Five ways to battle winter blues

As days get shorter and nights longer, the early dark tends to zap energy and blow in the air that turns everyone into a sloth. If you experience elongated laziness, loss of interest in otherwise enjoyable activities, changes in appetite or constant fatigue, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — also known as winter blues.

This form of depression is often triggered by changes in weather and daylight that occur primarily in winter. While experts cannot identify why some people experience it, the logical reasoning is the hormonal change due to changing weather, such as serotonin and melatonin, which regulate sleep, mood, and feelings of well-being.

The weather may try to put your spirits down, it is very possible to keep up a competition. Compiled from Everyday Health magazine, here are five ideas that can help you fight winter blues.

1. Light from a box

Sitting in front of the lightbox for about 20 minutes to 30 minutes a day will boost your mood and alleviate symptoms of SAD, according to a Mayo Clinic report.

2. Prioritise social activities

The first-line treatment for SAD is setting a routine and avoiding social isolation. Being proactive by scheduling social activities like walks in the park or some physical movement, group game nights, or frequent lunches outside with friends will help fight seasonal depression.

4. Keep a journal

5. Bathe in sunshine

A major trigger for wintertime SAD is lack of vitamin D or exposure to sunlight. Get outside as much as you can during the day to take advantage of what sunlight there is. While indoors, open all windows to let in as much natural light as possible. Indoor lighting is usually dimmer than natural light, and this can negatively affect SAD symptoms.