Steps to take in overcoming the “winter blues”
Posted by Dan Falkenberg | Posted in Mental Health | Posted on 07-02-2008
Tags: depression, serotonin, winter activities, winter blues, winter exercise, your live trainers
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Winter is a great time of year to hit the slopes and ice rinks, but it’s also a contributing factor to that feeling of laziness or hopelessness we can feel from time to time. A study done Gavin Lambert of the Baker Research Institute shows that sunny days indeed play a role in our mood and energy levels.
The study found that sunny days lead to more serotonin, the brain’s natural antidepressant, being released; increased levels of serotonin lead to increases in our mood. With winter being such a cloudy season in most parts of the country, my great state of Ohio being one of the worst year-round, it’s no wonder “winter blues” is such a common used phrase around this time of year.
Well, good news head hangers! Exercise is a great way to rev our spirits up and get out the door while whistling our favorite tune. Don’t believe me? Exercise can give us a great confidence because we’re out there doing something to make ourselves look and feel better. It’s a great way to meet new faces, relieve the stresses of the day, improve sleep, and help us forget the things that bring us down. Why? Well guess what? Remember that little hormone called serotonin? Exercise also helps increase it!
So why not give exercise a shot. The effects of an exercise session not only last throughout the next few days, but they can also last a lifetime. Now’s a great time to pick up a new winter hobby, or maybe you already know how to do some of these:
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Ice skating
- Sledding
- Cross country skiing
- Winter races
- Ice hockey
- Walking the mall (Many malls allow walkers to use the center part, even when the stores are closed.)
- Building a snowman or snow fort (If you’ve ever done it, you know how hard it is to build a serious one!)
- Tackle football in the snow (This is one of my favorites.)
- Going on a hike (My wife and I just did this when it snowed; it was so pretty to see everything snow-covered.)
These are just some ideas, Active.com is a great site for other ideas and events going on in your area, and if you don’t like any of those, there’s always online fitness training with Your LiveTrainers. (You knew I had to throw that in there.)
