Getting Out of A Winter Funk
For many of us the winter season is cold, gray, and has a sense of blah. It’s around January and February when many people feel more depressed or in a funk.
Living near Detroit this feeling is all too true for me. Seeing gray sky after gray sky and staying inside, not because of the pandemic, but because it’s 10 degrees outside just doesn’t make me smile. This year is especially hard because of the pandemic though. I would typically be meeting up with friends at restaurants or at each other’s house, talking, eating, and getting that needed human connection.
Instead I’ve been eating alone, talking to my cats way too much, and binge watching a lot of TV. I just finished all three seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in just two weeks! The cold weather, gray skies, and early nights have definitely been affecting my mood.
But here’s the thing...I’ve been letting those conditions affect my mood. Yes, I am always happier when I see a blue sky and sun and yes we need sunlight for Vitamin D. But we also need a mindset shift during the winter season.
In Ayurveda the cold, wet winter months are considered Kapha, which in a nutshell for this purpose means we naturally want to hibernate under a warm blanket with sweet foods and sleep as much as possible. This is why it’s important we do some things to balance out these natural tendencies.
There are a few things we can do to get out of a winter slump.
Move Your Body - Exercising for 20-30 minutes a day will not only boost our metabolism and get blood flowing, it will also produce dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These endorphins boost our mood.
Eat Warm Foods - We tend to reach for the blanket and curl up on the couch when we feel cold. By eating warm foods when it’s cold out we’re helping our body stay warm. Think warm/hot tea instead of iced tea, steamed veggies instead of a cold salad, warm soups instead of a cold sandwich.
Get Some Vitamin D - Depending on where you live, there’s often less sunshine during the winter months, which means you’re getting less Vitamin D. Supplements can be helpful to replenish this vital nutrient. Have your Vitamin D levels checked by your physician to see how much you should supplement. In the interim, try adding these Vitamin D packed foods into your diet: salmon, tuna, egg yolks, and mushrooms.
Be Mindful of What You Consume - I’m not talking about food here. What we consume visually and audibly also impacts our mood. So if we’re only watching the news or sad television shows, we’re feeding those sad and depressed feelings. Try limiting the news intake to a smaller amount and look for more uplifting shows and music.
Try Something New - Getting out of a funk can sometimes require changing up a routine that is no longer working. Try adding something new into your daily routine. Maybe a morning meditation or gratitude practice. Maybe read 10 pages of a book before going to bed each night. Or maybe try a new hobby. I took up macramé last year and saw a huge boost in my mood from learning something new. Get creative with it!
We all get into a slump from time to time. It’s natural. What’s important is checking in with why we feel low. If it’s because of the season or weather, try changing up your mindset and one or several of these tips to boost your mood.
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