End of Winter Blues

Wintertime is always a unique time of the year in the south. There is either rain, snow, extreme warm air, or extreme cold air. This year in East Tennessee there has been a winter of cold, snowy, windy days followed up by cold nights. The majority of the days have been dark and gray, and the small glimpses of sun and blue skies has not been enough to tide us over.

Many people are entering March with more then a little nervousness. Will March bring an end to the winter in East Tennessee?

Whether it does or doesn't, there are a few things everybody can do to help defeat the winter time blues. Take today for example, its actually sunny, although chilly, and the sky is mostly clear. Take this opportunity to walk outside and take some deep breaths of the air, roll your sleeves up and let the sun hit your skin for a few minutes. It is simply amazing how just a few seconds of sunshine on your skin can change your mood, and give you peace.

A few more tips to beating the winter blues:

1. Fix a fruit and vegetable platter for your next meal, and take it in the sunlight. If you have access to a sunbeam, fix yourself some fruit and vegetables, the cool crisp kind you enjoy chowing down on during the summer, sit in a sunbeam, and enjoy. Put on some music that reminds you of summer time as well.

2. Go for a lunch time walk. Instead of sitting in your cramped cubicle or your musty office, go walk around your building at lunch. Not only will the fresh air do some good, so will the exercise.

3. Get out of the house in the evening. Instead of shoving the dog out the doggie door, take them out yourself. Get more fresh air, get up off the chair or couch and get some blood flowing back in your veins.

4. Sun. Sun, Sun. Take advantage of every second you can to feel the sun on your skin. It is a wonderful feeling, especially in the sun starved winter.

Hang in there, spring is coming along with all the critters we love to hear at night time.