The days are short, the nights are long, and the temperatures are dropping. Eeek. With lower light and colder weather can come the dreaded winter blues. Whether you find yourself feeling a little blue in the winter or you experience full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder every year, you’ll be able to appreciate our list of feel-good tips. Read on for our five best ways to stay happy and healthy through the winter.

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet filled with foods you love and foods that are good for you.

Fueling your body with healthy foods that are close to nature is a great thing to strive toward at any time of the year, but it is especially important in the winter. Seek out fruits and vegetables to make sure you’re getting all of your necessary vitamins and minerals, and let yourself indulge in your not-so-healthy favorite treats, too. Sometimes, a warm chocolate chip cookie and a cup of hot cocoa can banish the winter blues faster than you can say, “Ahoy!”

2. Get out in the sunshine.

Though supplements can help, there’s no replacing the Vitamin D that your body generates naturally when it is exposed to the sun. Your immune system will thank you. Go for a 15-minute walk in the morning, and you’ll find your focus and attention are improved for the rest of the day. Speaking of exercise…

3. Keep your body moving.

Exercise has long been known as one of the best ways to combat symptoms of depression. As a natural producer of endorphins, exercise will boost your mood, improve your cardiovascular health, and keep your body healthy and strong, no matter the time of year.

4. Set and achieve fun and easy goals.

When cold weather and short days of sunlight send us inside early, there’s no better time to pick up an old hobby or try something new. Many hobbies, like learning an instrument, practicing yoga, or exploring an art practice, have no true end goal. That’s part of what makes them so fun, but it can make you feel so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to begin. Try setting small, achievable goals so you can make visible, exciting progress. It’s sure to brighten up those long, cold nights. 

5. Drink more water and stick to a solid sleep routine.

If you find yourself constantly battling colds, you might need to make a few key tweaks in your health routine. Make sure you’re drinking enough water – a good rule of thumb is you should aim for half of your body weight in ounces each day. Also, ensure that you’re getting enough sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep per night, and some find they perform better on even more sleep. But beware of oversleeping. It’s easy to do so in the winter.

In conclusion

There are two kinds of people in the world: people who love winter, and people who are honest. Jokes aside, we hope our tips will help you beat the winter blues and feel happier and healthier this holiday season.

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