by L.S. Watts

Created on: December 01, 2010

Around fourteen percent of Americans suffer from the winter blues. The winter blues is considered a milder form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This isn’t to diminish the devastating effects the winter blues can have on a person’s day to day life. According to Penn State, people who suffer from the winter blues aren’t sad, they suffer just from fatigue. Other symptoms that can occur include irritability, anxiety, as well as aches and pains in the body. Fortunately, there are ways to help minimize or avoid the winter blues all together.

Get More Light

Let’s face it. Winter can be quite dreary. The days are shorter and the nights are longer. The lack of light exposure can cause our pituitary gland to produce less melatonin. Make a point to bask in the sunlight for at least 15 minutes a day to take in that much needed vitamin D and light.

Another option is to open the curtains or blinds and allow natural light to radiate inside. For the long nights, consider installing VF bulbs. VF bulbs emit a different wavelength of light than regular bulbs. They may be a higher wattage, but the extra light will help beat those winter blues.

Get Plenty of Sleep

A part of our dreary moods during the winter months has to do with our natural desire to go into hibernation. Nothing sounds better on long, cold winter days and nights than to curl up under soft, warm blankets and wait for spring to arrive. Unfortunately, life won’t allow us to do that. The next best thing is to make sure you are getting plenty of sleep to begin with. Try to schedule at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Change Diet

In the wintertime most people crave carbohydrates, sweets, starches, and fatty foods in general. This can make a person feel sluggish after eating these comfort foods. Consider reaching for healthier foods such as soups, fruits, and vegetables. It is best to eat fruits and vegetables fresh but this can be challenging during the winter months so frozen is a better alternative than canned.

Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet will also help combat winter blues. Since we get most of our photon energy from the sun and your ability to store photon energy in the cell membranes depends on the amount of omega-3 fatty acids, adding this to your diet may prove helpful.

Also, staying hydrated is an important part of keeping away the winter blues. By drinking plenty of water, your body is better able to convert the food you consume into much needed energy. This

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