The sun is low on the horizon, and most people are bundled up inside. No matter how much you love the holidays and snowy winter landscapes, you may start to feel down if you’re not getting enough vitamin D. Here are a few ways you can lift your mood in the wintertime.
Have a Spa Day
The winter is the perfect time to give yourself some extra love. If you’d rather stay at home, you can still have a day of pampering. Take a long bubble bath with candles, care for your feet with a good sugar scrub, give yourself a facial, do your make-up, and put on your favorite clothes. Byrdie.com has a great tutorial on doing at-home facials, and you can special-order make-up and eyelash supplies ahead of time for your staycation. You might also check in your area to see if any massage therapists will come to your home.
Get Outside
Getting outside is the fastest way to joy. Even if you don’t feel like braving the cold, go out even just for a few minutes because there is medicine in nature. Natural light, fresh air, and the sound of birds’ songs can replenish your mental and physical health. You may even want to plan a day or an afternoon outdoors. Try to find an activity you enjoy. Some popular winter sports are skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing. If you’re not the sporty type, you can always volunteer, or make some extra money by clearing snow from peoples’ sidewalks or running errands for those who are unable.
Exercise
If you can’t, or won’t go outside, at least go to an indoor gym or put on an exercise video at home. Scientists have proven that exercise elevates the mood in part because it increases the production of serotonin and endorphins; these chemicals are essential in regulating mood, as well as apatite and sleep patterns. If you haven’t worked out in a while, it may be challenging to start, or you might feel silly trying new things, but the key is to start. If you have a goal of doing ten push-ups a day and never seem to do it, start by doing only one.
If your sadness persists, you may be in an actual depression, so be sure to see a professional who can help you understand why, and give you more techniques to manage it. Take a day or a weekend to do these things and feel great!