With the holidays over and Spring break months away, the winter may seem like a long unnecessary cycle of overcast skies and frigid temperatures.
A combination of shorter days, less sunlight, and cold temperatures may cause heightened feelings of depression and sadness during the winter months. However there are several things you can do to improve your mood and make the winter more bearable. Here they are:
Exercise: According to the Mayo clinic, exercise improves mood as “physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.” In addition, the payoff from sweating it out at the gym can boost confidence by making one feel better about their appearance. Don’t have a lot of time for exercise? A Harvard health study from 2005 showed that people who power walked for just 35 minutes a day, 5 days a week showed significant improvement with their mild to moderate depression symptoms.
Eat Healthy: Ever heard of the phrase “you are what you eat?” There may be some legitimacy to this as certain foods may leave you sluggish and cranky while healthier alternatives can actually improve your mood. Dr. Susan Biali from Psychology Today suggests avoiding simple sugars (think white flour products) that cause you to “get a short-lived sugar high and then get hit with a mood-wrecking crash.” Instead Biali recommends choosing complex carbohydrates (whole grains) to obtain a “consistent positive mood.” In addition Bilani suggest eating leafy greens, fish, and protein with every meal, to improve mood.
Plan Something Fun: The winter may seem endless without something to look forward too. To up your motivation and make time go faster, try to plan something exciting for the future. Not going anywhere for mid-winter break? If you are a sports fan take advantage of weekday deals on Red Wings and Pistons tickets. Or find tickets to great upcoming concerts in the area like: the Black Keys with the Artic Monkeys at the Joe Louis Arena on March 3rd or Trey Songz and Big Sean at the Fox theatre on February 24th.
Listen to Music: A study from Pennsylvania State University-Altoona found that college students were in a better mood after they listened to various genres of music. All of the moods listed in the survey (optimistic, joyful, friendly, relaxed and calm) “rose in intensity after periods of listening to music.” Check out new albums from Rihanna, Florence + the machine, and the Black Keys to experience the psychological benefits music has to offer.
Get Some (fake) Sun: While there may seem to be a shortage of sunny days during Michigan winters, take advantage of them and get outdoors. Sunlight releases neurotransmitters in the brain that improve mood. Enjoy the benefits of sunlight even on overcast days by using full spectrum light bulbs, which have been shown to ‘mimic natural sunlight.’
