Have you been lately waking up to gloomy skies with no sunlight for days or months? Has that affected your moods lately? Is the place you stay sun-deprived for many months? Then there are chances that you are going through Winter Blues.

We all have often heard of Monday blues which is a universally shared feeling all over the world. Unlike Winter blues are prominent in places where the sun doesn’t rise for days or months. Sometimes this could happen during constant rainy seasons too in some places. So how do we beat the Winter Blues? 

A lot of people get confused between winter blues and SAD. Yet, SAD ( Seasonal Affective disorder) is more intense and has a depression tendency. Before we discuss this further, let us clear the confusion between Winter Blues and SAD first.

In this blog, we will write about Winter Blues in general and how you can beat it. These tips may or may not help people suffering from SAD. It is always advisable to consult a professional for intense depressive tendencies.

What is the difference between Winter blues and SAD? 

Winter blues is a temporary sadness due to shorter days and waking up to gloomy and dark mornings. Though winter blues make you sad over all they do not deprive you of life’s daily interest. Seasonal depression is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. During SAD significant changes in mood and behavior take place as the season changes. If you have a history of depression that worsens during winter there are strong chance that it is SAD. Winter blues are common in the majority of people living in extreme cold weather. However, SAD will be seen strongly only in a few with major symptoms that last for a long. 

 What are Winter Blues?

As mentioned earlier, winter blues are temporary sadness or persistent low moods due to shorter days and no sunlight. Winter blues are not a clinical diagnosis. It is a general symptom experienced by many who live in cold climates where there is no sun for days or months. Sunlight plays a significant role in producing melatonin and serotonin hormones in the brain. During winter body produces more melatonin, which encourages more sleep. Serotonin, known as the happy hormone is released by the brain after being exposed to Sunlight. Lack of Sunlight disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm. Accompanied by the drop in serotonin and vitamin D levels can lead to depressive symptoms in many. 

Winter blues are indeed a difficult period for many across the World. But for every difficult situation, there is always a set of natural solutions that can work Holistically if you apply religiously. Below are a few 10 hands-on tips and solutions to help you make your Harsh winters into blissful winter memories and experiences.

10 Effective ways to beat the Winter Blues 

1. Exercise 

We all know that exercise releases happy hormones called endorphins during workouts. It has helped many people with Mental Health issues. It regulates our emotional well-being during the struggling phases. I too have experienced the benefits of exercise during my depression phase. Consider doing at least 20 mins of workout, a few days a week as a great way to deal with long winter blues. 

2. Read Motivating books 

When the mind goes dull it’s time to ramp up the mind with the right resources. So that it replenishes the dull mood with motivating thoughts and feelings. Reading Books will surely help you through the boredom and help you fix that void of winter blues. The thoughtful content and beautiful insights from various authors will challenge your old beliefs into new ones. We feed nutritious food to our bodies when we are sick. Similarly, feeding the mind with the right nutritious diet of empowering thoughts is a great way to stay balanced during the long winter blue months.

3. Use SAD lamps 

SAD lamps are light boxes designed to mimic sunlight. But, it’s a good idea to use as per recommended precautions by the experts or clinically tested SAD lamps. If you are feeling low and tired during the long winters, you can think of buying a SAD LAMP. Many researchers have claimed it to be helpful during winter to lift your moods and boost energy levels.

4. Create Cozy Spaces

When the movements are restricted during bad weather outside, it’s a great idea to make your home itself a welcoming and cozy place. A well-known Danish-born philosophy “Hygge” emphasizes fostering relationships and nurturing yourself through self-care & creating cozy spaces. Humans deep down crave comfort, security, and happiness. The concept of this beautiful philosophy boils down to the basic requirements of human life. The world’s happiest countries beat their winter blues and SAD by imbibing this philosophy. It is the mindset for better seasonal well-being. This helps you embrace long winters with a positive mindset.

5. Throw Winter Parties 

Winters are indeed a lonely period when you do not feel like waking up, going out, catching up with friends, or being socially active. Humans are social animals. No matter how much you love your own company at one point you also need someone to exchange perspectives ideas and share feelings. Long winters could be the best time to throw winter-themed parties. This will make you feel safe, and secure, and a sense of belonging towards your extended social groups or family members.

6. Indulge in Indoor Hobby or games 

Lazy winters at times might leave you in boredom. Channeling this time into some creative hobbies like knitting, crocheting, painting, fabric arts, etc will give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. You never know if this hobby might turn into your passion. If you are not a hobby person, you may think of playing some fun board games with your family members. We all are born Creators. All we have to do is try our hands on different things till we unfold our gift.

7. Practice gratitude

Each life is a set of unique challenges. But it’s human tendency to compare with others and go into the self-pity mode of Why me? The fact is everyone has their share of joy and sorrow we just see the grass from the wrong side. The long winters might at times test your patience and it’s human to lose patience sometimes. We start brooding about our situation over others. Practicing regular gratitude during winter will help you to get through the dark days calmly. As it sows the seed of abundance in your mind. When this happens you see every problem as a solution and abundance in process.

8. Eat Nutritious Food 

Research has repeatedly proved that there is a connection between mind and body. Both are affected when not in a good state. As much as you feel tempted to have cravings for delicious and heavy meals during winter. We must eat mindfully to ensure we eat a balanced diet. This will surely lift your dull mind to cope during harsh winters. At the same time don’t give up on winter fun food. Do have your cheat meals occasionally.

You can also consider having vitamin D supplements along with a nutritious diet if required. Vitamin D is a mood-regulating and immunity-boosting vitamin. Due to lack of sunlight, people in winter may suffer from vitamin D deficiency.  

9. Have a set routine 

Having a set routine will ensure you spend your time without having dull moments. When you have no idea of what to do next. Planning your winter days by setting your routine will not only help you sleep better but also get you excited about your routine. And keep your mind preoccupied with your next chore or task of the day. As the old saying goes,” Empty mind is the devil’s workshop”.

10. Practice Mindfulness 

Mindfulness is the art of living fully in the present. While having a heightened sense of Awareness of self and surroundings. When you live life with your limited materialistic awareness, you tend to get trapped in your habitual cycles of behavior. These trapped cycles may cause you to feel depressed. Mindfulness will help you identify them so you can work consciously towards them. When you live in the present you stop worrying about the past and future. This process can have a tremendous positive effect on your mental well-being. Especially during vulnerable winters.

There are various ways you can practice mindfulness. You can practice mindfulness by practicing meditation, journaling, deep breathing, or involving yourself in your favorite flow activity. All you need is the intention to grow your self-awareness.

Conclusion

Winter blues and SAD are temporary phases that many people staying in cold regions have to go through. The earlier you accept it and work towards creating a beautiful mindset, the better you will cope with the blues. You can design customized “Hygge” for your needs. And work towards building it as a mindset and coping mechanism during the harsh winters. It is also crucial that you keep monitoring your symptoms. If the symptoms do not improve despite various lifestyle interventions and changes. You might have to seek professional help as soon as possible.

       Each geographic locations have its pros and cons. Let us breathe in the best and breathe out the rest by accepting, adapting, and changing our mindset for the better.