How to survive winter, part III: Mood

During winter the temperatures drops and so does our mood. Shorter days, extra layers, extra stress... It's really hard to keep our mood and energy levels up. The most important thing to remember is that it's normal and will go away. But in the meanwhile, here are a few ideas to fight winter depression:

1. Take vitamin D- It affects our mood more than you might think, and during the winter it is highly likely that you are deficient. Find a supplement with at least 1000 IU even if you are not sure how deficient you are. It will also help you stay away from being sick!

2. Set your mood with a help from some props- Use candles. Decorate. Buy flowers. We spend a lot of time indoors so it's better to be cute and cozy. 

3. Bring people together- It only takes an idea, one night of the week, and a few people. You can also start a club so it will be more of a reoccurring meeting, like a baking club, poker night, or food/drink club (I used to have a whiskey club!). 

4. Disconnect from social media- It can waste so much time and add stress to our lives. When we go on Facebook, we waste time that otherwise can be used to REST. If you rest every time you would otherwise go on social media, you will have so much more energy. 

5. Invest in soft and cozy home clothes- I have a matching PJ set with my besties from grad school. It reminds me of them and makes it much more than a set of sleep shirt and pants.  

6. Eat more things that improve your mood- Yes, it's as simple as finding a few things to try; and we need to eat anyway. Research shows salmon, leafy greens, blueberries, green tea, oysters, yogurt, and chocolate are all mood boosters!

7. Finally- If you notice you've been down for a while and it won't go away, schedule a meeting with your doctor. Our mental health is as important as our physical health. Doctors won't know unless we tell them and they can be a great resource.