Feeling Low? Overcome the Winter Blues with Self-Care
When daylight saving time ended in November and with the holidays in full swing, it’s common to experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Less vitamin D, cold temperatures and the stress of a busy season can take its toll on the human body, physically and mentally.
Also known as the winter blues or seasonal depression, the temporary condition causes people to feel tired and sluggish, lonely or sad. They may sleep poorly, have mood swings, overeat or avoid social activities.
It’s okay to experience seasonal affective disorder. In the winter when our biological clock is adjusting to less daylight and the emotional impacts of the holidays, we have to double down on ways to combat it. These feelings are part of the seasonal transition, and it’s a good reminder to develop self-care habits we should practice year-round.
Basic self-care involves getting an adequate amount of sleep, eating vegetables and other healthy foods and fitting in daily movement or exercise. Try combating the winter blues by sticking to a routine of weekly work and volunteer events while making an effort to socialize with friends and family. The key is to not attempt any drastic changes during a volatile time of the year.
December is not the best time to try a new way of eating or a major diet. That takes time to adjust, and your body is already trying to adapt to the changing seasons.
Fresh air, light, exercise and socialization will help ease the heaviness of a cold, dark winter, but when sleep is disrupted and the symptoms linger, it’s time to investigate.
If a person has been diagnosed with depression or another psychological condition, they need to be more aware of how seasonal affective disorder can affect other issues such as high blood pressure.
Studies have shown those who live farther from the equator are more impacted by seasonal depression. Oklahoma is known for its mild weather, but in the winter, that can help those feeling low. Most winter storms are short-lived, and 70-degreedays in January can be an uplifting preview of spring.
We all cope with it in different ways, but it’s not a lifelong condition. Talking about seasonal affective disorder is a good way to discuss how we’re all doing this time of year and normalize conversations about mental health.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. For more information on the topic in this article, contact the OSU Extension Center at: Major County, 580-227-3786 or Blaine County, 580-6235195.
Blaine County is on the Web at http://www.extension. okstate.edu/county/blain e. Or, like our Facebook pages: Major County OSU Extension and Blaine County OSU Extension. Feel free to email Extension Educator Dana Baldwin at dana.baldwin@ okstate.edu.