Comfort and Joy

The temperature is dropping and it’s getting dark earlier. For many people, less natural light during the cold, darker months brings on the winter blues. Also known as SAD (seasonal affective disorder), it occurs in the winter months and leaves when warm weather returns.

Symptoms include sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in social activities, lack of energy and concentration. As I write this, I realize I’ve been experiencing these symptoms for the last couple of weeks. Winter isn’t even upon us yet, so before I get too down and out, I will try to stave off the water blues.

Spending time outside every day is the best thing I can do for myself to combat SAD, because effects of sunlight can enhance your mood. Vitamin D is produced in the body by exposure to sunlight, so I take it daily.

Getting up off the couch and moving around is sometimes hard to do when it’s cold out. Any type of physical activity is beneficial, even if it’s just walking for 15 minutes. Staying physically active and getting your heart rate up has an effect on your mental well-being and increases dopamine in your body, which decreases stress and depression.

Staying in touch with your social circle during the winter months is very important. It’s too easy to shut yourself off from the world and just hibernate. Pick up the phone.

Now is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or start a new project. Decluttering my house, and painting and redecorating the basement bedroom will be my project.

The holiday season is a two-month long binge of sugar and carbs. Over-indulging may lead to weight gain and more depression. Eating lots of vegetables, protein, and drinking plenty of water is important. Squash, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and the spice turmeric are mood altering foods included in my diet.

Denmark is a cold country with a long winter, but they are known to be some of the happiest people on earth. The Danish have a term called hygge (pronounced hooga), which means “comfort, wellness, and joy.” I try to apply the principles of hygge to my home, especially in the wintertime. It’s about self-care, coziness, and being a welcoming haven from the cold world. A cup of tea or cocoa and a warm, soft blanket by the fire is good for the soul. A hot bath and a scented candle erase the cares of the day. A movie with my grandkids brings joy. Natural light in my house, caring for houseplants, and seed catalogs will carry me through until spring. Because spring always comes.