Fight winter blues

2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-31 02:08

Winter sometimes makes us want to hibernate like a bear. Do we really lack light or are we victims of our bad habits?

According to different sources, between 5% and 18% of Canadians say they suffer from seasonal depression each winter. Each episode results in periods of irritability or sadness, a state of chronic fatigue, a drop in productivity, a drop in libido and a tendency to isolate oneself. While many of us have some of these symptoms, not all of us suffer from depression.

So we can ask ourselves if our winter behavior has something to do with our condition? Can we improve our winter mood by changing our habits? Here are some things to think about that might help you regain some of that energy that seemed to have been dormant until spring.

We're not moving

In winter, we don't walk anymore, we go to the park less, we take the bus and the car more often. We do it mechanically, without paying too much attention to it, and this new way of doing things evolves slowly during the fall.

For those who do not practice any sport, this transition means that you no longer move forseveral months. When you think that after a day of skiing or sliding, you feel in great shape, you can understand that after three months of inactivity, you feel a little numb. To remedy this, it only takes a few things: putting on some music to dance, playing in the snow or walking more often can be enough to get you back on your feet.

We worry about finances

During the winter, we go through the holiday season and its crazy spending. After Christmas, the weight of credit cards is felt in many families and can undermine the morale of many people. The only solution to this post-holiday financial stress is to prepare a budget and stick to it. There is no way out, if you want to stop being stressed with your debts, you will have to go through a better management of your finances.

We get tired with family obligations

With the holidays, we also get closer to extended family. We travel to see them and we spend a lot of energy going from one evening to another. If for some it is a time of great joy, for others these family relationships are not even desirable. If this is your case, rather than tiring yourself out putting up with the person you don't like, restrict outings and sit farther away during dinners. If you limit relationships that you don't cherish with tact and delicacy, you'll be less tired and in a better mood.

We eat badly

Winter,we eat more meat, fat, pastries and pâtés. All this is very heavy for our system which is used to eating lighter the rest of the year. In addition, the holiday season intensely changes our diet for a short time. Subsequently, our body is unbalanced, and that is normal. You'll have to rebalance and replenish vitamins and fibre if you want to get back to your normal state.

We spend too much time on the Internet

The judgment of others, negative people, sordid stories and bad news end up having an impact on our daily mood. Forget the computer from time to time and look for an occupation that will help you clear your mind, such as cooking, crafting, playing music or sewing. You'll soon feel better about it.

We feel alone

It's normal, since you hardly meet anyone by chance in winter, except perhaps at the grocery store. Conversations on the corner, impromptu meetings, new friendships in the park and conversations between neighbors no longer take place when it's too cold. If in addition all the people we know are homebodies in winter, they are less likely to call us and a vicious circle of loneliness sets in. If you feel alone, take the initiative to invite your friends. These meetings will also alleviate the nostalgia that almost always sets in after the holidays and the anxiety of the end-of-year retrospective that has just passed.

Heit is probably enough to become aware of all these aggravating factors to feel better. If you pay attention, your efforts to move a little should get you some light and better oxygenation. Also, eating better should give you more of the vitamin D you need during those long winter months.

With a bit of luck and hard work, you will soon no longer feel like humans are meant to hibernate, along with bears and groundhogs.