Fighting the Winter Blues....

If you're like me, you experience a few days of the "Winter blues" (or Seasonal Affective Disorder) around this time of year. I LOVE the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our Savior & the first snow fall, but the lack of sunshine gets me down every once in a while. Here are some symptoms which may be caused by S.A.D....

• low energy


• excessive sleep- okay, most of us can't do this anyway, but if you want to, you may be experiencing SAD


• over-eating


• weight gain


• severe depression

For me, it's just a 'blah' feeling every few days around this time of year! Thankfully, we don't have to stay there, wallowing in the 'blah'. Here are some ideas to help keep our energy levels up and moods positive:

• Make a point to RELAX every morning...for me, this means reading my Bible before everyone gets up...with a hot cup of tea!!


• Take a walk outdoors in midday winter sunlight- even bundle the kids up and take them out...the sunlight's great for them, too!


• Exercise- This does wonders for your Psyche! It gets the good hormones flowing


• Eat healthy-avoid sugar as much as possible, because sugar only increases the ups and downs of mood swings


• Schedule fun activities with friends and family


• Take your Vitamins. I take 400ui of Vitamin D and a good mix of B vitamins. Increase the amount of Vitamin B in the week before your period and up the calcium to help combat PMS moodiness.


• Get a pass to the tanning salon. I know quite a few people who keep their moods up by tanning all winter long. And, they are beautifully tan!!


• Try a S.A.D. Light. I bought one of these the first year I moved to Boardman to see if it could help me weather the..well..weather. It didn't really help because I didn't use it regularly, but it did come in handy for Isaiah's Jaundice. I have read alot that the "Happy lights" do help with SAD.
• Do something great for someone else. Thinking of others really gets our minds off of ourselves!! This works for me!

Are there ways that you have learned to enjoy the winter months? If so, please share! We would love to hear your ideas!