Of course we love Chicago, but sometimes the long winters can make you feel down. The lack of sunshine, cold weather, and feeling of being stuck inside can take its toll on you. In fact, seasonal depression is a known condition that affects a lot of people who may not even realize they have it. You might find yourself getting irritable, having trouble getting up in the morning, and just an overall poor mood. If it is seemingly for no reason, you might be suffering from seasonal depression.
Luckily, there are some easy things you can do to lift yourself out of this.
Brighten up your room. Make sure you are getting plenty of natural light into your room. If you need to, you can buy sun lamps that are designed to give you the effects of natural sunlight.
Eat chocolate and exercise. Certain foods like chocolate can enhance your mood. Also eating foods high in vitamin D is a good idea since you are not getting it from the sun. Staying active is also important as even just moderate exercise releases endorphin’s that make you feel better. If it’s not too cold, try going for a walk around your neighborhood or walk on the treadmill.
Listen to music. Studies have shown that listening to upbeat music can actually improve your mood.
Start a project. When it is snowing and you don’t want to go outside, this is a great time to start that kitchen organization project or whatever it may be. This is a great way to distract yourself from the weather and accomplish something.
We are counting down the days until summer!
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