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In winter, life sometimes seems as hopeless as a low gray sky that does not let in the rays of the sun. It’s hard to get up in the morning, I don’t have the strength to work, I just want to eat and sleep. How to regain energy, vivacity and desire to live to the fullest?
So, the “dark times” have officially come: there is almost no sun, and the pale faces of others suggest that one should beware of a cold and drink vitamins on time. In summer, it is much easier to fight depression: cloudless skies and temperatures above +20 ° C are good helpers. But what about in winter for people who need to kayak or ride a bicycle to maintain their peace of mind? There are many options.
1. Watch your sugar levels
As early as the end of November, our body begins to prepare for several months of wintering, so we often want to eat everything we see. Especially chocolate, especially on snowy days. People prone to depression and various addictions should be careful with sweets. Love for sugar and buns is comparable to heroin in terms of its effect on biochemical processes in the body. Kathleen Desmason writes in Potatoes for Prozac: “Your relationship with sweets is based on a cellular level. This mechanism is more serious than you thought. Food has a huge impact on how you feel.”
2. Stock up on omega-3s
Leading experts at Harvard Medical School have confirmed the beneficial effects of this substance on emotional health. It is better to take omega-3 capsules, which contain 70% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In one such capsule – the right ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which helps to stabilize and improve mood.
3. Help others
Mahatma Gandhi wrote: “The best way to find yourself is to dissolve yourself in the service of others.” Positive psychologists believe that altruistic actions and a noble cause are strong remedies against depression.
4. Go in for sports
Cold weather is not a reason to give up physical activity and neglect going to the gym. Your goal is to keep your heart rate above 140 beats per minute.
5. Turn on bright lights
Bright light therapy—when you sit in front of a 10 lux fluorescent lamp—can replace antidepressants in mild cases of depression and relieve seasonal disorders.
6. Wear bright colors
Try to deceive the brain: let it think that it is sunny spring weather outside, even if there is a blizzard and ice. Black color is a bad option for stress and winter depression. So don’t be afraid to wear bright green, purple, blue or pink clothes, it will help you form a more optimistic view of the world.
7. Be outdoors more often
In winter, you want to wrap yourself in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and an interesting book, and not get cold in the wind. Sometimes you have to pull yourself out of a warm house almost by the scruff of the neck. But even a short stay in the sun (even if it is covered by clouds) improves mood. Sunlight helps produce vitamin D, which is good for the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. In addition, contact with nature – even snowy – always has a beneficial effect on well-being.
8. Meet friends
Bad moods often cause us to shy away from social gatherings, although such pastimes are a great way to fight depression. That is why there are so many support groups now: people need help and assistance from those who have faced similar problems. And with the modern development of technology, you don’t even have to leave your home to get into one of these groups. It is easy to find like-minded people in online communities.
9. Take a trip south
Of course, this requires money, but reasonable planning is already half the battle. If you take care of tickets and accommodation in advance, you can save a lot. It is better to plan a trip for the end of January or the beginning of February, and not only because this way you will avoid holiday price hikes: in the most depressing weeks of the season, you will have a goal to strive for.
10. Get a job
Get rid of the rubbish in the apartment, sort out clothes, put bookshelves in order, make small repairs with your own hands. Winter is the best time for homework. They help you focus and not feel useless when other things don’t work out.
11. Learn new things
Not overly complex, but interesting enough to keep your attention. Start a vlog, start a website, pick up a new hobby (say, scrapbooking), take a writing workshop, develop a custom workout program… Let your brain work, not freeze.
12. Light a candle
The warmth of the living flame drives away gloomy thoughts and soothes.
Source: PsychoCentral.