All the Ways We’ll Beat the Winter Blues This Season

We uploaded and play the happy snaps of our holidays on the TV to remind us of the good times, and especially the sun and blue skies.

Wow! You mean I am not the only one thinking about my own death, which may occur if I am lucky in 25 years? Starting in September when I notice the shorter days, my anxiety increases and a feeling of doom and gloom settles upon me. I feel the earth is dying and so am I. I wonder if one of those lights may help me?

Only a thousand radiators?

I'm a pro at this. ;-) 1) peri-/menopausal women should not be surprised if they are suddenly experiencing SAD, even though this never may have been the case beforehand. (That's what happened to me. I never had SAD before, but once menopause hit, I was having SAD in the winter. 2) to expand on the light therapy lamps (I have this one .... ) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JF3G08/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ...if you are a night owl (like me) you need to try and push yourself to be LESS of a night owl during the winter. The later you stay up at night = the more hours you are awake IN THE DARK which impacts your serotonin (mood). Try and gradually get to bed earlier...bit by bit... and in turn, wake up earlier. More waking hours of DAYlight will serve you better. 3) Allow yourself to spend $ on the most lavish of candles to make your home more cozy on winter nights. Read up on the concept of 'hygge' and how this too can make a winter home feel nicer. 4) Be self-aware. For e.g., I realized that streaming TV is more like a 'drug' than something I necessarily get enjoyment from. Esp. during the winter, I try to watch MOVIES vs streaming, and make an 'event' out of it, planning a nice dinner, popcorn, etc. for my 'movie time'. Also, try to COOK MORE in the winter vs. doing takeout. Food shopping gets you out of the house and you SEE people. Meal prep process = zen. Sauteeing etc. = sounds/smells of 'home'. Meal plating = satisfaction.

I cannot get through winter in Vermont without my Verilux HappyLight, the next best thing is moving to Florida.

There is no such thing as a personal energy field. Please don’t spend a dime enhancing what doesn’t exist.

The best way to beat both the winter blues and the cold is to get outside. Wear tights or leggings under your jeans, cover your head and ears, and wear decent boots if you have them. Walk briskly two hours a day if you can, and it doesn’t have to be all at once. Don’t use caffeine or alcohol, and you’ll sleep like a baby.

And there's also the southern hemisphere.

Chromotherapy is another great way to beat the blues. Sitting at Salthaus Modern Salt Rooms has it and it really boosts my mood on these darker days.

This is EXACTLY what I needed... Thank you so much for this article, which I'm going to put into practise right away! I would just add to this list a bit of yoga, meditation and stretching - and (I know it may sound crazy) a bit of swimming. It may sound crazy in winter, but it's actually a very enjoyable, uplifting experience!

Does the model come with the sun lamp? Prefect for those dreary winter days!

I thought the animated tears were bugs on my iPad...ugh