January 24 - 5 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Day 24 - Your favorite places or things to do in the winter

"Tis the season to be jolly" is over. "Tis the season to be melancholic" has officially come.

Do you feel gloomy and nasty like the weather around you?

Do you have trouble waking up in the mornings?

Do you feel less sociable declining invitations just to stay at home?

Do you keep on nibbling chips and crackers while sitting comfortably next to the heater or the fireplace?

You must be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

 You can't help it, no matter how hard you try. You can't help the "Winter Blues".
The Christmas festivities and vacations are behind. You are back to work and your routine days just make you feel grumpy. 
Dark mornings, even darker evenings, the cold dull days may leave you more irritable and less energized.

Despite being an introvert and a rain lover, I am someone who also feels blue after the Christmas holidays.

How to beat the winter blues and ease the seasonal sadness when you are an introvert? 

I want to share with my 5 ways to beat the winter blues.

Hopefully, you will find them useful too.

1. Stay in the light

Light helps regulate the natural rhythms of our body and mind and a decrease in sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin and Vitamin D levels thus leading to depressive symptoms.
Even if you don't feel like going outside for a walk, make sure you get some sunlight during the day in the terrace, balcony or by sitting by the bright window if the weather allows. 
Just grab your coffee or book and help yourself by the sunny spot in your house. 15 to 30 minutes of daily sun exposure can make a difference.

2. Eat smarter

It's normal to crave for sweets and junk food on festive days and the following cold days. You want nothing but snuggle under a blanket and nibble sweets or chips. If you can't resist this feeling, at least make smart choices: try low fat or no sugar alternatives to avoid extra calories. Go for dark chocolate which is proven to boost your mood and alleviate anxiety.

3. Stay active

You don't have to join a gym to stay active over winter. Go out to your terrace or balcony and jump a rope or hula hoop. These exercises always lift me up as they also take me back to my cheerful childhood years.
Combine exercise with some music. Research shows that listening to some upbeat and cheery music can significantly improve your mood and energize.

4. Stay connected

You hate taking off your pajamas during the weekends and you naturally feel inclined to reject any invitation to go out. But what if you throw a small gathering at your place?
Plan an event with your close friends, something like a pajama party, cheese and wine or a board game night.
Pay attention to invite only those ones who are really intimate and will not stress you out with their presence.

5. Plan a vacation

Isn't it high time you started planning and saving for your dream vacation? You can even benefit from the winter sales for your trip. Looking forward to your next getaway can keep you excited and anxious for a long time. 

Other cozy things that I love doing

. grab your popcorn and watch funny family movies

. warm yourself up with some homemade soups

. get busy with some indoor activities that bring pleasure like knitting, treating yourself with online shopping 

. dive into some course or book you never found the right time for.

This post was inspired by the January Mind, Body and Writing Challenge hosted by Linda Jean from Witte's World Blog.