Fresh and frosty mornings, steaming cups of cocoa and more time to rest and reflect are just some of the perks of Winter. However, many people find the coolest season of the year challenging as they suffer from decreased energy, reduced motivation, lower moods and limited time with family and friends.
Australians experienced some of the coldest weather on record this June and this was only one third into the season. SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression directly related to the change of season. While SAD tends to affect populations experiencing extreme cold and dramatically reduced daylight hours, Australians can still suffer from increased symptoms of depression in the cooler months. Finding ways to prioritise your mental health and physical well-being will help to boost your mood and keep a smile on your dial as you wait for first shoots of Spring.
Get Cosy
Winter is the perfect season to bunker down, rest and allow your body, mind and spirit to be restored. We all spend more time indoors in Winter, so make the effort to cosy up your home so you enjoy being there. Drape soft cosy blankets over your couch and leave slippers at the foot of your bed. Fresh flowers in a vase and thriving pot plants will also remind you life prevails even in the dead of winter and will brighten your home no end.
If being a bit lazy is your style in Winter, make sure it’s the kind of lazy that fills your cup. Have hot, long luxurious baths, watch comedy films to make you laugh or open a much loved book and snuggle under a doona with a steamy mug of hot chocolate or tea. Speaking of hot chocolate, did you know it's a known mood enhancer? In moderation, otherwise it might just make you feel sick. High quality dark chocolate has more of the ‘feel good’ polyphenols and antioxidants, and less of the sugar and fat of milk chocolate.
Stay Active
While it might take some extra willpower during the shorter days of the year, exercising will always make you feel better. Even just a 15 minute walk around the block is a sure fire way to warm up, and a great way to boost your endorphins, and increase dopamine. These “feel good” chemicals will lift your mood and your energy levels. Breathe in the fresh crisp air and you're bound to find a path to positivity.
They say change is as good as a holiday. Shake up your routine and explore your town like a tourist. While a dip at the beach might be out of the question this time of year, a trip to the local museum or art gallery on a grey Sunday will get you out of the house and exposed to new stimuli and might even leave you feeling inspired. Plus it’s a nice way to pass time while avoiding bad weather. Even better if you can explore with a buddy. The cafes and gift shops at galleries are often worth a visit too. Your local library is also a warm and cosy place to relax with a book or magazine and there are usually dedicated areas for kids to be entertained too.
Take Time Out to Rest
Sometimes the best way to reset is to simply skip town. Taking a weekend (or longer) away in the Winter months is a fabulous way to lift your spirits and take some time out to reflect. Low season travelling also avoids tourists and usually has slightly cheaper rates.
There is a reason we are more tired in Winter, we actually need more sleep! We have less sunlight exposure and the weather is colder, so our bodies slow down to preserve energy. Take advantage of the extra long nights and sleep more! Make your bedroom into bedroom a sanctuary with extra quilts and pillows, hot water bottles, heat packs and cups of tea in bed.
Seek out the Sun
When the sun does shine, get out into it. New scientific research is showing how profoundly important it is that we receive sufficient sunlight on our skin and into our eyes at specific times of day. Soaking up 10 minutes of Winter’s sun will do you good, warming your blood and your mood. When the weather is fine take your lunch outdoors, sit in a park, pull up your sleeves and get a bit of one on one time with the sun. Apparently, Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, fatigue and lower immunity. No wonder people in the Northern Hemisphere get so down in the Winter.
Nourish your Body
Choosing to minimise intake of processed foods over the Winter months will absolutely help to keep you healthy and will even benefit your mood. Think easy to digest and comforting foods such as soups and stews with beans and root vegetables, or creamy porridge that will nourish your belly and build your immunity.
Stay Connected
While you might not feel like painting the town red if you’re feeling a bit low, a night in with a buddy will do wonders for your mood. Have a home movie night with your best bud or organise a night of board games and pizza with a group of mates. Having a laugh with friends, or just a quiet cuppa with someone who you trust and who will listen is often all that is needed to put things into perspective and to feel more optimistic.
Whatever you choose to do to improve your mood over the cooler months, the most important thing is noticing if you're feeling down. Simple day to day self-care practices will help to lighten your load and lift your spirits and hopefully help to make those grey days few and far between. If depression does affect you more than an occasional day here and there, check out the wonderful support organisations around such as Beyond Blue or speak to your GP or a counsellor for support.
Alison Gallagher is a freelance writer, resourcefulness expert and entrepreneur. She has been featured in various publications including Stellar Magazine, Australian Health and Fitness Magazine, and Cleo Magazine. Alison is particularly passionate about sharing practical tips on how to live simply, sustainably and seasonally.
