Though the holiday season is supposed to be the hap-happiest season of all, it’s really easy for the longer nights, colder weather, excess time indoors, and sometimes even upsetting memories to slowly creep up on you. Especially for those prone to depression and anxiety, this time of the year can be a bit tough for a lot of people. But you can fight back. Lucky for us, we don’t have to always stay defenseless against this seasonal plague of the mind. With the help of some of your closest family and friends, this season can be a great reminder of how strong you can be. Nothing is foolproof, and depression and anxiety cannot be cured with a simple tip or trick. However, I thought of some of the most helpful things I do personally to tell my seasonal depression to go suck it, and they make me feel a tad bit better when everything else feels wrong. And you might benefit from them, too!
1. Turn on more lights.
This time of the year, it gets darker much earlier. It’s really easy to be hanging around and allow the room to get dark at 5 P.M., which might make you feel lazier and more fatigued, keeping you on the couch or in your bed when you should be doing something that would make you happy and fulfilled. Before the sun sets, turn on your lights! Make sure you’re surrounded by adequate lighting to keep you on your game and to make the most of your days.
2. Keep fresh flowers in the house.
When you look out the window in the dead of winter, things seem… a bit dead. The trees are bare, the world has enveloped itself in a blanket of grey, and signs of life are seeming to be less and less common. One of my favorite ways to bring a little life into my winter days is to keep fresh flowers around the house. Grocery stores still have fresh flowers available year round, so why not pick up a fresh bouquet while you’re doing some food shopping? That pop of color and a reminder of the beauty and life that comes with spring and summer time are a sure way to give you a pick-me-up when you need it most.
3. Stop listening to sad music.
The winter is bleak enough, the last thing you need to be doing is wallowing in your most depressing playlists. Keep the music lively, happy, and hopeful. Your spirit needs as much calmness and positivity as it can get during these cold winter months, so put on songs that just make you happy.