Beating the Winter Blues

Happy New Year, Folks!

Winter blues smowman.jpg

Often with New Year’s come resolutions to get to the gym, to eat healthier, or even to save money…but what about a resolution to kick those Winter Blues?

The “Winter Blues”, AKA “Seasonal Affective Disorder”, is a type of depression that often happens during the cold, dark winter months… just like the winters we have here in Syracuse!

Symptoms can look like:

  • Loneliness, mood swings, depression

  • Changes in appetite, weight gain

  • Tiredness, difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much

  • Lack of concentration, irritability

  • Not wanting to do activities you usually enjoy

Do any of these look familiar? You’re not alone! In the US, Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect roughly 10 MILLION people!

While anyone can get the winter blues, it is more commonly seen in females than in males.

So what do we do now? Hit those winter blues where the sun don’t shine (…literally….) by practicing some self-care at home!

  • Get some sunlight! Vitamin D can help fight off those feelings of sadness and depression

  • Talk to a friend- they can be a great support system!

  • Listen to your favorite music- who doesn’t love a good Beyonce pick-me-up?!

  • Meditate- spend a few minutes a day clearing your mind and taking some deep breaths

  • Watch your favorite show- you know you love those “Office” re-runs!

  • Get some exercise- whether it’s a simple walk in some fresh air or a hard core cardio session, exercising can release those “feel good” chemicals into your body you need!

  • Get enough sleep - I cannot stress this enough, friends. Whether you function best with 5 hours or 8, turn off that phone/computer/TV and go to Sleep! Sleeping helps your brain process new information and improve memory, boosts your immune system, helps your body recover from injury more quickly… you get the idea. And let’s be real, we allllll love a good night’s sleep (and that occasional nap!)

  • Take a trip somewhere new- Even if it’s something you’ve never done right here in the Syracuse Area, breaking up what can be a repetitive winter-time routine with something new and exciting can really help perk up the soul!

And if you want to seek professional help to improve your overall well-being, Family Planning now offer Behavioral Health Services to help you with any struggles you might be facing!

Josh Amidon