Bloom in the Gloom: Tips for Shining Through the Next Few Months of Darkness
Greetings from the heart of the Pacific Northwest winter! At this time of year, many of us find ourselves hunkered down in our warmest layers, cranky, bleary-eyed and daydreaming of sun-filled skies in warmer climates. It’s a common January mood for residents of this area, but not a particularly pleasant or productive one.
It is estimated that throughout the United States, 1 in 50 people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In our corner of the country, that estimate is as many as 1 in 7. It would make sense that so many of us under extended dark cloud cover would be feeling unmotivated and blue.
Drink water: Even though you may have seen plenty of water falling from the sky, you need it in your body. We are likely a little dehydrated in winter from colder temperatures and consuming caffeine-rich beverages. Water is an essential conductor of electricity throughout the body. The brain is entirely dependent on a hydrated system to store memory and communicate with the nervous system. Reaction times can slow and even mild depression-like symptoms can occur in states of chronic dehydration. Bottoms up!
Consider nutrition: Most of us have indulged in holiday delights and are now dealing with the results of consuming too much sugar and rich, fatty foods. Traditional holiday foods are often high in immediate joyful feelings, but low in nutrients. Even though we may be eating more in quantity, the quality is likely lacking.
Now is the time to consider incorporating a multi-vitamin in your regimen. If you’ve never tried a green drink before, you might consider visiting our deli for a fresh-pressed beverage and a booster of nutrient-dense Marlene’s Greens. You might be surprised at what a difference it can make to your energy level.
Explore a new hobby: Whether you’ve been rolling over the idea of a yoga class, training for summiting Rainier, taking a class on drone photography or beginning crochet, engaging in something new can be stimulating and uplifting. It’s important to be open to new experiences and understand that so much benefit can come from just attempting to build a new skill or hobby. There is social engagement as you learn alongside people who have similar interests. There is mental engagement through absorbing new information. And there is the physical aspect of training your body to accommodate the new activity. So put away your devices and turn off those screens, we’re in real time now!]
Practice gratitude: Think of 3 things you’re grateful for and write them down. When we take just a moment to feel thankful, it opens the door for a beautiful perspective shift. Writing these things down allows us to put them in the present moment and gives us an opportunity to experience them repeatedly. Regular practice can have a cumulative and lasting effect.
Clear and enhance your living space: Who says festivity and comfort has to end with the holidays? Certainly not the residents of Denmark who routinely aim for a state of being during their long winters known as ‘hygge’ (HOO-gah). It roughly translates as a sense of coziness, simplicity, beauty, warmth and closeness. Declutter your living space and purge the things that aren’t serving you. Take down Christmas lights and put out beeswax or soy candles. Use them! Go for wet, cold walks and come back to a hot bath or steamy shower. Have a tea and coffee date regularly planned with just a few people you feel close to. You might share a book, play a game or watch a program or film together and discuss the experience afterward. Meet regularly and commit to having an uplifting and unique experience every time.
Hang in there, friends. We’re all in this together and Spring is just around the corner!
