As winter is coming fast, you will notice the nights getting darker. This can feel very strange as we have just gone from summer. We’re used to light days and nights where the days seem longer. A lot of people can find this hard to transition too. However, this is not something for you to worry about, there are things we can do differently to make this time easier for the mind and motivation.
Seasonal depression
Seasonal depression is a thing few people know about. This is when the time of year effects your mental health, usually in the darker months like winter. Having less sunlight in the day can really affect you without you even knowing. Sunlight is important for us, and a lack of vitamin D can make you feel worse without you knowing that is the reason. Dark nights can leave you feeling demotivated, withdrawn, isolated and depressed. Some people just have winter blues while for some people it can seriously impact their lives. Seasonal depression or in other words “seasonal affective disorder” also known as “SAD” is a proper diagnosed mental illness and should be treated with care.
Get moving
Even though the nights and mornings are darker than usual there is still the same 24 hours in a day. Staying busy and active will keep away the winter blues. Exercising outside in winter can be dangerous as the ground can be icy. Investing in a gym membership for the winter months would be a clever idea. If you can afford it, taking some time out to do a homework assignment will have the same effect. Obviously, you can still go for runs or out with your friends to play a team sport but keep in mind the wither and keep safe and remember to have fun. Exercise is important for mental heath, more than people will know. There is a lot of things getting in the way or getting active in the winter however you should not let this stop you.
Self-care
Self-care is even more important at these times. How do you expect to feel happy when the weather is nasty outside, and you are sat inside feeling sorry for yourself. Surrounding yourself with friends and family is always the best form of self-care. Make sure you reach out to your loved ones as they could be feeing the same way you are. However, looking after yourself and enjoying your own company even in the winter is just as important. Trying new things going to unfamiliar places and meeting new people will really help the winter blues. We know the weather is not as good in winter but do not let this stop you. Bad weather means staying inside and isolating yourself is very easily done.
Sports to do in winter
- Sledding
- Ice skating
- Indoor football
- The Gym
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Squash
