Tips to Beat the Winter Blues

Many of us get a bit down during the winter. It’s darker, it’s colder and everybody’s suddenly tired and miserable as soon as November arrives. But, just because these blues happen every year, that doesn’t mean we have to just put up with them. There are some ways to beat the winter blues.

Stay Active

Exercise is one of the best defences against poor mental health and during winter –  the time of year when we are especially tempted to laze around and stay indoors sheltering from the cold – it is especially important that we make an effort to stay active.

Committing to a regular exercise routine is a great way to keep winter lethargy at bay and keep your mind active.

If you’re struggling to get out and about or head down the gym, why not try putting together a motivational playlist to exercise to? Studies have shown that listening to upbeat or relaxing music can boost your mood and reduce stress.

For some people with protection insurance, one great motivation to get out and exercise during the cold months is the incentive of cheaper premiums. Insurers like Vitality can actually reduce your premiums depending on how active you are, which can be a great motivator to get the exercise you need to combat the winter blues.

Samantha Haffenden-Angear
Independent Protection Expert at Drewberry

Light Up Your Life

One of the most miserable and glaring signs that winter has officially arrived is the darkness. During winter our hours of daylight are reduced drastically and a lot of us that spend our daytime mostly indoors can sometimes miss daylight completely.

Light plays an important role in the calibrating of our internal clock and staying in darkness for so long is known to have noticeable effects on mental and physical health. If you don’t have enough sunshine in your life, there are some things you can do to help you get the light you need.

The most obvious way to get more light is to go outside during the daytime. Many people with long commutes find themselves both going to work and coming home in the dark, which means that they don’t get any time in the sunshine at all during the day. In this case, it’s up to them to take some time during the day, either during their lunch or during a short break, to get outside and take a walk in the sunshine.

If you struggle to get up in the morning during winter, a daylight simulation alarm clock can help you ease into waking and make getting up in the morning less stressful.

This kind of lamp works in a similar way to an alarm clock with the exception that rather than waking you up with sound, the lamp gradually gets lighter, simulating a sunrise. Rather than stressing you awake with an alarm, this lamp is supposed to make waking up more natural, making you feel more alert and positive in the morning.

Brace the Cold and Get Outside

Winter probably wouldn’t be so bad if we got to stay indoors for the whole of it. For a lot of people, the worst thing about the season is wrapping up in tens of layers of jumpers and jackets just to battle the miserable weather. But, despite the weather, getting outside is one of best ways to tackle seasonal depression.

Studies have shown that being out and about in the great outdoors during the winter can boost your mood, improve concentration and even activate your immune system to help you fight infections. Exposure to green spaces in particular has been known to have long-lasting positive effects, so try a nice nature walk or a stroll through the park to get the most benefits from your time outdoors.

Leave the Fatty Foods Out in the Cold

During the cold months it can be tempting to turn to those foods that bring us comfort, which for most people tend to be starchy or sugary treats. These types of food can give a short-term boost in mood, but when it comes to surviving the season with your sanity intact they aren’t always the best options.

There is a good reason why we tend to crave more carbohydrates in the winter, but that doesn’t mean that we should easily give into these urges.

To manage your mental and your physical health during these months, it is important that you maintain a balanced diet consisting of fruits and vegetables and avoid overindulging in comfort foods. While a nice bowl of salad sounds a lot more tempting in the sweltering summer months, continuing with healthy eating patterns year-round is important to beating the winter blues and maintaining overall health.

Phone a Friend

It can be hard to socialise when stepping outside the house is a test of will and activities are limited to those with access to central heating. Despite this, it’s important that you make an effort to keep in touch with your friends and family.

Socialising is vital for mental health, especially during winter when we tend to isolate ourselves. Even if it’s just inviting someone round for a cup of tea and a chat, these small social engagements can help us combat loneliness and winter sadness. Socialising also allows you to open up conversation about your seasonal blues and find support in the people close to you.

Winter is also a good time to do things for others and volunteering can have a positive effect on mental health. There are many volunteer opportunities available where you can do things such as help those that are stuck outside in the cold or help someone that may be stuck at home due to the weather. These opportunities help you to socialise, get you outside and active and can even give you the opportunity you meet new people.