Be on the lookout for changes in your mood, too. If you’re living with depression, it’s extremely important to develop self-care habits that can counteract the winter blues.
Although many try to escape the depressing side effects of time and seasonal changes with proper exercise, food, and rest, it’s hard to avoid the symptoms when you are living with a clinical disorder known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
You may have felt the effects of SAD but have no idea what your body was responding to.
SAD, a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) that occurs seasonally, includes common depression-like symptoms such as anxiety, despair, isolation from social activities, lack of interest in regular activities, and limited focus.
Here are some tips to get your health back on track after daylight savings time ends:
- Monitor your physical health. Many illnesses can be disguised as SAD but be a symptom of a more chronic health condition.
- Expose yourself to more sun. If you can’t get natural sun, think about using artificial sunlight to reset your body clock.
- Don’t spend all your time indoors. This could limit your vitamin D intake. Find ways to go outside – whether it be taking a quick walk around the block or decorating for the holidays, you need to go beyond the comfort of your home.
- Use the power of aromatherapy to give your mood a boost. Try some essential oils like lavender, lemon, and peppermint to experience a spike in your mood.
- Maintain a good diet. The foods we eat can have an impact on our mood. So, stay away from overly processed foods and grab some healthy snacks to reduce the temptations.
- Adhere to a sleep schedule. Get your body used to waking up and going to sleep at a certain time and avoid the urge to take too many naps during the day.
Be proactive. The clock has been set back. Now it’s time to jump into a routine that will ensure optimal health during this time.