If the winter blahs have got you down, don't despair!
Here's how to put a spring back in your step. These tips come from Woman's World magazine:
- First, start a morning mantra. Every morning when you wake up, say out loud: "Wow, what a great morning!" Why? When you complain about how tired you feel, it actually reinforces that feeling. But when you say you're energized, you start to believe it, and you'll feel happier and more alert when your feet hit the floor.
- Another way to defrost the Winter blahs: pay a compliment. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that praising someone else's performance or saying they look nice doesn't just make them feel good. It also gives you a boost of feel-good brain chemicals, and makes you happier, too!
- Then, sing out loud! It starts vibrations in the brain that trigger mood-boosting endorphins. And the rush of extra oxygen gives you an immediate burst of energy.
- One final way to beat the Winter blahs: Turn down the lights! You already know that exposure to daylight boosts your mood. But new studies show that artificial lights at night can make you blue. Why? In winter, you keep the lights on longer, which messes up your sleep-wake cycles, and leads to insomnia and depression. So, use the minimum amount of light you need each evening, and you'll be much happier this winter.
