Winter Blues

Feeling lethargic, achy, generally not your best? Are you feeling the winter blues. That feeling of having a hard time finding joy and happiness. There is a wonderful feeling of laying in the sun and soaking in all that Vitamin D that really helps your mood.

Lack of energy and achy feelings can be because we spend more time indoors and have less sunshine in these cold and dark winter months. Vitamin D is essential for those of us who live in climates where we don’t see the sun as often or need to be covered by coats, hats, gloves and scarves. BB and I have both been tested and found out we are Vitamin D deficient. We find by supplementing it truly helps our mood.

Here are a few ways we keep up my spirits and energy during winter months. This is the brand I like, NOW Supplements, Vitamin D-3 5000 IU, 240 Softgels. Please check with your doctor to get the correct dosage. As we said before, we went to our medical doctors to find what is the best dosage for you!

Spend some time outdoors everyday. BB has a dog so that helps her get outside at least once a day to go for a walk. I try to walk in between meetings to stretch my legs and soak in some sun.

If you are working from home right now try sitting by the window and soak in the sun. It truly helps to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Exercise is especially important this time of year. We get fewer minutes of passive exercise during winter months. As we all know, exercise is a huge mood booster. I bought a floor treadmill which I love and it’s great because I can store it under my bed when I’m not using it. I also got a bike pedal exerciser that fits under my desk so I often pedal while I’m working. Both of these help me lighten my winter blues.

Try to get a good night sleep. Both BB and I often struggle with sleep. The less sleep…higher the winter blues. BB has been using CBD oil and has found some relief. We also find the healthier we eat the best we sleep.

Stay connected! It’s easy to binge-watch Netflix when it’s cold outside but isolation can create a feeling of disconnect. Even if you have to force yourself, try to connect with someone at least once every day. This year has been especially hard with Covid but it’s important to continue to not isolate and interact with others.

Keep your mind active. We find that crafts and hobbies help to keep your mind active which in turn helps your mood. BB and I love crafts. Here are a few we love. Paint by number is one of my favorite crafts. Candle making is super fun and you can then gift your creations. Wood Slice kit is an fun way to create and again can be given as gifts. Do you like essential oils? Making bracelets with lava beads is a great way to use your oils and be fashionable at the same time!

One last way to help avoid the winter blues is to journal and reflect on your day. Journaling is a great release of the stresses of the day. After a tough 2020 one of my goals is to start a gratitude journal. As hard as this past year has been, I want to focus on gratitude to help turn the negative into positives.

What do you do to avoid the winter blues?

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