Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD)
SAD is a common depression that many people experience in fall and winter, due to the cold, dark, wet weather and the limited sunlight.
Winter is beautiful and I could never get tired of enjoying seeing the snow falling and all white around me.
But as everything is not perfect it brings with it darkness, coldness, and depression to many people.
I live in Finland which is one of the countries with the longest winter. This experience inspired me to write this article.
I have seen how people get affected by the winter depression, close friends, and even I have at some point felt it, and after finding the ways that help me, now I share it with you also.
My familiarity with the topic
I moved to Finland years ago and I have found myself in so cold weather, even -25 degrees, at 3 pm already dark, and the sun does not show up for months.
To go to work when is already dark and get home from work when it’s also dark. only light a few hours in the day. I had to find ways that could help me to cope with the winter.
Top 10 most powerful ways to avoid feeling seasonal depression
1. Decorate your house with bright color
I remember that I moved to Finland in November (fall) and outside was rainy, dark, and cold, trees were not colorful anymore.
I had to do something to have a better mood at home, and I decorated my house with yellow, pink, and purple I realized that every time I got home my mood was different. I used to feel happier and more positive.
That made me realize that colors are linked with our emotions and they can impact our lives significantly. The brighter the color more energetic, happy, optimistic, active, and positive make us feel.
After putting those bright color home I feel like living in a little paradise and it feels so good, I could have never imagined that the colors would have the power to impact my emotion that much but yes, they did.
2. Increase your "D" vitamin consumption
Winter and fall are dark and the sun does not come out often, and for that reason, our body does not get the benefit it needs.
Why do we need the “D” vitamin?
We need D vitamin to keep healthy our bones, teeth, and muscles. It also boosts our mood and makes us feel more energetic. A lack of D vitamin can lead to:
- Bone pain
- Muscles weakness
- Fatigue
- Deformities in joints
- Depression
You can eat foods with high vitamin D benefits or you can buy the vitamin from the store or pharmacy.
– Foods high in D vitamin
- Salmon
- Packaged Tuna
- Cod Liver Oil
- Read Meat
- Mushrooms
- Fortified Milk
- Fortified Tofu
- Fortified Yogurt
- Eggs
3. Put bright and colorful light at home
Something that has also helped me significantly has been the lights I have at home. I have lights that have a yellow aspect but are natural. Try some out and you will see how good you will feel when you get home.
4. Enroll to a gym
I know how difficult it is to go out and walk in this cold, and dark weather, and that is why I recommend you enroll in a gym.
In the gym you can walk in the machine, it is warm inside, you going to be around people and it helps to have a better mood.
Working out during that time has been an activity that has improve my body and well-being a lot.
Some people also enjoy walking in the snow or enjoying that cold weather if you are one of them, go for a walk outside just do not stay home every day. Our body needs to move, and staying only at home is not healthy for your body or mind and it will increase depression.
5. Socialize
When we feel depressed we only want to be alone, but that does not make us feel any better.
Socialize with people, go and do activities in a group, and talk with people, we humans are not meant to be alone all the time.
If you do not have friends try to meet new people:
- Coffee places
- GYM
- Malls
- Courses
- Sports Group
- some safe sites online
6. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol is not good for our health and is worse to drink it when we are going through depression, it makes the situation worse even though sometimes we think that it makes us forget the problem.
Never mix alcohol with depression because it might take you where you going to regret later.
Remember that alcohol destroys your mind, family, and friends and it takes from you everything you have.
7. put natural plant at home
Put some natural plants at home. Just make sure you take care of them so they last long. Just do not do like I did, I forgot about them and they died but now I take good care of them after knowing the benefits they provide.
List of benefits of having indoor plants
- They help to recover from mental fatigue
- They improve your well-being and health
- They improve environmental wellness
- They keep the house smelling naturally
- They make the house more beautiful
- They improve your productivity
- They improve your learning activities
- They improve the air quality
8. Get a pet
If you are an animal lover, and you have the space, time, and money to take care of them t, then maybe is time to get a pet.
Benefits of having a pet
- They enrich your lifestyle
- They reduce loneliness
- They keep you more active
- They help you to socialize
- They help you walk more
- they help you do more outdoor activities
- They help you to lose weight
- They give you love
- they make you more affectionate
- They help you sleep better
- They can make your memory improve
- They reduce blood pressure
9. Try winter sports
6 most popular sports played in Winter
They are many sports that can be played in winter, try something out!.. “If you cannot beat your enemy join them”.
Take out from your mind “THAT I HATE WINTER” instead do something fun. Remember that our mind has a good memory, anything we put there that is what will stay.
1. Ice skating
2. Skiing
3. Snowboarding
4. Sledding
5. Indoor swimming
6. Ice fishing
10. Contact a specialist
Remember that many professionals are willing to help you. Do not feel shy to contact them.
Some people have in their mind that talking to a specialist is for crazy people, but that is wrong. it is something normal to seek professional help.
Remember they studied for that and they know the right way to help.
Conclusion
In this article, I listed the 10 most powerful ways to avoid seasonal depression, because this problem is a common problem that affects many people.
I have done most of them and they have helped me to cope the seasonal depression and improve my quality of life.
Keep yourself warm, so you can enjoy the weather and you not get sick. Get appropriate clothes for the weather.
Please share!
If a loved one of yours or anybody you know is suffering from seasonal depression or depression in general please share this article with them, they might find some benefit to improving their lifestyle.
"Your answer to the following questions will be highly appreciated"
Please answer the following questions in the box comment located at the end of this article to help more readers with seasonal depression.
1. Which of the ways to avoid seasonal depression listed in this article do you use?
2. What other ways do you recommend to avoid seasonal depression?
Before you go. Remember to take a look at the related post below to find out what are the best product reviews that help to avoid seasonal depression.
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