Beating the Winter Blues
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
September 22, 2009 6:08pm CST
I read before that people get depressed sometimes in the Winter b/c the sun sets earlier and the days are shorter. As I sit here at 7 PM and realize I have to turn on the lights pretty soon, it is kind of depressing! How to beat the winter blues? Here are some of my ways :)
- Make plans! In the summer plans come easy and you seem to be always doing something. When Autumn hits, plans seem to be fewer and farther between leaving you more time to realize the days or shorter and it's getting colder outside! So make plans, get yourself out of the house, see friends, and then autumn and winter will feel just as good as spring and summer :)
- Turn on the lights! Ok so it will cost you a few dollars electricity, but the second it starts to get dark in the room I'm in, b/c the sun is setting early, I turn on some bright lights! The bright lights actually raise my mood and make me less sleepy.
- Don't nap! When the sun sets early it's easy to feel sleepy and convince yourself you need a nap. Don't do it! You'll just feel like you are wasting your days. Do the two things above instead and act as if the sun is still out and the day is still new!
Do you tend to get sleepy and feel "blah" when the sun starts setting earlier and earlier? What are your tips to beat the winter blues?
2 people like this
4 responses
@malamar (779)
• Canada
27 Sep 09
All good point vivasuzi, and all will help. Also, even if it is overcast outside, open drapes to get as much natural light in the house as possible. Also, switching to flourescent bulbs can really help offset the cost of turning your lights on earlier.
We need a certain amount of vitamin D in our body, and our main natural source is sunlight. That is one reason you feel those winter blah's. The real name for it is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and it affects people more strongly than others.
A vitamin D supplement can also help offset the winter blues. I like the natural or herbal capsule.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
28 Sep 09
Natural light does make a difference, even if it is pouring rain out. Actually rain relaxes me a lot of times. It makes me feel like it's ok to sit in the house all day because it's pouring outside :)
I did know it was a disorder but I don't think I'm that bad with it, I'm just a little bit blah when summer stops and fall starts, but only for a day and then I'm trying to enjoy the seasons the best I can :)
I think I get a lot of Vitamin D already, but that is a good tip for anyone wondering why they feel the winter blues! Thanks for sharing.
@Wilbet28 (97)
• United States
25 Sep 09
It does seem depressing in the winter when it is getting dark so early. But the shortest day of the year is Dec. 22, so by the time the holidays are over, the days are already starting to get longer. We keep a lot of lights on in the house to make it very bright, but most of our lights have flourescent bulbs so it doesn't cost so much to have them on. I think that it helps to spend some time outside everyday. We are retired and don't have to get up to go to work, but we try to get outside for at least a little while every day.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
27 Sep 09
That is a good tip to go outside everyday. It's true that in the winter it can seem depressing if you hardly leave the house. Yes it's cold out, but going out just for a bite to eat or even to shovel the snow can actually revive me! Thanks for sharing :)
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
12 Oct 09
I have never experienced winter at all and my country is a tropical one. Even when I travel, normally it's not winter and I didn't know that winter could make one feeling a bit depressed. If you hadn't said it here, I wouldn't have known. But I can imagine how the sleepy feeling might surface, because when it rains cats and dogs here, I'm always sleepy! LOL..
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
13 Oct 09
While winter can be beautiful, you aren't missing much by never seeing it! The snow is nice, if you don't have to go anywhere. Unfortunately we still have to go to work unless it's really really bad, and that could be part of the reason why some people dread winter. I hate driving in the snow! Many people would be jealous that you never have to deal with it :) I do like snow, but I just wish I could stay home all winter and not drive in it.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Oct 09
hi vivasuzi that has actually got a name,seasonal affective disease and a lot of us get the blues and need more light so
it is good when days are dark to have a special lamp you sit
under and meditate for awhile as it gives your body the
light that it craves and you will lose your sadness . I get very
depressed on dark days and need that sunlight even if it is artificial lamp light. this really does work and on the days'that
are sunny like you said get yourself out of the house.go visit
friends and do bask in the sunlight while you can.being upbeat and happy will break you out of the seasonal affective disease called SAD
