Top Tips to Beat Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression related to the change in season. Typically beginning in the fall and running through the winter months, SAD can drain your energy, put you in a bad mood, and overall make this time of year harder to deal with.
To help combat this, we asked our Health & Wellness team their top tips for beating seasonal depression:
Maintain a way to “get moving.” Exercise can be hard during the winter months however daily use of activity at least 20 minutes a day can improve mood and overall functioning. Take a hike, walk in nature, or try different outdoor activities and make most of the natural light.
Eating healthy foods and consuming less caffeine. We can gain Vitamin D in the foods we eat. Enjoy vitamin D-rich food such as tuna, salmon, eggs and incorporate healthy carbohydrates such as pretzels, brown rice, or popcorn. Stay away from sugars, desserts, and cookies.
Stay busy during the winter months. Set goals or an ideal schedule of interests and hobbies that you enjoy. Make time for your interests such as reading, scrapbooking, and overcome the winter months by finding an outlet to express your creative side. Many people join groups as that is always a way to have social enrichment and positive support.
Looking for more support? Contact our Health & Wellness team today to learn all the services we have available to help you feel your best!