Staying Active is Essential in the Winter

The winter blues or seasonal affective disorder is a serious condition for many people in colder areas where the amount of sunlight reduces for three months every year. In fact, it is clinically proven that humans suffer mentally during the colder seasons. Research also shows, however, that humans can fight these depressive episodes by staying active, even when it’s cold outside. There are a number of ways to stay active for mental health during the worst of the winter.

Walk

Walking sounds easy, but when walking involves adding extra layers, it gets tougher. Get a walking buddy and only walk if the temperature is above freezing. Don’t forget to factor wind chill into a reading of the outdoor temperature. Even a quick twenty minute walk will increase blood flow and lighten a negative winter mood. In fact, exercising is by far the best way to banish winter blues and any kind of seasonal affective disorder. Exercise lifts most people’s moods by releasing endorphins and other feel good chemicals like dopamine.

Practice a Simple Sport

You don’t have to try out for the Winter Olympics for this pointer even if we do get a White Christmas this year! Play 5 aside football (wear thermals!), or run to work. Both activities work out the body, get you outdoors, and help you increase your feel-good chemicals. If you are lucky enough to holiday near a ski lodge, look into their winter sports activities. Many will have simple snowboard lessons, cross country ski clubs, snowshoe sessions, and more. They also have hot tubs and saunas, which is a terrific reward for the workout.

Make a Date

Many areas have indoor walking programs, such as walks available before the mall opens. Grab a friend and head to these programmes regularly. You’ll walk in the warmth of the building, and you’ll get your winter workout. While the benefit of the sun is absent, the advantage of the workout remains. You will increase your levels of serotonin and dopamine, improving your mood at the same time.

Exercise at Home

Let in the limited  in the sun and put on your favourite workout video. Even if you don’t finish the video, you’ve gotten active, which helps improve your mood. If you don’t have workout videos, put on some music and move around the house. Improvise if you have to, but make sure to get some form of movement into your routine every day. Of course, working out in a gym can also be a good way to feel better in winter too because it also acts as a way to socialise.

Consider the Benefits

When the motivation to get moving simply isn’t there, consider how you feel after you’ve exercised. The winter months bring feelings of hopelessness due to a decrease in UV rays. When the body perceives sunlight, serotonin levels increase. And the more sunlight the human body is exposed to, the more serotonin the brain produces. So when there is no sun, exercising takes the place of the sun in stimulating the brain to produce serotonin. Exercise also helps boost the immune system and helps keep winter weight at bay. Humans are naturally inclined to eat heavier foods, as the body attempts to add extra layers of protective fat. Stay active to help combat the times when you indulge in those comfort foods.

 

Thanks for the Contribution from Jane Townsend, Freelance Writer.