Banish the Winter Blues - Six Ways to Stay Positive in January and February

Banish the Winter Blues – Six Ways to Stay Positive in January and February

After the warm glow of Christmas, January and February can appear to be cold, somber and miserable months. The gloomy days of winter are mirrored in many people’s lives as they feel slightly depressed and low on energy and motivation. Here are six ways to banish the “winter blues” by remaining positive during those months.

Set Goals

Rather than New Year’s resolutions, set a few goals for January and February. These will help you to remain motivated during these months. Ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-defined. So, instead of resolving that you will lose weight this year, set yourself a specific goal of losing two pounds in January. Then, to achieve that, set smaller daily goals, such as eating an apple instead of a cookie as a snack, going out for a brisk walk at lunchtime, and eating a healthy dinner of salmon and vegetables.

Go Out in the Daylight

It can be depressing to travel to and from work in the dark and stay indoors while it is light outside. To counteract this, aim to go outside each day for at least 15 minutes during the daylight hours, even if the weather is cold and dreary. At the weekend, resist the temptation to snuggle up indoors, and go out as much as possible so that you maximize your exposure to daylight.

Daylight helps to control the body’s circadian rhythms. If you don’t go out much in daylight, your digestion, sleep pattern, energy levels, and mood can be adversely affected. This can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is characterized by a low mood, a lack of energy, cravings for sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods, and sleep disruption in winter.

If you do feel as if you are suffering from SAD, it is worth investing in a light box that will help to boost your levels of the feel-good brain chemical, serotonin, and reduce levels of melatonin, a hormone created by your body in response to darkness. Too much melatonin can make you feel tired and sluggish.

Exercise

Exercise causes your pituitary gland to release endorphins and it encourages your brain to produce a chemical called dopamine. Both of these improve your mood, making you feel happier. Exercise also increases your overall energy levels and reduces stress.

Therefore, aim to do some exercise every day during January and February, even if it is just a brisk 15-minute walk. Take advantage of your free time at the weekend by jogging, hiking or riding your bike.

Exercise outdoors during the hours of daylight as much as possible to maximize your exposure to light. However, if you can’t manage to exercise outdoors, putting on a yoga DVD or going to the gym will still help you to feel good.

Have Fun with Your Friends

It is tempting to hibernate at home when the temperature outside is below zero. However, socializing with other people improves your mood. A study of over 17,000 adults carried out by the research company, Gallup, showed that socializing with one other person leads to a significant improvement in a person’s mood, and, if you are exercising together, both the exercise and the company will make you feel good.

So, make an effort to catch up with your sister while walking your dog, meet a group of friends at the ice rink or simply invite friends over for dinner. Watch your winter blues melt away as your mood improves.

Brighten Up Your Home

Make your home a cheerful place by adding accessories in warming and vibrant colors. For example, you could snuggle up under a throw in a warming shade of red or cheer up your bedroom by placing yellow scatter pillows on your bed.

Home fragrances can also lift your mood. Replace your Christmas tree with a pine-scented candle or room spray. The fragrance of pine can reduce depression and relieve stress. In a study carried out by Kyoto University, Japan, volunteers who walked through a pine forest for 15 minutes reported much lower levels of stress and depression than on a day when they didn’t go on a pine-fragranced walk.

Replace the incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFBs). The light generated by CFBs is more similar to sunlight than that produced by incandescent bulbs. This should help to boost your mood even when you are indoors during the hours of darkness.

Wear Brightly Colored Clothes

Add a splash of color to the winter by wearing brightly colored clothes on a cold, dreary day. These can help you to feel more cheerful, putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. When traveling to and from work, wear a brightly patterned scarf or a hat and gloves in a vibrant shade of red, purple or green. If your office dress code allows it, cheer up your somber business suit with a hot pink top or a tie with a cheerful pattern.

Although January and February can seem like the most depressing months of the year, this does not have to be the case. If you set yourself some goals, exercise, socialize, spend time outdoors, and brighten up your life as much as possible, you will be overflowing with energy and positivity. This will enable you to thrive even during the depths of the harshest