One of the best ways to fight the #winter blahs is to organize a space. “Being stuck inside for days on end can get wearisome and depressing, especially if #clutter is stressing you out on top of everything else,” Done & Done Home says. You don’t have to do a full overhaul; just concentrate on the areas where you spend the most time, such as the living room or kitchen. Stick to manageable #decluttering and #organizing tasks to give yourself control over the indoor environment and #donate any excess #stuff to ClothingDonations.org. The sense of accomplishment should make you feel better. #MidwinterBlahs
Tag: mental health
Using Light Therapy to Counter Seasonal Depression
Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a moderate to severe form of depression marked by anxiety, fatigue and decreased energy — during the darkest days of #winter. An ounce of prevention may worth a pound of cure, Well+Good says, if you are feeling the full effect of SAD or even a mild case of the winter doldrums. Light therapy can bring some “natural-feeling, mood-boosting” rays into an otherwise dreary space. Mimicking natural sunlight, indoor lamps can be used for just 30 minutes per day to trick the body into a more sunshiny mood. #MidwinterBlahs
How to Shake The Winter Blues
“More than half the people living in places where there are four seasons report having the ‘winter blues,’ a mild depression characterized by a lack of motivation and low energy,” says the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute. To elevate your mood, make peace with #winter by spending time outdoors. Eat right, but make a place for a big batch of soup. Drink plenty of water, since winter can be dehydrating even when there’s snow on the ground. And “don’t be afraid to ask for help,” CTRI says. “Speak to your doctor or call your local mental health center if your symptoms are severe and debilitating.” #MidwinterBlahs
Fighting Wintery Feelings of Gloom
#Winter may start with the excitement of the #holidays, but there’s not much to look forward to as the season progresses. Cold, gloomy #weather and social hibernation can easily trigger listlessness, sadness and depression. Combat those #blahs by planning something you look forward to, suggests Well+Good. A social event, vacation or class can get you out of the house and keep your mental state positive. Exercise — whether at the gym or on a brisk, bundled-up walk — can also elevate one’s mood. Or maybe it’s time to tackle an indoor task you skipped over the summer, like #cleaning a #closet. #MidwinterBlahs
Hygge and Wintertime Self-Care
You’ve probably heard a lot about hygge (hyoo-gah) from this blog and others. It’s the Danish concept “of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote well-being,” said the Collins English Dictionary in naming it a Word of the Year in 2016.
At the center of the concept — perhaps not surprisingly, giving the streamlined, no-nonsense lines that have long characterized Scandinavian design — is simplicity. Hygge practitioners are encouraged to relax, light candles and swath themselves in warm blankets.
In a hygge home, everything has its place. Furnishings feature natural woods and fibers. Sightlines are uncluttered. There isn’t a surplus of tchotchkes, but everything one needs to be comfortable is readily available. It’s a space that inspires calm.
Hygge is said to lower stress and improve emotional well-being, or at least many of its tenets do. Warm, dim lighting is more relaxing than bright white lights, for example, and spending time with friends and family supports physical and emotional health.
Researchers found that the hygge lifestyle had significant positive impacts for women in a correctional facility in Denmark. Encouraged to share food and fellowship according to hyyge principles, the women’s moods and perceptions of safety improved.
If you aren’t yet in a hygge space, start by #decluttering. Eliminate any things — or piles of things — that you set aside for a later date and just haven’t needed since. #Schedule a #free #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org to get rid of some of that #junk.
Then, reorganize your #space to be a warm, inviting source of calm and contentment. Turn down the lights. Have blankets and slippers ready. Offer guests a warm beverage, bake some cookies or relax with a good book instead of doom-scrolling through the mind-clutter of social media.
“The important thing to remember is that your #environment does influence how you feel,” environmental psychologist Sally Augustin told Everyday Health. “You can take control of your environment and actually make it really good.”