Day light savings has come to an end. This brings shorter days, less sunlight and the cold.
During winter, we start to feel like it’s harder to stay motivated, our energy levels are low and we start heading towards hibernating behaviour, we spend more time indoors, eating comfort food curled up in a warm place, which in turn takes us away from our regular activity and reduces focus from our own health and wellbeing.
The winter blues are very common and it does not discriminate, it’s ok to take a break from your daily routine, it’s also ok to not feel happy 100% of the time, but it’s a good idea to monitor your own mood. If you feel like you are unable to get your motivation back, if you are unable to shake you low energy levels, the lack in concentration and distribution in eating and sleeping patterns you should reach out and seek help.
There are a few things you can do to help ease the slump of the winter blues such as:
- Exercise – Use whatever is left of your motivate to start. You will feel better once you have finished, and it will start to help build your motivation to allow you to go back and do it again.
- Socialise – Either leaving the house or inviting friends over to see you. Interacting with people, especially those who give you a laugh is a great way to reduce the dark bubble that winter brings.
- Fruit and Veg is always best – As tempting as comfort food is, having bad food to much, plays with your emotions and is a big culprit for draining your motivation. Eliminate the heavy foods such as chips, and breads and instead cook up things such as soups will help keep on track.
- Natural Light – Although during winter there isn’t much sunlight around. Getting outside with fresh air and natural light allows your body to intake natural vitamins and exhale bad energy.
If you feel like you are suffering or if you are prone to suffering the “Winter Blues” contact Happiness Matters today to make an appointment to speak with one of our trained counsellors to help guide you through some strategies to help get you through winter.