Coping with "The Winter Blues"

If you live in a climate that has seasonal changes, you are not only familiar with the beauty of winter, but also the accompanying dreariness of cold, often cloudy days that sometimes seem as though they will never end.
During the winter season, many people notice changes in their mood, their ability to concentrate, and their energy levels. Some experience difficulty waking in the morning. This phenomenon is known as "the winter blues" or "the winter blahs."

While not as severe as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), or depression, it can still have a negative effect on everyday life, especially for those who are not out and about in the work place.

With effort and imagination, you can remedy the "winter blues." Perhaps the following tips will help you, or triger thoughts of your own that will aid in conquering these seasonal "blahs".

A simple solution to the problem of difficulty in awakening is to leave the window blinds and curtains open when you retire for the night. Allow the daylight, and hopefully sunlight, to flood your bedroom in the mornings.

Get some exercise, take a walk outdoors if possible. This will increase serotonin levels in your brain, making your mood lighter. If you cannot go outdoors, do aerobic exercise indoors. Many public television stations host exercise programs that allow you to follow along in the comfort of your living room. Try to make this a regular routine, but don't feel guilty if you can't exercise every day. That would only add to your "blues"! You may also be able to join a local health club or community center where exercise classes are offered, in addition to providing the benefits of an indoor pool.

Read a good book. It may be a favorite from the past, or one you've never read, but find one that will take your mind off the dreariness of the day. You may enjoy reading something that introduces you to a different genre than your usual choice. Visit your local library frequently; take home an armload of books encompassing various topics, perhaps even join a book club, which many libraries host.

Plan something. It can be a future party, a vacation, a sewing or woodworking project, a book you've dreamed of writing, etc. Make notes and sketches. Each day set aside time to review, change or improve on the previous day's ideas. Use your imagination. Although your ideas may never come to fruition, it is fun planning and dreaming, and before you know it, your mood will have improved significantly.

Learn a new skill or language. Many local schools offer courses, and there is undoubtedly something that would be of interest to you. Try something you've never done before, something that requires time and thought. Some suggestions are: painting, writing, woodworking, sewing, scrap booking, quilting, small appliance repair, dancing, computers, playing Bridge, yoga - the list is endless.

Teach something to someone. You no doubt have skills that others would like to learn, such as crocheting, knitting, or simple woodworking. Prepare a 6-week course, and then offer it to neighbors and friends. The preparation alone will help focus your mind on things other than the dreariness of winter, and the fellowship with others will go a long way toward elevating your mood.

Change your normal routine. If you usually view television during the day, choose something that you wouldn't normally watch, or turn it off and read a book. Cook something unusual for dinner, and then serve it on your best china. Invite a neighbor or friend over for afternoon tea. Visit an antique store, a museum, or an aviary.

Create something to look forward to. A feeling of expectancy is a definite mood lightener. Make plans to go to dinner and a movie with friends, buy tickets to an upcoming play, schedule a bus trip, join a weekly card club, etc.

Stay optimistic! Don't allow yourself to sink into a "funk." When you feel your mood begin to sag, deliberately set about to change it. An unhappy mood is like mud, the longer you wallow in it, the deeper you sink, so nip it in the bud. Winter won't last forever, and by taking charge of your own mood, you will emerge in the spring like one of the flowers in your garden!