How to Beat the Winter Blues: Ways to Boost Your Mood and Energy
The approach of winter reminds some people of the joys of the upcoming holiday season. For others, winter means less sunlight during the day and the start of flu season. The colder months also make it more challenging to keep your spirits up or avoid feelings of melancholy or isolation.
At the Blatman Health and Wellness Center, we recognize that the winter blues are real. We provide a variety of therapies and consulting services to help you manage stress, fight seasonal depression (including seasonal affective disorder or SAD), increase energy, and boost your immune system. We also suggest the following strategies to help improve your mood during this time of year.
Increase Your Vitamin D Intake
Staying indoors out of the cold means we get less sunlight, a significant source of vitamin D. Without adequate amounts of this vitamin, we suffer diminished immunity, experience mood changes and seasonal depression, and feel fatigue and increased muscular weakness. An excellent way to get enough vitamin D during the winter—and throughout the year—is through a supplement, such as D3 with K2, available at Blatman Health and Wellness Center.
Drink Your Water
Our bodies need adequate hydration to perform at optimal levels. Water is essential to our psychological health, especially during the winter months. Drinking enough water can boost your mood and enhance cognitive function. Start with a cold, eight-ounce glass of water first thing in the morning. This daily habit will increase your metabolism and give you an extra energy boost.
Don’t know how much water to drink each day? A good rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces. For example, a person weighing 160 pounds should drink 80 ounces of water daily, which can include hot tea.
Keep Moving
When it’s too cold to go outside, getting enough exercise can be a challenge. However, doing what you can to move around and avoid excessive sedentary time can go a long way toward boosting your mood. If you have a gym membership, get the most out of your monthly fee by scheduling time for workouts. You can also bundle up and go for a walk outside to get some fresh air. If neither option appeals to you, search for free workouts on YouTube and other social media platforms.
Get Some Fresh Air
Speaking of fresh air, go outside and take some deep breaths. Inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide can increase your alertness and oxygenate your blood.
Be mindful of the effect of bitterly cold temperatures and environmental toxins on your respiratory health. Air that’s too cold or polluted can irritate your airways and make breathing more difficult, especially if you have a chronic condition like asthma.
Practice Daily Stretching
If you can’t get outside, it’s a good idea to keep your muscles and joints warmed up. A few minutes of gentle stretching each day can help you stay on your feet and prevent injury, especially when falls outside in the ice and snow are more common at this time of year. Strike a few yoga poses, or use your downtime to practice some light resistance training, such as calf raises. Dr. Blatman’s book “Winners’ Guide to Pain Relief” has an entire section to teach stretching.
Find Humor Every Day
Sometimes when you’re upset, stressed, or irritated, finding a way to laugh at your situation may be the only way to feel better in the moment. Any laughter—from a good belly laugh to waiting for the punch line to a joke—increases your endorphins, the feel-good hormones. Also, if you can’t yet get to Blatman Health and Wellness Center for an immunity-boosting TV wellness treatment, take in an episode of your favorite sitcom.
Try a Holistic Infusion Treatment
At Blatman Health and Wellness Center, we offer several different intravenous therapies to bring your body and mind back into balance. When you visit our clinic, we’ll start with a consultation to recommend the best IV treatments for your needs. For example, you might try a B12 injection to reduce depression or our Glutathione Push to improve mood and overall well-being.
Contact us today if you need assistance in safeguarding your mental and physical health during the winter months. Also, keep in mind that the winter blues can become more serious if left untreated. If you or someone you care about has a life-threatening emergency, is in danger of hurting themselves or others, or is feeling suicidal, call 911 for immediate help. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY).
