Prepare Yourself Mentally for Shorter Days

Shorter days are coming. The clocks change, we try and make the most of the sunlight hours that we can take advantage of in the winter.

As we move from now toward December 21, the Winter Solstice, we are faced with what can feel like a gloomy time of the year.

Don’t Get the Blues

Getting the blues refers to feeling sad, depressed, or gloomy in a way that’s not clinically diagnosed. Some of us can feel a bit down or depressed during the holiday season for many reasons. Some feel this way because of lost loved ones at the holidays, a lack of funds to enjoy the holiday season, or because of the lack of sunlight. You’ll want to be mentally and emotionally prepared when the doldrums take over and you feel down during a season of joy.

Seek the Light During Shorter Days

It can be seriously depressing when you can’t get out in the sunlight at all. Your body may experience a drop in Serotonin levels which is a chemical in the brain that affects your mood. Many gyms and fitness centers offer light therapy, known as phototherapy, and it can help you feel better and enjoy a relief. This light therapy is a lot different from tanning and it will raise your Serotonin level to help you feel a bit better. You may need several visits to receive the full effect.

Maintain a Healthy Sleep Schedule

Just because it’s dark outside at 5:00 pm doesn’t mean it’s time for you to go to bed or to start winding down your day. For many of us, this time of day is when we’re getting off work and ready to start the evening. Try to stay on your normal schedule of sleep and activity even when it’s dark outside. Try to stick to the same schedule you have in the summer and find ways to stay active.

Mindfulness and Meditation Help with Shorter Days

Sometimes, you need to get out of your feelings about the shorter days and the lack of sunlight and center your body and your mind to improve your feelings and mood. Work on mindfulness and meditation to bring everything together. This doesn’t always work for everyone, but regular meditation has been known to bring peacefulness, making it easier for you to stave off anxiety and depression.

Exercise During the Day

Whether you try to take a walk at lunchtime and soak up some of the daylight that is offered or you’re looking forward to a workout after your workday is done, exercise can help a lot. Exercise produces endorphins that trigger positive feelings. It helps to boost your energy and makes it easier for you to fight the feelings that come when you’re faced with the shorter days of fall and winter.

Pick Up a New Hobby (Or Rejuvenate an Old One)

During the cold, wet, and dark days of winter, you can try something new that you’ve never thought of before. Choose a hobby that interests you that you’ve never tried or brought back an old one that you forgot you enjoyed. Whether this means reading a book, crafting, doing woodwork, learning a new language, or writing a story, it needs to be something that you can lose yourself in and enjoy when you’re faced with the shorter days of the last part of the year.

Cook Dinner on Weeknights

If you’re used to ordering out and picking up food on your way home from work, you could be leaving yourself with too much time in the evening. This extra time could be when you begin to feel depressed or down when it’s dark outside. Instead of picking up a prepared meal, cook for yourself and enjoy the time of putting a meal together that you can enjoy once you’ve prepared it. This is better for you than ordering out and it can take away the foul mood you’ve been feeling in the evenings.

Make Plans to be Active During Shorter Days

Make plans to do stuff in the evenings and on the weekends when the shorter days are upon you. This gives you something to look forward to when you’re seeing the sun go down before 6:00 pm every night. Make plans with friends or family, attend events in your area, go see the holiday decorations, and immerse yourself in things you can do and enjoy. Find out what your town offers for free and enjoy the activities offered at the parks in your area.