How to Beat Winter Blues

Winter has definitely set in. The chaotic week of non-stop attending of parties has just taken its place. And somehow my mood has become very cold and bit gloomy, in which I have mistaken for a mood disorder. Reading wide, I realized that the winter weather is in some way playing with our feelings. Definitely it's not at all our mood problem anyway, as psychologists put it many people suffer from what we call seasonal depression. Winter laziness is evident in our difficulty leaving the bed and hitting the shower early in the morning for work. Psychologists found that the main cause is the sensitivity to the lack of sunlight that results from winter's "shorter" days and disrupts our circadian rhythm, or internal body clock. Of course, the degree of this sensitivity, and the feeling which results to depression maybe due to some other factors, such as our environment, the people around and our circumstances.

Looking at social media accounts seeing friends and family enjoying the Christmas season everywhere around the world, made me realize that everyone has the initiative to enjoy and make the most of the season. And for sure, for the most part we are the one in charge of our own happiness. At the end of it all, we are the one in control of everything that we are going through. 

I've listed here some cool ways to beat the winter blues away:

1) Make resolution or plans for the coming year. There's nothing as therapeutic than to think of your future filled with hope and aspirations. No matter what the situation is one can always bank on the hope that everyone can do it better in the coming year. In whatever way the past year went through, we have learned something that will make us a better player and performer of life in the coming year.

2) Meet up or rekindle old friendships. Through the course of time we neglect some relationships that somehow if we look back is worth keeping. Probably the lack of time due to life's demand made us forget the people we were in good vibes with. Winter season is the best time to remember those people as we flounder in our cold, dark mood.

3) Expose yourself outdoor especially under the sun. Since it has been found out that the major cause of this gloomy feeling in the cold season is the outright lack of sunlight, it's a good idea to go out there and enjoy the light and nature. There are so many ways we can expose ourselves to the vast open once again like taking a walk to our work or taking a stroll out in the streets in the afternoon. Which I seldom do ;)

4) Catch up with your exercise routine. If you are like me who is not very regular in the exercise department, winter season is the best reason to catch up again.

5) Eat healthy. Avoid skipping on meals. Sure you can eat up healthy with all the parties going around :) You just have to be friendly so you'll be invited.

6) Treat yourself to any of your guilty pleasures like shopping, going to spa, etc. It's always my guilty pleasure going to massage with steam bath, spa and yes shopping. Definitely shopping means differently to different people at different times. What I mean here is the leisure shopping you do, when you don't have anything to do, or you just want a break from your normal routine.  

7) Feel the spirit of Christmas, embrace the reason for the season. Christmas is the time to remember how God came to the earth for a purpose. It is always refreshing to remember the children's story about Christmas. And as it is at the end of the year, must be a good time for reminiscing the past and looking back how far have you gone in your life's journey.

8) Relax. Winter will be over, and summer is coming again. Winter will not be here forever. After the cold nights, summer is coming again!

9) If things come to worst get some social or professional support. Acknowledging you need professional support is not a personal obstacle but rather accepting the fact that somehow in some ways life has become too heavy for you, and you just need a helping hand. 

10) And lastly,  reconnect with your faith/God. Nothing beats the blues than knowing your Creator is always there for you. Be at peace with your Creator. If things doesn't go well your way, He must have some other better ways. Hang on!

'Till next.