How to Beat the Winter Blues with Creativity

As the days get shorter, colder, and darker, it is common to experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as the winter blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is estimated to affect 10 million Americans. Staying healthy and creative during these times can be tough, but there are many creative habits and routines to not only help you survive the winter blues but thrive.

What is Winter Blues (SAD)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) typically feel the symptoms in the fall or early winter and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours. Some people may experience depressive episodes during the spring and summer months; this is called summer-pattern SAD or summer depression, but this is less common.

There’s still a lot unknown about the specific causes of seasonal affective disorder, but some factors may be related to the following:

Circadian Rhythm 

• Due to the reduced level of sunlight in the fall and winter, your biological clock or circadian rhythm may be thrown off. Circadian rhythms coordinate people’s mental and physical systems to regulate hormones to suit normal energy expenditure. When light affects the body’s chemicals, it can possibly create feelings of depression.

Serotonin levels

• Serotonin is the brain’s chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood. When it drops, you can experience anxiety or depression, and reduced sunlight is known to cause drops in serotonin.

Melatonin levels

• Melatonin plays a role in the body’s sleep pattern. Changing seasons and their effects on the circadian rhythm can cause a disruption in the body’s level of melatonin.

How to Beat the Winter Blues With Creativity

Eat Foods That Nourish Creativity

One of the first things you should focus on when combating the winter blues is your health. Eating healthy foods and practicing healthy habits will set the foundation for a better mood and the energy needed to combat the negative effects of winter.

Besides eating foods that support health and boost creativity, You can also support your creativity and healthy eating habits by trying new recipes from unique cookbooks, healthy cookbooks, and even winter cookbooks. Trying different and new recipes not only helps you eat healthier but also builds new neural connections in your mind that can boost creative thinking.

Take Supplements to Ease the Winter Blues

To beat the winter blues, start with the body. The specific causes of seasonal affective disorder remain unknown. However, what is known is the chemical imbalances occurring due to elements like the lack of sun. Some of these symptoms can be offset by taking supplements like Vitamin D.

Note:

Although all these supplements have lengthy studies on their benefits, it is still best to check with your physician before starting on any new supplements.

Decorate Your Space for Well-Being

Your environment plays a crucial role in your mental health and well-being. Decorating and creating space for better well-being can help beat the winter blues. Learn how to make a creative workspace.

Get Moving - Exercise Regularly

One of the quickest ways to combat winter blues is exercise. A study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. Another study found that exercise under bright lights improved general mental health, social functioning, depressive symptoms, and vitality.

Prioritize Time for Self-Care

Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own physical, mental, and emotional health. Because you’re stuck inside more during the winter and spend more time being less social, winter is a great time to prioritize self-care and define what it means for you. Self-care can be separated into five categories, physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional. When defining self-care for yourself and what type you need, the most important thing is to learn more about yourself. That’s what self-care is really about. As winter blues bring up new anxieties and depression, turn into it and learn more about your own needs so you can better care for yourself during hard times.