Winter blahs, cold temperatures, lack of sunlight, and being stuck in smaller spaces can really put a damper on your health and happiness. You might feel dried out, cold, claustrophobic, and like it is going to be dark forever. Where have the hours in the day gone?
This article will provide some ideas for how to keep yourself feeling your best until spring arrives.
1. Use Humidifiers – Winter often means dry sinuses, bloody noses, and allergens flying and hanging in the dry air. If you have a forced-air furnace or other dry heat in your home, a humidifier is a life saver. If you have a small home, 1-2 humidifiers are best. If your house is medium sized, use three or four. If you have a larger home, it is best to put one in every room that you use often. Guest bedrooms may not be necessary, unless you have guests. If you do not have a heating method that dries the air out in winter, disregard this tip.
2. Make Room – One of the hardest things about winter is being stuck indoors. If you have a small living space, find out if you can move things, organize things, give things away, or throw things away to make room in your home. You may even be able to find storage space in your attic, garage, or somewhere else on your property. If you make some space, you can move around more freely. This leaves more space to work out and play at home. You will be surprised how much more space can make you feel better.
3. Sunshine Replacements – First step is to be sure you’re getting enough vitamin D. Take a supplement or find out which foods are high in this vitamin. The sun isn’t here to give us that vitamin, so we need to supplement. Secondly, consider purchasing or finding a light box. These are used to trick your mind and body into thinking there’s sunlight. Many people with seasonal depression find them useful. There may be UV ray lights on the market, such as lights you can use to grow indoor plants. Another option is to get a tanning bed, although expensive. These may provide the light you crave in the winter months. By the time February rolls around, this may be more important.
Very few people love winter. It can be very hard to get through, especially in regions with long winters that seem to take up 6 months of the year. The most important things to do are to keep your home moisture levels normal, make enough space so you don’t go crazy, exercise, and try to get vitamin D and light wherever you are able to.
