Go Away Winter Blahs!

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: February 15, 2011

Is anyone else completely tired of winter? I can’t tell you how elated I was when old Punxsutawney Phil retreated back to Gobbler’s Knob, after not seeing his shadow! I’m relieved there will soon be an end to this utterly ruthless winter. “No shadow, spring is near!” While we all patiently wait out the remaining few weeks of winter, here are a few tips we can use to beat those winter blues:

1. Exercise- In the winter, serotonin levels tend to get low when you have the winter blues. Boost those levels with one hour of aerobic exercise outside (even when it’s cloudy). This single hour outdoors has the same therapeutic effect as 2 ½ hours of light treatment indoors.

2. Get Some Sun- It’s gray, it’s gloomy, it’s cold, I know. Don’t let it discourage you though. The brightness of a sunny day (even in winter) is many times greater than the light emitted from a high-intensity light fixture. Bundle up, pull on the snow boots, slide into the thermals; do whatever it takes and go for a walk.

3. Add Some Color- Create light in your personal environment. Paint your walls- go for the bold colors you’re really not sure about. You can always paint over them in spring! Not feeling that adventurous? Hang some different colorful curtains or artwork around the house. Cheer up your winter wardrobe by adding a brightly colored accessory like a red scarf or a fun lime green hat.

4. Get Social- Hibernation is for the bears! Organize a weekly potluck with some friends. In the winter months, it’s easy to fall into the monotonous, daily schedule of office/home/bed. Break the dreary repetitiveness by spending time with friends after work. Get the neighbors together for a game night or dinner and you’ll help each other stay positive throughout the dark, winter months.

5. Plan a Vacation- Plan a vacation to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit. If you can’t afford taking the time off work, or don’t have the means necessary to get you there, plan a mini-vacation. Your destination doesn’t have to be far away. Maybe spend the weekend an hour away from your home. The point is to get out of the stay-at-home rut. Even simply dreaming of a vacation and doing the research is a nice break from the norm.