How To Boost Your Mood During the Winter For Better Healthy Lifestyle

Up to 14 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), while about 25 million Americans suffer from the "winter blues," a condition not as serious as SAD but still requiring attention.

People with SAD tend to oversleep and overeat during the fall and winter. They easily tire, and find it difficult to maintain a regular schedule. Some become depressed and irritable, and lose interest in social interactions. Other symptoms include:


• A craving for sugary and/or starchy foods, usually resulting in
weight gain
• Loss of self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating and processing information
• Tension and inability to tolerate stress
• Decreased interest in sex and physical contact
• Full remission from depression occurs in the spring and summer
months

How To Boost Your Mood During the Winter?

There are certain natural mood boosters that are worth trying no matter what the season. These include:


1. Exercise: Regular physical activity works better than antidepressant drugs to improve your mood.

2. Get your omega-3: Animal-based omega-3 fats like krill oil are linked to better emotional health. In fact, one study showed that people with lower blood levels of omega-3s were more likely to have symptoms of depression and a more negative outlook while those with higher blood levels demonstrated the opposite emotional states.

3. Go to sleep early. You were designed to go to sleep when the sun sets and wake up when the sun rises. If you stray too far from this biological pattern you will disrupt delicate hormonal cycles in your body. In the winter, this may mean that you’ll want to go to sleep a couple of hours earlier than in the summer.

4. Avoid grains and sugars: These will increase your risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to depression (and diabetes). If you struggle with sugar cravings, using the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple way to overcome them.


If you know that winter depression tends to be an issue for you, keep in mind that you can use these tips year-round, long before your symptoms set in. By doing this there’s a good chance you’ll be able to keep a bright mood no matter what the season.

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Success And Healthy lifestyle