7 Fun Things You Can Do to Fight the Winter Blues

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For many people who live in cold regions, winter often comes with lower energy levels, moodiness, and a tendency to be depressed. 

This combination is what’s often referred to as the “winter blues”. If you’re feeling this way in the winter, the good news is there are things you can do shake off that feeling and improve your sense of well-being.

Start With the Right Mindset

Most people are unfamiliar with the Norwegian disposition to winter. In Scandinavia, winter is often thought of as a season that people should enjoy. 

Although this is an unusual perspective, it really does help change how people feel. This is why many Norwegians tend to welcome the winter with joy or equanimity, even though it snows more over there than it does here. 

Think of winter as the time to reconnect with friends and family, indulge in your favourite drinks, build or make fires, and get a lot of rest. This slight shift in perspective, although small, can make all the difference in how you approach winter and how you feel during the season. 

Open the Curtains

One of the major causes of depression or seasonal affective disorder during winter is a lack of vitamin D. And it’s not just winter alone. People who avoid the sun generally tend to be in worse moods than those who spend time in the sun. That’s because of low vitamin D levels. 

So, open up the drapes or curtains and let in some of that sunshine when possible. If it’s overcast and dreary for days, consider taking some vitamin D3 supplements to replenish your vitamin D levels. This will help improve your moods and allow you to feel better. 

Exercise More

Many people use the snow outside as an excuse for not getting their daily exercise during winter. Thankfully, there are a ton of workouts that you can do indoors without using any equipment. For example, there are push-ups, pull-ups, jump ropes, running on one spot, jumping jacks, mountain climbs, and many more. 

Pick one or more of these and combine them into an exercise routine. Do them for at least 15 minutes a day and get your heart rate up. This will not only keep your health in top shape, but it will also put you in a better mood, and keep you energised.  

Listen to Great Music

Queue up some of your best tracks and listen to awesome music by your favourite artistes. Music, by its very nature, moves and delights you. It’s one of the simple joys of life. 

A great track can have you smiling from ear to ear ad moving your body to the rhythm. People who listen to lovely music often tend to be in a much happier state and better mood than those who don’t. In fact, we’ll recommend listening to good music at least once a day during the winter. 

Go Do Some Fun Stuff With Friends

You can watch a movie together, hang out with friends, or just go outside when the snow eases up. You can also do fun stuff indoors. For instance, look for a fun challenge like the Tiktok dances 2021 or something similar and participate. 

There’s always some fun challenge on social media. Join and have fun with your friends while doing it. If you can’t be in the same location at once, you can all do it virtually. You can skype, FaceTime, or jump on Zoom with each other and just hang out. Some friends call each other when they’re about to eat their meals and eat together virtually. You can do that too.

Build a Fire

If you have a backyard or a fireplace, then you should definitely light some fire. The warmth and glow of a fire can lift your spirit and improve your mood. This is important even when you have a heater in the house. 

Studies have shown that campfires help you relax while promoting healthy relationships. It may be a small thing, but it’s worthwhile. Just make sure to take all necessary precautions while building the fire, and remember to douse the fire completely before going to bed. 

Stay Busy

For many people, spending all that time indoors during the winter often results in idleness. Instead of being idle, how about being more active and busy during this period? People who are busy tend to be happier regardless of the season. 

Write down a list of activities that you can do or participate in and go do them. Apart from work, make sure that you have other things going on in your life. For instance, if you can afford it, travel to sunny climes like Spain or Portugal during the winter. 

These tips will help you feel much better during the winter.