Winter is in full swing, which means longer nights, colder days, and a lack of vitamin D. It can be challenging to get through these frigid months, especially right after the holidays when all the buzz and commotion of the season has settled. It can feel as if there is nothing to look forward to anymore!
Here are four simple ways to beat the winter blues and start your new year on a positive note.
1) Stay Active
Although it can be difficult to make your way to a workout class or get outside for your morning walk in the frigid winter air, staying active is extremely important for your physical and mental health! According to the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week and two days of muscle-strengthening activity. Find something you enjoy, and stick with it. Physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, which is exactly what you need to abolish your winter blues.
2) Eat Healthily
A healthy balanced diet is key to feeling your best, especially after indulging during the holiday season. Reduce your bloating and improve your digestion by drinking plenty of water each day and eating an array of whole, colorful foods. Dark, leafy greens, oranges, tomatoes, and even fresh herbs are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Adding frozen peppers, broccoli, or onions to stews and omelets gives them a quick and convenient boost of color and nutrients. When you nourish your body from within, your outward appearance begins to glow!
3) Try Light Therapy
A decrease in sunlight can disrupt your body’s circadian rhythms and cause a drop in serotonin and vitamin D levels, leading to depressive symptoms. Be sure to supplement your Vitamin D through your diet or light therapy.
Light therapy can help regulate your body’s circadian rhythms and its natural release of the hormones that help you feel energized and the ones that help you sleep. One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to 2 hours a day.
4) Invest in a Winter Bouquet
Flowers add beauty and magic to your home, especially in the winter when everything outside is lifeless and frozen. Smelling flowers has been proven to relieve anxiety and reduce stress levels, common winter blues symptoms.
Consider buying yourself, a friend, or a family member a beautiful bouquet this winter to brighten up their home and give them something to smile about.
At Cole’s Flowers, we have an array of winter floral options. Typically, during this time of year, we assemble floral centerpieces of white flowers, light blues, purples, and pinks. Allow our designers to craft a special bouquet for you this season by calling (802)388-4003 and arranging a flower delivery in the Middlebury, Vermont area!
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