10 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues
Much of America is slowly emerging from beneath deep layers of snow burying everything recognizable. It is a cold, heavy weight that is going to be everywhere you see for many weeks to come. The winter blahs are here.
Not counting those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder*, which should be treated professionally, there are a few simple thing that anyone can do that helps banish the blahs. It starts tomorrow morning when you get dressed.
1 - Smile!
Smiling, even when it is not heartfelt, is an effective mood lifter. Smiling works especially well if one deals with other people during their workday. Smiling at others makes others more positive in their interactions, and this creates an uplifting positive feedback loop. The more you smile, the nicer people are to you.
2 - Feel the burn
Exercise is another proven mood enhancer. Physical exertion releases dopamine in the brain. Even if you do not work out to achieve the runner's high, you will feel better and be healthier than if you do not exercise.
Try taking a walking lunch. Brown-bag your food and eat it while walking on your lunch break, you will burn calories and save money.
3 - Brighten up to lighten up
Wearing Hawaiian clothing, which uses uplifting colors and is comfortably cut, can be a huge help. It also has a similar positive feedback loop to smiling, where people are nicer to a person when the like that person's appearance.
You are not limited to shirts, the horizons for Hawaiian clothing have vastly broadened with the advent of online stores. Consider a dashiki instead, or for women a sundress or muu-muu.
4 - Lay off the sugar
A sweet in the middle of the afternoon will pick you up... then dump you hard. Try eating a piece of fruit or even a light serving of a carbohydrate instead. Over the long run, even your waistline will thank you.
5 - Sex!
Consenting adults take heed, good sex will elevate your mood(s), help you sleep and may lead to other benefits like improved communications and a happier partner.
6 - Catch some sleep
Set an exact time for your day to end with one hour to wind down. Ending your day means computers off, kids in bed, and night time chores completed. Give your mind time to disengage from the day. Spend the last hour in bed winding down with a good book or a favorite TV show, and when the hour ends the lights go out.
7 - Kindness in kind
Doing an act of kindness will lift your mood and help others. The American Red Cross is taking $10 donations to help efforts in Haiti. (Even if you are reading this years after publication, they will always welcome your donation!)
8 - Play with your pet
A great excuse to simply play. Play is a mood lifting and mind-expanding activity that lets us express ourselves and enjoy life. Billions of children can't be wrong, and your pet will like you more.
9 - Sing-sing
Seriously, sing. An old song is like an old friend, and singing along as you drive to or from work will whisk you back to happier days. When is the last time you belted out the Star Spangled Banner?
10 - Cry if you have to
If you are feeling down, and just can't seem to shake it off, have a good cry. Find a setting where you will not be disturbed, turn off the phones, and sit in the quiet. Concentrate on what you feel about your troubles more than the troubles themselves. Sometimes a good cry is exactly what you need.
*Shortened to the aptly named "SAD", it effects between 1.5 to 1.9 percent of all Americans according to the CDC in Atlanta.
With the recent completion and publication of our newest site, it may come as a surprise that it is not selling anything Hawaiian.
