Three Ways to Fight The Winter Blues
Let’s face it, January isn’t great for students. An epic workload, cold waits for the bus, full blown darkness at 5:02 p.m. It’s not surprising so many people suffer from seasonal depression, while others just simply go into a funk.
A U.K. psychologist has even gone so far as singling out January 24th as the “most depressing day of the year,” factoring in season depression, bad weather, and defeated New Year’s Resolutions.
But you can survive. There are simple steps students can take to avoid winter depression:
1. Get Outside
It may go against every single instinct you have, but get out there. Holing yourself up isn’t going to help. It can be simple as going for a walk. Or if you’re not normally the outdoorsy type, try your hand at a winter sport, just once. Skiers, Ice fishers and snowshoers don’t shut down over winter, they vamp up.
2. Watch What You Eat
Omega-3s are good to elevate and maintain moods. You can find them in supplements or leafy vegetable plants. You should also be careful of your sugar intake. Chocolate can take you to your happy place, so don’t cut it out completely. But remember, winter weight gain doesn’t put anyone in a better mood.
3. Be Social
Again your instincts may be telling you to hibernate, but a feeling of isolation is a big part of the problem. Therese J. Borchard is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes. She says, “I believe that it takes a village to keep a person sane and happy. That’s why we need so many support groups today.”
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