It’s January and you feel like crawling into bed and staying there until spring—or at least until Mr. Groundhog declares warmer weather is on the way. If the winter blues have you down, you’re not alone. It’s common to feel tired, unhealthy and even mildly depressed after the holidays wind down. But the reasons might not be exactly what you think. Here are five culprits to consider, and advice on how to combat them.
1. You’re experiencing post-holiday letdown. The wrapping paper’s been swept up, the last of the holiday leftovers have been consumed, and the Christmas tree sits shriveled at the curb. Don’t be surprised if you’re in a post-holiday funk right now, especially if you’ve spent the few weeks socializing, vacationing or otherwise having a festive time. While going back to work and your old routine can be comforting (see #2), it can also feel anticlimactic. To lighten the mood, clear your home of the post-holiday clutter, freshen it up with flowers or some sweet-smelling fragrance, or give your bedroom a pretty makeover. Plan something to look forward to, such as a mid-winter party or a weekend away, or invite friends over for a cozy game night. You don’t need a national holiday to feel festive.
2. Your body’s paying for all that holiday indulging. Even if you were trying to be conscious of what you put in your mouth this season, you probably consumed a little too much of something, whether it was sugar, alcohol, carbs—or all of the above. And although you were running around town checking tasks off your to-do lists, you probably weren’t working out regularly. Before you reach for the diet cleanse, realize that just a few healthy lifestyle changes can set you back on track. Get back into an exercise routine, purge your kitchen of any stray holiday cookies or eggnog, and make an effort to load your shopping cart with fresh fruits and veggies for a healthy start to the new year. Don’t think of it as an end to all the fun. Think of it as a much-needed reboot for your body. If you treat yourself right, your energy (and silhouette) will be back in no time.
3. Frigid temps are bringing you down. A few weeks ago you needed a little Christmas (or Chanukah, or Kwanza…). But now, all you need is a little vacation. If you live in a cold climate, snow, slush and frigid temperatures day after day can bring you down and leave you longing for a trip to a warmer climate. If you can’t afford a vacation and don’t have the patience to wait for April, fake a warm-weather atmosphere. Listen to a CD of springtime noises, watch a movie set in a sunny location, or read a book that invokes a summer romance. Finally, realize that if you can’t beat the weather, you may as well join it: Get out and play in the snow with the kids. Go sledding or ice skating. Enjoy winter’s charms—after all, they too will be gone in no time.
4. You’re Deprived of D. Vitamin D deficiencies are common this time of year, especially in women over 35. This is because we’re not spending as much time outdoors getting our daily dose of sunshine. A significant deficiency can translate into mild depression, so if you suspect you are lacking in this essential vitamin, ask your doctor to order a simple blood test and recommend a daily supplement. Meanwhile, try to get outside for just 10 minutes of sunshine a day to keep your spirits high: Walk the dog, park the car a little bit further than necessary, or take a winter stroll in the afternoon. While you’re at it, make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C and zinc to ward off those nasty winter viruses coming your way.
5. You’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Some of us get down on ourselves at the start of the new year. Why? Because we thought we’d be in a different place by now? Because we thought we’d have all of life’s answers figured out by 2015? Because we thought we wouldn’t cheat on our diet until at least Valentine’s Day? Ha! Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean everything should now look picture perfect. Instead of setting yourself up for failure, reel in those too-high expectations and give yourself a break (see our story on Realistic New Year’s Resolutions to Make Now.) It’s only the first month of the year. Baby steps.
From all of us at Red Typewriter, Happy New Year!
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