2-3 meals of cold-water fish a week, some egg yolks, nuts, almonds, sweet potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, and bananas, oranges and peaches.
3. Get some extra natural help. If you’re like me, and hate drugs, you might try the natural route. Vitamin D and B12 supplements are great immune system and mood boosters. You know that you get vitamin D from sunlight, so try and get outside when you can. If not, a supplement in winter months is very helpful. Both hubby and I are on a multivitamin, plus an extra supplement of Vitamin D to fight colds and flues. And Complex B12 is a great help in elevating mood, and so is the amino acid THEANINE (which I learned a lot about last year). These vitamins are not expensive and are natural. Try them (after speaking to your doctor or pharmacist). Also, if you’re fighting any flu, I love Oregano Oil and Oscillococcinum to boost immunity. Again, speak to your doctor first.
4. Buy a Full Spectrum Lamp. Studies show that people’s mood elevate simply by being in or around full spectrum light. Just by putting your desk near a window, you’re helping yourself during the long dark winter months. And get outside! For a walk, to the park, for a jog, for a stroll with a coffee. You can’t buy blush that good!
5. Seriously, go see a funny movie! And here’s why, seriously. There are many studies that examine the correlation between laughter and health. Laughter is great for many facets of your body. Laughter helps boost your serotonin levels (the happiness hormone), and helps decrease your cortisol levels (the bad hormone). Make a date with your partner or friend to go see a funny movie today.
6. Pamper yourself. While this can be expensive, and may seem somewhat superficial, it works ladies. Sometimes we simply need to put ourselves back on our own “to-do” lists. Treating yourself to that mani-pedi, or massage, coupled with some soothing tea, and a great magazine is relaxing. I’m not saying it’s a cure to the winter funk, but sometimes, it helps chill us out a little.
7. Reconnect with friends, especially in the winter – Social Connection. The studies show that social connection can help fight depression, and the flip side is true as well. Isolation and lack of social connection has been known to play a factor in depression. So there you have it, your girlfriends are actually GOOD for your health, and one study found that lack of social connection is as bad as smoking.
8. Ask for help. If the daily grind has taken its toll, take a mini time-out from your life. Can you drop your kids off at the neighbors or grandparents, and go do something you love? It doesn’t matter what that thing is, just make sure it nourishes your soul. Sometimes taking a few hours to regroup is what you need to feel like a new person. Regrouping is key when life can feel like auto pilot or groundhog day.
9. Ask yourself, is it a funk or just fatigue? Sometimes we confuse the two. Sometimes we feel like we are in rut, when really, we are just sleep deprived and exhausted. On the weekends, or whenever you can, it is imperative that you RELAX and allow for downtime, possibly to read, take a bath or simply do nothing. Furthermore, recent studies show now more than ever, the importance of good restorative sleep. And on the flipside, just how detrimental LACK of good restorative sleep is to your health.
“In the short term, a lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and may increase the risk of serious accidents and injury. In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to a host of health problems including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.”
10. And finally, if it’s more than a rut, it’s time to seek medical advice. There is nothing more to say on this point. If you cannot pull yourself out from the darkness, and are having chronic negative thoughts, it’s time to seek professional help. There is no shame in saying you need medical intervention. Sometimes we go through bouts of depression, and dealing with it the minute it arises is crucial to our well-being.
So ladies, we are almost there. Spring is around the corner. Do what you can today, to ensure good mental and physical health until that spring rebirth takes place.
I’d love to know your tips on beating the winter blues. What works for you? What are your tricks for getting out of a rut?
Great post. Working out and staying active also helps.