Leaves are falling from the trees, and your dog starts covering all seats of your car with his hair, the alarm starts ringing at 6am and there is not even a slightest sign of the sunrise?
After your breakfast things start the same way as yesterday, and you know today will be the same as tomorrow. Looking at the dark morning, you suddenly feel a growing sense of emptiness inside you, which you are hoping to fill in some way or the other.
The empty hole is growing during the day and you find yourself in the same murky mood. You go through a list of things you were supposed to have done, but didn’t … your energy starts to drop and you put blame on many things around you.
While glancing at the darkness from your window at 6p.m. with a box of chocolates in your hand you may come to conclusion you lead a miserable life! Well, my dear friends … this is it! Time for “winter depression”, one of the most common depressions, has arrived!
Why is this?
Depression comes because we humans have the habit of thinking about things; it is a neurotic reaction to the events and their impact on our lives. Animals don´t have this ¨problem¨ because their primary focus is on survival and living the everyday life the way it is.
What can we do about it?
I encourage you to make a ¨Winter Kit¨. Time for ACTIONS ¨BeACTIVE¨…
COLD SATURDAYS: Make a list of things that you didn’t fancy doing in the heat of the summer.
Let´s take a look!
A, If you like cooking: perhaps it is a good idea to finally try that new recipe you had read in the magazine and making a special dish for your loved ones. This keeps you active and allows you to share a new moment with them. If you live alone, perhaps you can invite a group of friends to show off your culinary skills. You could make it your resolution to try to make one new recipe every week. After all, wintertime is a perfect time for cooking!
B, If you like reading: finally find time to read that book you got for your birthday or pop into the library and browse through the books until you find a few that catch your imagination. Create a comfy corner at home, snuggle up with a blanket, make a cup of tea and just relax and enjoy the story. Make a list of books you would like to read this winter and stick with it.
C, What about films? In the summer time we spent most of our time outdoors making the most of warm evenings and late night BBQ’s with our friends. Wintertime is the perfect time to catch up with movies, with a bowl of popcorn in front of cozy fire. Movie nights are a perfect way to enjoy your cold winter Saturdays!
D, and what can you tell me about walking along the sea or in the forest? You can finally do it without the stress of the heat of the summer. Wrap yourself up in a warm scarf and take in the fresh air. It will not only refresh your mind, but it will also turn into the fitness adventure for your body. Try it! It will make you feel better for the rest of the day.
DAILY ROUTINE (If don’t have one, it’s a good time to make it!)
E, Do you have a dog to walk? Excellent! He or she will prevent you from being lazy! If you make an effort to get up early, you can watch the sunrise. It is always a very nice moment to start whichever day with. Relax, let yourself feel what you need to feel, close yours eyes for a moment and try not to stress …
F, Make 20 minutes of the day YOURS! You need them to think about the things you need to do. If you are working, it’s good to organize things to do in some order. If you are not working, it’s a good time to think where to go and what to do that day. It’s very important to plan your days because the early darkness will balance with your “personal agenda” which means ACTIONS. If you keep active, depression is less likely to appear.
G, If you live in the coastal area where the work is more seasonal, winter might be a period when the work load decreases. Sometimes, this fact alone makes you worry and you start piling up worries and unproductive thoughts. Perhaps this is a good time to devote the extra energy into some activity you always want to do but never have time for. Take up a fitness activity or start learning new language, enjoy free time to go to the theatre, visit a museum or whatever activity you fancy. Trying a new activity will give you a sense of fulfillment and on top of that you will also meet new people. Social activity is also another very important factor for fighting the winter depression.
Perhaps you will come to a conclusion that you have many interests that you would prefer to bring to your life. Balance the pros and cons and “be” honest with yourself. Winter is a perfect season for being introspective in a positive way.
Thinking about things to change and you don´t know where to start? Take a sheet of paper, a pen and start. Perhaps it is a perfect moment to start some psychotherapy and put things in order. Going to the sessions is a very good way to start new ways.
Hoping these simple pieces of advice make you live a better winter season. I am as always thankful for your response and the warmness of your opinions.
Wish you the best!!
BEA xxx
I would love for you to suggest to me some topics you want to know about, for sure I will have had some real topics related to it during my past work history, I have twenty years of folders to investigate. You can ask me any questions, and I will give you my contribution in the form of suggestion, hoping it can help you.
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