With winter fast approaching, a lot of people are anticipating the onset of the winter blues. For many people, this is the mild impatience felt while waiting for the sunshine and warm weather to allow the return to sun, sea, and sand. For others, it can be a real drain on their mental health. This is largely considered down to a lack of sunlight causing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

12 Ways You Can Avoid The Winter Blues This Year

Regardless of which category you fit into, it is essential to take care of yourself over the winter months and find ways to keep your mood positive. This post will explore 12 ways you can avoid the Winter blues.

Build A Fire And Get Cosy

One of the definite advantages of winter is the ability to be warm and cosy. Building a fire can be an excellent way to get cosy at home. There’s nothing quite as relaxing and snug as listening to the pop and crackle of a real fire as you curl up on the sofa with a hot drink and a good book. If you don’t have a fire, you could consider wrapping yourself in a warm blanket to get cosy instead. There are even YouTube videos of real fires you could play in the background to get a similar relaxing effect.

Go Outdoors

It may not be the perfect weather for sitting out and sunbathing, but there is still something lovely about going for a walk on a crisp winter day. Exploring nature during the winter months can help lift your mood and get some much-needed exercise.

See Your Loved Ones

Seeing friends and family can be an instant mood booster if you’re feeling down over the winter. It may help to organise regular meetups with loved ones to ensure that you’re never without human contact for long.

Consider the different options you have for days out over the winter. For instance, you could attend some of the German Christmas markets in one of the major cities around the UK. You could also consider a winter break to enjoy some sports like skiing, ice skating or snowboarding.

Keep Eating Healthily

It can be tempting to indulge in comfort foods once the weather turns cold. This is understandable, but unhealthy food can have a detrimental effect on your mental health that will only compound the winter blues.

An occasional indulgence in takeaway or chocolate will be fine, provided you do so in moderation. It’s best, however, to keep your diet filled with healthy food. You could consider finding some new healthy warming winter recipes to try out, like a hearty stew or warming soups.

Light Up The House

Experts believe that SAD is caused by the lowered contact with natural light from the shortened winter days. Keeping your house lit up can help negate this impact. You could consider getting a SAD lamp, which mimics natural light and can help you feel happier and more positive.

You could also use lighting to make your home cosier. Instead of white lights, which can give a space a clinical feel, consider investing in warm yellow lights that will give your home a snug glow. You could consider getting some string lights for the bedroom or putting in dimmer switches that will give you control over how bright or relaxed the light is in each room.

Treat Yourself To A Perfect Smile

Pampering yourself can be a fantastic way to boost your mood. Not only can working on your appearance make you feel more confident, but it can also help chase away the winter blues. One great way to do this is to work on getting the perfect smile.

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Start A New Hobby

Trying something new can be an excellent way to break out of a rut and keep your mind occupied and active throughout the winter. There are many options to try, from crafts like embroidery or woodworking to fun activities like puzzles or colouring books. Working with your hands can also be very therapeutic.

Stick To Your Schedule

It’s easy for our schedule to become fuzzier as the days get longer. With it becoming dark earlier and earlier, it can interfere with mealtimes and morning and bedtimes. Humans are creatures of habit and getting out of your routine can compound feelings of stress and anxiety that the winter blues can cause.

It’s a good idea to make a schedule for yourself and stick to it as strictly as possible. This means going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, and ensuring you eat at regular intervals. It may help to work out your schedule with the others in your household to help you stick with it.

Have A Haircut

Getting a fresh haircut can help boost your confidence and raise your mood. You could consider getting a drastic change to help you feel rejuvenated. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could consider getting your hair dyed a bright, vibrant colour to help bring some extra fun and spontaneity to the season.

Get Mental Health Help

Talking to a mental health professional can be invaluable if you feel like your low mood is getting worse and you’re worried that you’re suffering from SAD or another mental health issue. There are counsellors, therapists and psychotherapists that specialise in SAD and will be able to guide you through what you’re feeling. They will also be able to help with any other issues concerning you and provide you with healthy coping mechanisms to get you through tough times.

Stay Active

There is a clear link between exercise and improved mental health. While it may be tempting to hibernate the winter away, this will only make your winter blues worse. Instead, be strict and make yourself do exercise throughout the winter.

You could consider a cardio workout like running. Some even consider winter the best time for running, as the chill air helps cool you down when you get hot and sweating. If running in the cold doesn’t appeal, you could consider an exercise class indoors like yoga. For some added warmth, you could even try out hot yoga!

Go For A Spa Day

Treating yourself to a spa day can be the perfect way to boost your mood over winter. You could consider getting some friends together and having a full day of pampering and fun. You could get a facial, go for mani-pedis and, of course, get a soothing full body massage to ease away all of the stress and tension you’ve been carrying.

Winter months don’t last forever

Tackling the winter blues or SAD can be challenging. It is important to remember that the winter months don’t last forever, and there is plenty of joy and happiness to be found even in the depths of winter. It’s best to try and keep yourself busy doing the things you enjoy and seeing the people you love. Avoid the temptation to stay indoors all the time and overindulge in comfort food. Instead, seek out new experiences and keep taking care of yourself and your health.