While the winter season paints the landscape in a gorgeous coat of white snow, it can also bring an endless stream of overcast skies, long nights and freezing-cold temperatures. These downsides tend to encourage people to stay bundled up indoors, preferring to enjoy the scenic winter landscape from the comfort of their windows.
Unfortunately, the winter season can also cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can cause depression, bad moods and a general lack of energy. The good news is that when you recognize that you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder, there are steps that you can take to help improve your condition.
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Take Vitamin D Pills
It is well-known that vitamin D is one of the most important supplements you can take in the winter because we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight. During the winter, the days are shorter, so there are fewer hours in which we have the opportunity to have direct contact with the sun. It is also colder, so it is less likely that you’ll stay outdoors for long periods. If you suspect that you are running on low vitamin D levels, the easiest remedy is to take supplements.
Enjoying More Outdoor Activities
When you’re faced with the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, along with the usual snowstorms, it can be easy to end up spending the majority of your winter locked up indoors – especially if you work from home and can easily have your necessities delivered to your door. The problem with this habit is that it can contribute to a greater risk of seasonal depression.
You can help remedy this situation by making an effort to spend more time outside. Get started by thinking up a few fun activities that you can do outdoors, like cross-country skiing, skating or snowshoeing, to help encourage you.
You’ll also be more likely to get outdoors in the daylight more often if you prepare by dressing appropriately. Make an investment in the warmest thermal socks and other winter wear to get started.
More Video and Phone Calls
If you’re still experiencing seasonal affective disorder after making efforts to get more vitamin D and increase the amount of exercise that you get in a day, you might also be suffering from a lack of social contact.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for social distancing has resulted in less time spent with our supportive social groups, and this can dramatically affect your day-to-day mood and energy. If you can’t arrange to see your friend and family in person more often, you should attempt to organize more social time online or on the phone.
Buy a Backyard Heating System
One way to help ensure that you spend more time outdoors is to improve the outdoor space at your home. Standalone outdoors heaters are affordable and are usually about as easy to assemble as any item that you can buy from IKEA.
While outdoors heaters can be powered by electricity or propane, the latter choice will save you money and provide more convenient options regarding where you can place your heater since it won’t need to be plugged into an outlet. Depending on the bylaws in your area, you may also be able to install an outdoor firepit.
When you add extra heat to your backyard, you’ll be able to enjoy your yard more comfortably in all but the coldest of temperatures. This will allow you to get more sunlight to help combat seasonal affective disorder. In fact, it will be so comfortable that you’ll also want to invite guests to your yard more often.
When you’re getting hit by seasonal depression, half the year starts to look a lot worse. Get on track to reclaiming the winter months by buying some warm clothes and getting outdoors more often.
