It’s that time of year again when most of us have a harder time with our mood, energy and overall well-being.
If you find yourself feeling down and less motivated some things might help you combat these feelings.
Most of us have heard of the “winter blues” or the acronym SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
The formal definition for SAD is “depression associated with late autumn and winter and thought to be caused by a lack of light.”
So how can we combat this or improve the quality of life if we are going through this?
Well, I am here to go over some things that have helped ME and some of my clients along the way.
Let’s talk sunlight!
If you are like me and you don’t have much sunlight around this time of year you might be wondering how you can combat this problem?
For myself what I have done in the past and what I practice to this day is supplementing extra with Vitamin D and/or using tanning beds for general health purposes. (I don’t use it for cosmetic purposes. Using tanning beds for longer periods can cause skin damage and or further health complications)
Everyone has a different skin tone so please make sure you do your research before going all in. I have even found just going for 5 mins in a tanning bed has made an immense difference for my mood and overall well-being.
For Vitamin D supplementation I take around 4000 IU a day. Again I have done blood tests to know where my levels are at. So please ensure you know your dosage and results before supplementing the same amount as myself.
Here’s a great link for more info on Vitamin D supplementation. https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-d/
Now that we have gone over sunlight let’s talk about diet!
For myself, a rule I like to live by is eating foods that make me feel good.
For myself, I am celiac and have issues digesting dairy so what I have done is find alternatives for avoiding these foods.
If your gut is comprised more than likely your mood will be as well.
It’s important to know what foods don’t make you feel good and what foods make you feel good.
The gut is a lot more powerful at dictating our mood and health than most people think!
Lastly is daily exercise!
Take this statement lightly. I don’t mean go out and do cardio for 2 hours a day but do something that gets you moving.
An example week for myself is.
M: Weights
T: Walking / Rotational Work
W: Weights
T: Walking / Rotational Work
F: Yoga
S: Weights
S: Walking / Mobility
You don’t need to be doing so much that it takes over your life.
Exercise is supposed to compliment your life not overtake it.
With this all being said I do recommend you do your research and do things that benefit you. These are just a few things that I know have made an immense difference in my life.
If you are curious about more options please send me an email to [email protected] or send me DM.
Here’s to elevating your mood and living a balanced life!
Muck love,
Jer
(BE)lieve in (YOU)rself
Note: I am not a doctor or a GP. I have tried these things and they have worked for ME so please inform yourself and have a conversation with your doctor if you choose to try any of the tips I mention.