Seasonal depression can impact your health to a serious degree if you’re not careful. The best part about it is that you can get ahead of it by putting a number of measures in place. Here are some of the things you can do to stay healthy, happy, and bright through the cold season.
Get Active
One of the best ways for you to beat seasonal depression is by staying active. If possible, try and get involved in outdoor activities that are going to help you get both the benefits of exposure to daylight and exercise. If this is not an option for you, you can still get moving indoors.
An elliptical bike, treadmill, or even a stationary bike that you placed near a window could also work out well for you. This can help alleviate most symptoms of seasonal depression, among which weight gain is a part. Keep in mind that around 5% of the population of America suffers from seasonal depression in a given year. With some effort, you can make sure that you don’t become one of them.
Eat Healthy Meals
Another way for you to stay happy and avoid seasonal depression is by eating healthier meals. This way, you’ll give your body’s natural immunity a boost and fight off opportunistic diseases faster. In addition to this, you can also take supplements like vitamin D to lower the chances of suffering from depressive symptoms.
Don’t forget to head to your doctor for your regular vaccines and checkups so that you don’t end up with additional issues in this season. Try to ensure that you have enough savings for your healthcare needs so that you don’t end up unable to afford treatment when you need it. This is a real issue based on the fact that 6.3% of adults aged 18 years and older were unable to get necessary medical care as a result of cost, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Avoid Alcohol
If you regularly take alcohol, this may be a good time to slow down on it or stop altogether. That’s because, while it may be tempting to take alcohol when you’re feeling down, you’ll end up in a downward spiral due to the increased depression that alcohol causes. As a result of this, you may find yourself drinking more and more alcohol.
This is an indicator that you may be headed down the road to addiction in the future. Nip this problem in the bud so that you can maintain good health, substituting alcohol consumption with something else that’s healthier. In addition to addiction, alcohol can cause oral health issues, something that could compound problems for the 20% of Americans who never floss, or cause trouble for the 41% who floss every day.
Find a New Hobby
Last but not least, you should think about finding a new hobby to keep you occupied during the cold spell. From joining a book club or keeping a journal to writing a blog or knitting, there are many possible hobbies that you can use to keep your mind active. In addition to this, you should also try and take part in social activities such as going to a karaoke event with your friends. If it gets too cold to get out and meet up with your loved ones physically, you could use Zoom or FaceTime and have a live conversation that will feel better than a simple phone call.
With these methods, you can get ahead of seasonal depression this winter and enjoy good health. Making the effort can help you manage your life’s activities better so that it’s easy to keep up with your lifestyle. Spend time outdoors and in company as much as you can as these are great ways to help not just yourself, but others who may need the company.