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Beat the winter blues
By Anne Davis
Every year as the daylight hours grow shorter most of us begin to suffer from the lack of sun. Here are some ways to help you through the worst of those grey, dark days:
Have a light on a timer either in your bedroom or in the hallway just outside your bedroom door set to come on 30 minutes before your alarm goes off. This will simulate an artificial dawn and help to wake you up on the darkest mornings.
Maximize the number of hours you experience daylight. If possible, get outside as early as the sun rises and enjoy the rays whenever you can. In a pinch, a five minute tanning session will give you just the boost you need.
One hour of aerobic exercise outdoors (even on a cloudy day) is equal to two and a half hours of light treatment indoors. This is due to the fact that your serotonin levels rise during exercise.
Take a vitamin D supplement to make up for the lack of sun reaching your skin.
Wear bright, vibrant colours. Colour actually can have a physical effect on the human body through its influence on the pituitary gland which, in turn, helps regulate hormone production. Since hormones can affect our moods, colour can also be used to influence moods. So pick a colour that makes your heart sing and wear it!
Change the décor in your home to incorporate brighter or warmer colours. New cushion covers, a new throw, new artwork – anything that reminds you of warm, summer days. Try a new paint colour in a warm yellow or earthy sage green. Bring in a punch of coral or blue and liven things up!
Begin an activity with friends to give you something to look forward to. Start up a book club, movie club or coffee date club. Meet once a month or more often just to break things up and avoid cabin fever.
Keep yourself busy and in no time at all, the daylight hours will be noticeably longer and you won’t have spent the whole winter wishing it was over!
Anne Davis is a writer, blogger, artist and photography buff. Born in Quebec, she now lives in Kimberley, BC where she is editor of and contributor to the City of Kimberley’s Active Community Guide and webmaster for the City’s websites.
