If you have to fight the holiday blues, you’re not only missing much of the enjoyment, you also probably dread the coming of the season. The holiday blues can occur for a number of reasons. With days getting shorter and chillier, getting out for a day in the sun is often not an option. That may lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder—SAD. One of the reasons for the depression, besides the lack of sunshine, is a lower amount of vitamin D that sunshine helps the body create.
Eat for a healthier mental attitude.
A healthy diet is important to preventing depression, but some foods are actually better than others to help lift your spirits. Even though sugary treats may be comfort foods, they will only lift you up for a while and then body slam your emotions back into the ground. Walnuts and cashews contain Omega-3 fatty acids that can help lift your spirits and improve brain health. High fiber carbohydrates such as whole wheat breads, as well as green tea can help make you feel good too. Turmeric spice is an antidepressant. Foods high in vitamin D and B complex are important to a healthier mental attitude.
Exercise for relief.
Exercise is a stress buster and can help you relax, but it also can stimulate the body to create natural anti-depressants. After exercise burns off the hormones from stress, such as cortisol, it causes the production of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins make you relax, raise your pain threshold and makes you feel good. Serotonin is often called the happiness hormone. Dopamine improves your mental alertness.
Treat yourself to a wrap, massage or aromatherapy.
All three of these things will help lift your spirits. Massages help eliminate pain and relaxes you, taking away anxiety in the process. Saunas can supply heat therapy to alleviate adrenal fatigue syndrome, while wraps embrace your body and help detox it. All of these therapies go hand in hand with aromatherapy, by integrating the essential oil into the massage, sauna or wrap. You’ll be treating yourself to a relaxing time, which will lift your spirits, lower anxiety and help you enjoy the holiday time more.
Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep can cause depression even if it isn’t a holiday. Exercise can help you sleep better at night.
Stick to your routine or add to it. You may feel like staying at home under the covers, but that only makes depression worse.
Volunteer to help others. Doing something positive to make someone else’s life better can be so rewarding it can lift you from depression. You’ll not only be doing something for someone else, you’ll be making yourself feel good in the process.
Have fun with a friend. Whether you workout with them in the gym, go shopping with them or just have a cup of coffee, good friends and good conversation are important to lifting you out of a holiday funk.