Although the holidays can be hard for a lot of us, at least they kept as afloat at the start of winter. Now, all the glitz and glam are over, and we’re stuck in the dead middle of winter. The post-holiday slump can be debilitatizing.
Even if you don’t have a seasonal affective disorder, the time between now and the start of spring might seem dreary and long. The blah feeling might linger for what seems like an
You’re not alone in this feeling. No one should be forced to be happy when we’re honestly not. The first step is to acknowledge and accept this. And, then you can make moves to improve your mood if you choose to do so.
Here are some tips on improving your mood on cold winter days.
Take Advantage of the Beauty Rest
Since the number of daylight is much less in the winter than it is in the summer, our pineal gland amps up its production of melatonin, the hormone that makes us feel sleepy. Use this to your advantage, and don’t try to fight the sleepiness if there’s no reason to do so. Your bed is warm and cozy, and the world outside is cold and brutal. So, make your bedtime to be earlier than it usually is and get those extra hours of sleep.
Follow Your Libido
While you’re in bed, increase the bedroom action with your partner. The hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain the stimulates the release of sex hormones, is sensitive to light and circadian rhythms. So, in the winter when it is dark, our bodies release greater sex hormones like testosterone, which is associated with libido. There’s a reason why September, nine months after December/January, has the most significant amount of births than any other month.
Fight the Urge to be a Homebody
Even though you may not feel like doing so, make sure you are consistently hanging out with friends and loved ones. As women, we experience an increase of oxytocin in our brains when we surround ourselves with good company. We benefit from these social interactions more than men do because the combination of oxytocin and female hormones is healthy and strong.
Do Yoga Right at Your Home
Yoga is both a physical and spiritual practice; it increases flexibility while we gain calmness and mindfulness. Especially if the freezing walk to the gym doesn’t appeal to you, yoga is an easy regimen you can keep up from home. It’s a great way to move your muscles and bones, as well as increase blood flow, without leaving home.
Appreciate Nature, Even in the Cold
One, and maybe the only, of the things about snow that I like is how it makes the city quiet. There is nothing that comes close to the quietness of snowfall, and the city looking like a snowglobe. Or, experience the calm ripple of a stream. Mother nature offers us unconditional nurturing year-round, so we owe it to hear to embrace it whatever way possible.
