feeling good
1. Be social: Invite others to your home for a game night or dinner, go to the library or enjoy your morning coffee at a nearby coffee shop so you are surrounded by people. Don’t sit at home just because it’s cold. 2. Exercise: Feel
better about yourself and make your muscles move. It not only will make you stronger but will kick in your endorphins for a happier mood.
68
healthylife
to Bust the Winter Blues
3. Try something new: Exciting your
brain and your creativity can only make things better. Take a cooking class, paint or join or start a book club. 4. Volunteer: Giving
to others gives you a purpose for getting up in the morning and can stop the depression because your focus is on someone else. 5. Get the right nutrients and vitamins: Eating well
can always help your
mood. In the winter, comfort foods such as soups actually warm your body. Try to eat good portions of foods with omega 3s and vitamin D to stabilize mood. Too many sweets and carbohydrates can get you down and cause weight gain and sluggishness. 6. Drink water:
Dehydration can be a big cause of depression. Your body needs water. Keep drinking it and your body will
begin craving it. Sometimes people grab for food because they think they’re hungry, when in fact they’re just thirsty.
try “I will be happy throughout the day.” Whatever it takes, keep believing it.
7. Bring color into your life:
something new that excites you and gets your creative juices flowing.
Wear bright colors, bring flowers into your home or add colorful pillows to your living room. 8. Use positive affirmations: Find
your own mantra that helps you stay balanced, and say it a few times a day —
9. Dust off your cookbooks: Try
10. Keep in touch with loved ones:
Whether you write an old-fashioned letter or call them on the phone, reconnect with those you don’t often see. You might just cheer them up, too!
Photos: © Martinmark/Dreamstime.com.
10 Ways