Tracy shares a few tips on how to combat the winter blues.
It’s that time of year again – we’re rapidly approaching the darkest months. Whether it’s waking up to a black morning or leaving work with our headlights on, we’re all affected by the darkness one way or another. However, I wanted to share a few tips I use to actively ease the transition from summer to winter.
My first tip is simple, make more of the light. If I can, I sit next to a window while I work. I keep a desk lamp or an overhead light set to bright in the mornings and evenings, even if I don’t think I’ll need it. Light is important not only for my external environment but also for my internal body clock. It helps me maintain a level of normality in the darker months.
Walking outside when I have a break, ticks another box – regular exercise really helps me. The winter months send a lot of us into hibernation mode but I don’t let those blankets on the couch pin me down. I stand up and start moving. I find a form of movement that I enjoy and fit it into my weekly schedule. Some people enjoy yoga in their living room, others prefer a frosty bike ride on a Saturday morning. I have a standing desk that I love, I use it to ‘walk-in place’ to boost creativity. I even dance to my favourite tunes while folding laundry. It elevates my mood in a big way. Shake that booty into spring!
Another way I keep my mood elevated while the temperature plummets is to make sure I’m achieving my ‘five-a-day fruit and veg’. When I’m exposed to less light, I crave carbohydrates. I try not to deny these cravings, just making sure I still have something fruity or green. I add some berries to my morning breakfast or include some chopped cucumber as a complement to my lunchtime sandwich. When I crave fish and chips for dinner, I just add roasted broccoli to my plate. These accompaniments make sure my body is properly fuelled to help me face anything, even that (gulp) dreaded last hour of work while it’s twilight or fully dark outside.
It helps to remember, no matter how dark it gets, it’ll eventually start to get lighter. Spring will return, there’s no doubt about it! I’ll be clocking out with plenty of daylight again in a few months. I try to enjoy the darkness as a natural dip. The seasons ebb and flow. I get pulled along with the tide like every other living thing.
