This past Monday was known as “Blue Monday”, what they call the most depressing day of the year. Mental health can be a struggle for many people throughout the entire year but seasonal depression is also very real. Seasonal depression can be so crippling for many people and now that we’re in the middle of January people are really starting to feel the effects.
I wanted to write a post to focus on how we can all put a few things into practice that will help us get through these cold winter months!
1. Stay Active – We often can go into “hybernation mode” in the winter because it is cold out and we’re less motivated to go to the gym. Try coming up with a routine that will keep you active, maybe even start a winter sport! Getting the fresh air is a bonus. If the weather is unpredictable where you live, pick some workouts you can do at home in case you get snowed in.
2. Stay Connected – It’s okay to have less on the go in the winter, but try not to cut yourself off completely from your social group. It can get lonely in the winter and maintaining some connections is always healthy. Try planning a get together at your house or meeting up somewhere to get out of the house for a bit.
3. Stay Hydrated and Healthy – The air is dry in the winter! It’s important to stay hydrated and keep your body fueled with healthy foods. We just came from a busy holiday season with lots of sweets so plan meals that are low on processed sugars. We’re all getting a lot less sun so take some Vitamin D supplements as well if you’re needing the extra boost.
4. Use the Feel Like a Million Wheel – Print out the self care wheel below that I created and use it as inspiration for ways to keep your mind, body and spirit active in the next few months. Use it as a reminder of how you can maintain balance in every area of your life.
Winter is tough and for some people it isn’t an easy fix, but I hope that some of these ideas give you inspiration for making the winter months even just a little bit better.
Connect the Dots
Choose one thing from the Feel Like a Million wheel that you will focus on for the rest of this month. Write down how you felt afterwards. In February, pick a new focus and work through the wheel over the month. Winter might be tough but it doesn’t have to be terrible!
If you’d like a printable version of the Feel Like a Million wheel, you can get it here!