10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues!

Day-to-day functioning alone is a hit and miss for us chronies, but dealing with winter ups the ante to a whole new level. Dry and flaking skin, joint pain, inability to warm up from poor circulation, fatigue, depression…the list goes on.


Here is my list of the 10 ways I tackle the winter season and stay positive:

1. Remember your vitamins! With the lack of sunlight during the winter months, it’s easy to become depleted of Vitamin D. I take “Ddrops” (10,000ius once per day). You can buy them at any pharmacy. I also keep watch of my levels of vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin B6 and essential fatty acids (evening primrose oil).
2. Make soup. Not only is homemade soup full of electrolytes and other healthy goodness, it’s fun to make, easy on the digestive system, and it warms you to your core! I switch between yellow split pea with ham soup and sweet cabbage soup. Feel free to e-mail me if you would like the recipes.
3. Create your own “happy place”. Mine consists of a hot bubble bath with essential oils like eucalyptus and tea tree oil, candles, ocean/tropical music.
4. Sip tea. Right now my favorite teas are Bengal Spice or Passion Flower. You don’t need to add sugar. I take the passion flower before bed to warm me up and help with falling asleep. It’s also said to work wonders for anxiety.
5. Keep busy. One of my best depression coping mechanisms is the art of distraction. Read, write, watch a movie, take the dog for a walk, bake some cookies, call a friend, catch up on the list of e-mails you’ve been meaning to get to. I must admit I cannot start my day without my “to do” list to motivate me and help me feel productive.
6. Online shopping! I seem to catch something anytime I go anywhere densely populated – such as the mall. Those places are infested with sick people and germs, and even moreso during the “sick season”. Quick fix? Shop online! Stay in your warm pjs with a cup of hot cocoa and shop your heart away. I like to browse the used book selection on Amazon or check out handmade items on Etsy.ca.
7. Get a new perspective. This year, I am choosing to see the cold months through a different lens: my camera! Winter landscapes are a work of art…snowflakes and frosty trees. Perhaps there is a local festival of lights that you can check out. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
8. Plan a warm get-a-way. Break up the cold with a trip to a hot destination. Half the fun is in the planning. It doesn’t cost much to go to an all-inclusive destination for a week. And a week is all you need sometimes to rejuvenate. I search for deals on Expedia or Flight Centre.
9. Yoga. I don’t enjoy sports much, especially not outside winter sports. I don’t like being cold and I’m just not very good at athletics. But one exercise and relaxation method I absolutely adore is yoga. Strength, flexibility, helps circulation and digestion, mindful, peaceful, calm, relaxing.
10. Sleep. Take naps. Winter is a season of hibernation for many animals! Turn off the guilt switch. Turn on the fireplace, cuddle up in your favorite comforter and watch your all-time favorite chick flick. Use this time to rest and get some much-needed puppy snuggles or cuddles from your partner.

Next week I will share with you more specific ways of dealing with depression (all year round). I created a handy reference card full of coping strategies that you can print or save to your smart phone for easy access when you hit those low points.