Less daylight hours can often mean mood and motivation take a hit. In fact 1 in 20 people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
A type of depression that is prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter.
So here are 5 tips to support your mood during the winter months.
1. Get outside!
As hard as it is when the weather is chilly, getting outside can be a fantastic way to improve your mood. Time in nature has shown to reduce stress and improve mood, plus a little bit of sun exposure will increase your vitamin D levels!
Increase your intake of foods high in TRYPTOPHAN such as dairy, oily fish, chicken, turkey, oats, nuts and seeds. Tryptophan is used to make the neurotransmitter serotonin, responsible for mood and motivation.
2. Practice Yoga
June 21 is world Yoga day and what better way to celebrate than by rolling out a mat! Taking a few minutes to breathe, stretch and connect can improve feelings of wellbeing. If you’ve never tried yoga before you could start small at home. Try some of the great apps out there such as Yoga Studio. This allows you to practice from your own home. Or for more experienced yogis, Bikram yoga might be just the thing to warm you up!
4. Warm up with some Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are a great way to incorporate herbal medicine into your daily routine. Some to try for mood boosting are oats, passionflower, st johns wort and damiana or you could whip up this golden latte to brighten your day!
5. Seek Help
Mood and motivation rarely just improve on their own. Waiting out the winter isn’t always the best idea. Support comes in many forms, catching up with a friend to booking in with a counsellor. Find one that gives you the level of support you need and incorporate it into your lifestyle.
From a traditional, naturopathic perspective winter is a time to turn inwards and slow down. But sometimes our busy lifestyles don’t allow us to live seasonally. Using natural ways to support your mood and energy during this time of year can feel like a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day!
