How to Beat the Winter Blues

Though the winter can be fun for many, some are affected by the dreary winter blues. With the cold weather, early sunset, and the retreating indoors, it can be hard to break free from the blues that follow. Here’s how you and your loved ones can beat the winter blues this season.

Watch Something Funny!

winter bluesOne of the most unsung ways to beat the winter blues is to simply watch something funny. The blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder are generally brought on by the decreased sunlight in the winter. With daylight savings having ended throughout the winter, the missing hour and earlier evenings can be mentally taxing for most — but there may be a simple way to circumvent such: watching something funny!

Usually we tell people to avoid screen time when working through a funk, but in this case, putting on a good comedy can be greatly beneficial. Mayo Clinic even notes that laughter provides both short-term and long-term benefits, which include:

  • Released tension
  • Improved mood
  • Organ stimulation
  • Pain relief

Exercise to Beat the Winter Blues

Another way to beat the winter blues is to exercise! Exercise can help you feel better, sleep better and deal with stress. It can also help you feel more positive and gain confidence, which will make you happier.

Most importantly, exercise doesn’t necessarily mean a rigorous workout or training session. You don’t have to train for a marathon (unless you actually are); instead, you can opt for light exercise like a short jog, a long walk, or light weightlifting. As long as you’re up and moving, you’re well on your way to beating the winter blues!

If possible, you can bundle up and do this during the daytime to get some sun. Sunlight helps regulate your body clock, which can help you sleep better and feel more awake during the day. It also boosts production of vitamin D in your skin, which plays an important role in keeping bones strong and healthy.

Consider Light Therapy

One of the downfalls of wintertime is the decreased sunlight throughout the day. As the sun rises earlier and sets earlier, the loss of (generally) an hour of sunlight can be hugely telling on those hit by the winter blues. In this case, light therapy (we’re talking literal lights) might be another option for you.

Partaking in this includes sitting near a light box (which can be purchased online) for generally a half hour each morning. In doing so, light therapy may help increase energy levels and feelings of happiness so that you can feel more productive during this time! In fact, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School Dr. Richard S. Schwartz says, “For both seasonal and nonseasonal depression, the effectiveness of light therapy is approximately the same as antidepressant medications, or popular forms of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy.”

Beating the Winter Blues at Oasis

At Oasis, we strive to build a community that keeps your child encouraged, active, and engaged with their environment. Surrounding yourself in a community like the one at Oasis can be helpful in beating the winter blues, and we’re here to help. To learn more about our camp, please visit our website and get in touch with us for Summer 2023 registration today!