Just like many animals in the winter months, Canadians have a tendency to ‘hibernate.’ This is partly due to the lack of sunshine and lower temperatures. We gain weight and sleep more and can have lower serotonin (happy hormones) levels.

Serotonin in our bodies affects mood, sleep, appetite, concentration and optimism (referenced from: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/behind_the_headlines/are-the-winter-blues-real).

Some people may experience an exaggeration of this phenomenon called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The typical symptoms of SAD include:

•    Excessive sleeping, overeating, and weight gain 
•    Feelings of extreme fatigue and inability to maintain regular schedule
•    Feelings of sadness, loss of feelings combined with irritability
•    Lack of interest in social interactions and your normal enjoyable activities

You are not imagining this hibernation feeling and most times, it can be easily remedied.

Here are some Tips to beating the winter blues:

•    Get outside and soak up as much sunshine as you can. Here are some winter activities. Go for a walk, snowshoe, cross-country ski, ice-skating or even be shoveling snow!
•    Spend time cooking a nice meal with a glass of wine.
•    Plan a weekend get-together with friends and/or family (games or movie night).
•    Take a learning course at a local college or training center (adult education course's are fairly inexpensive and very rewarding).
•    Start a new hobby (scrap booking, painting, guitar, writing) Check out Southampton Art School.
•    Attend any number of local winter festivals, community events, hockey games or tournaments – any place where large numbers of smiling people congregate. This can help to bolster your mood and make you feel a part of this uniquely Canadian winter experience. Here are our Events listings.
•    Join some online discussion groups on topics that interest you. Engage with like-minded people, comment on blog posts or add more content to your own social networking places. Make your time on the computer more than just about checking the weather radar and local road reports.  Join our large Bruce County Facebook group where people are sharing what they do out in our area all the time.
•    Start a new work out routine.
•    Search Craigslist or Kijiji for a used piece of equipment and save large instead of being brand new.
•    Join the local gym and sign up for new, fun class – Zumba, Nai, Yoga, or kick boxing.
•    Buy a cheep Yoga DVD and mat and see the benefits from doing this a few times a week. You could even find a Yoga studio in the area and join for a few months.

Just remember that you are not alone in this so reach out to your friends and family. Many of us go to work in the near darkness and get home as the sun is setting so scheduling in time for fun winter outdoor activities needs to be one of our priorities. Make a conscious effort to enjoy this winter season in all its whiteness instead of trying to just survive it.  

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Posted on: 31/12/69