How to Beat the Winter Blues

January 7, 2019

A picture of snow and a picture of a woman on the beach with the words meanwhile back in florida

With the winter winds breathing down your neck, how can you beat the winter blues? Many suffer from an illness called Seasonal Affectivity Disorder (SAD) during the winter time since their body is receiving less natural light and producing less Vitamin D. If going to visit your favorite beach location (ahem, us) isn’t an option, try trimming branches away from windows and opening the curtains during the day to allow more light in. Getting 30 minutes of sun per day can be more effective than an antidepressant.

According to an article by Healthline, certain foods have been known to help ease the winter blues. Foods with tryptophan like turkey and bananas help calm you (and can cause a turkey coma). Foods with Vitamin B12 and folic acid like leafy greens, salmon, eggs and cheese could help stimulate serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter linked to mood. Also, since your body isn’t producing as much Vitamin D, eating foods with high amounts of it like egg yolks, mushrooms and milk could boost your mood. And, of course, chocolate! Dark chocolate is linked with mood boosters so grab a bar with the highest cocoa content.

One of my favorite ways to beat a bad mood is to put on cheery music and dance around the house. So you can pick your favorite dance music and throw a dance party for one (or two if you want). The combination of the cheery music and the physical exercise is a one-two punch to get rid of the blues.

If none of those works, grab your flip flops, a bathing suit and head south. Even just having a vacation to look forward to can help boost your mood.