Self-Care and the Winter Blues 

Self-care is a common refrain these days. People talk about it in terms of taking time for yourself maybe to curl up with a good book or draw a hot bath and relax. But self-care is about so much more than just planning a spa day. This winter, when seasonal affected disorder is so common even here in California, self-care is more important than ever. How can you focus on yourself this holiday season and throughout the rest of the winter? Here are tips to combat SAD and practice better self-care.

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affected Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs around the changing of the seasons. It most often starts to happen as the days grow shorter leading to wintertime. You may start to feel moody or have low energy.

And, as much as the winter holidays are meant to give us a bright spot in a dark season, the stress of it all can compound someone who already experiences symptoms from SAD. Even if you’re not affected by SAD specifically, the winter blues can sneak up on anyone at any time this season.

Get a Light Therapy Box

SAD becomes an issue when we aren’t exposed to sunlight in the winter like we are in the summertime. The cold drives us indoors and changing our clocks back in early November brings dusk earlier and earlier every day.

You can help by getting a light therapy box. A lamp like this gives you exposure to similar light as you would get from the sun. There are multiple versions on the market at different price points.

Talk to a Professional

There is so much stigma in our country around mental health care, but we believe that caring for your mind and emotions is as important as caring for your body. There is no shame in talking with a professional about how you’re feeling.

A trained therapist can help you talk through what’s happening, give you strategies to cope better, and help you see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, or winter.

Celebrate Small Victories

If you’re experiencing SAD, you may be able to shift your thinking by looking at the little details rather than the big picture. Celebrate the smallest victories. Were you able to get a shower and get dressed this morning? Even if you don’t go out, celebrate that you got that far.

Whatever you accomplish is an accomplishment. Don’t measure yourself against anyone else. Everyone has their own struggles, but theirs might be different than yours.

Do Something for Someone Else

When we’re feeling the winter blues, sometimes the best solution is to do something for someone else. If you can’t think about yourself, you might just find yourself in a better head space. Some people accomplish this by adopting a pet. Your pet needs to be fed or walked, so you have to push yourself.

If a pet isn’t an option, consider volunteering. Studies have shown that volunteering helps us with our mental wellbeing and even our physical health.

Let Go of Perfect

If you’re feeling like everything is spiraling out of control, the first step isn’t to try to reign it back in. Instead, take a step back. Don’t worry if something is perfect. Just focus on getting something done.

For example, your bed doesn’t need to be made every day. If it’s enough of a struggle to get out of it in the morning, don’t worry about making sure it’s perfect all day long. Focus only on the things that will make a difference.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Finally, make sure you’re creating a network of positive people. When we spend time with people who think and talk negatively, we tend to internalize those feelings for ourselves. By ensuring that you have people in your corner willing to be positive, you can allow their messages to become the priorities.

That’s not to say that everyone needs to be cheerful and positive every day, but it does help our mental well being to focus on the positive more than the negative all year long.

We want everyone to have a safe and happy winter season. If money or buying a new home is part of your seasonal stress, contact Zachery Adam at GoPrime in California to find out what you can do.

Contact the team at GoPrime Mortgage of California to learn more about buying your next home in the Bay Area. Contact Zachery Adam and the team at GoPrime.