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How to beat the winter blues

posted by ChickSpeak
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 4:20pm CST

It’s the middle of the winter; the next vacation period is weeks away, and the monotonous, daily grind of school or work is draining the energy out of you. This can only mean one thing…the winter blues have kicked in.

While it may seem trivial to attribute the glum mood you have been in to the time of year, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports that some 500,000 Americans experience a slight depression during winter months called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The good news is there are several ways to shake off that gnawing fatigue and ditch those winter blues:

Nutrition

Perhaps one of the most important factors in overall wellness, and during the winter months in particular is nutrition. When skin is exposed to sunlight, the body natural produces vitamin D. However, the shorter days and lack of sunlight make it easier to become vitamin D deficient in the colder months.

According to Nicole Nelson, a psychology graduate student at Boston College and B.S. in psychology from the University of Washington, “SAD leads people to be mildly or moderately depressed and that it is related to sunlight exposure.”

To make up for the less sunny days it is important for chicks to increase vitamin D intake through foods such as fish, vitamin D fortified milk and cereal, and a vitamin D supplement.

In general, getting enough of all vitamins and eating from all the food groups is one of the best ways to feel well. Eating a combination of fruits and vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates can help chicks feel healthy, vibrant, and energetic. In contrast, foods high in sugar cause a temporary energy high, but eventually cause the body to crash.

Nutritional studies show that eating such foods early in the day negatively affects food choices throughout the rest of the day. The post sugar rush is followed by low blood pressure, which brings on hunger symptoms and can leave chicks feeling low on energy. Eating all foods in moderation is important too, as overeating can further fuel feelings of lethargy.

Equally essential to a chick’s health is drinking enough water as it helps process food, rid the body of toxins, keeps organs working properly, and significantly reduces feelings of exhaustion. Even a chick’s skin will improve with enough water since water always goes to vital organs such as the kidneys and liver first, often leaving the skin dry.

Many times, the effects of nutrition on a chick’s attitude and mental state are widely underestimated. The body is a complex system of many parts and chemicals working together that all need different vitamins, proteins, etc. Not getting enough of one can throw the whole system off and results in an inability to function at optimal level.

Social Life

After a long week of working and studying, it is important for chicks to relax and have some fun. Especially in the glum days of winter, chicks need to spice up their social life in order to keep their minds refreshed. Instead of doing the same activities you do every weekend, gather your friends and change it up; do something you have never done before like karaoke, or exploring a nearby city.

Make a list of several activities or events you have always wanted to try and do one of them each weekend. Even if they are not what you expect, chances are you and your friends will get a laugh out of it and experience something new. It is easy to get comfortable with your friends, but it can be fun to branch out and meet different people too.

Change It Up

The long, tedious days of winter drag on and leave everyone feeling a little bored and dismal, which is why shaking things up, can get chicks out of their comfort zone and usual routine. Take interests that you already like and experiment with them; listen to different music, read different books, try watching new movies, or revamp your own personal style.

Lastly, a great way to feel productive and content is to find a purpose. There is nothing more satisfying than working hard at something and being good at it. Whether it is community service, playing a sport, writing, or working at a local café, start doing it. Find out what opportunities are around you, such as an internship doing something you are interested in or volunteering for a cause you feel passionate about. Doing such things will connect you with people who have similar interests as yourself, and the value of the human connection is what many of us chicks crave.

So for now, we all yearn for the warm days of spring when the air is fresh and the birds are happily chirping away. In the meantime however, get the right nutrition and drink lots of water, attempt to shake your social life and daily routine up a little, and get out there and try something new.