Tips to Navigate Winter Blues

In this blog post, Olivia + Laura share with you their tips and tricks to help soothe the winter blues.

Seasonal depression is a real thing, boys and girls. With daylight savings reducing the number of daytime hours we get, many of us can physically and mentally feel that drop in Seratonin (the happy hormone) and Vitamin D. I mean, how could we not? With the sun setting at 5 PM and the weather being so cold, it's no wonder almost all of us have come down with a case of the winter blues.

With all this said, there's a long winter ahead and, we refuse to sit in our lethargy. So here are some things you can do to make yourself feel happier during this terrible time.

Get some Vitamin D

There's a reason most of us are happier in the summer and, that's because of the warm weather and the Vitamin D we intake from the sun. With decreased daytime hours and less reason to be outside, many of us lack the sunshine vitamin. An easy fix to this problem would be taking Vitamin D supplements daily or eating Vitamin D-rich foods like lean proteins and berries.

Also, you didn't hear this from us but, you can always increase your serotonin levels using another source of Vitamin D (if you catch our innuendo).

Increase Daytime Hours

We know it's cold, but you can't stay cuddled up in your house all day. So bundle up and enjoy the outdoors! Even 10 minutes of fresh air and sunlight will make you feel so much better. However, we know this is not a reality for everyone (check the TikTok). So we recommend getting a Happy Light. The bright light from the lamp mimics the sun (but without all the harmful rays). It also tricks your body into feeling better, as well as improving focus and sleep.

It sounds silly, but psychiatrists use this treatment on patients with severe seasonal depression.

Head to Starbucks

Nothing soothes the soul more than a chestnut praline latte from Starbucks. Or any holiday drink for that fact. Yes, they are full of sugar. And, yes, they are costly. But at least they make us happy #treatyoself. Check out this years holiday menu and see which drink is for you.

GET. OUT. OF. THE. HOUSE

We are probably some of the biggest grandmothers living inside young adult bodies that you have ever seen. We acknowledge that sometimes staying home is therapeutic, but too much of a good thing isn't so great. So please, get out of the house. Go for a drive. Get some food with a friend. Just change your environment so that staying home feels like a luxury and not an everyday burden.

Christmas Markets

The holidays might be the only exciting thing to look forward to during the cold winter — so why not embrace that! This year Montreal is lucky enough to have three different Christmas markets:

Jean Talon (Christmas) Market: November 27th to December 23rd
Atwater (Christmas) Market: November 25th to December 19th
Grand Marché de Noël at Place des Arts: November 20th to January 2nd

Or if you’re up for a little road trip, Ottawa also has a beautiful European-Style Christmas Market in the outdoor plaza at Lansdowne. Visit these magical Christmas markets for some much needed holiday joy! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Retail Therapy

Shopping is good for the soul. The primary purpose of retail therapy is “to improve the buyer’s mood” — which is exactly what we’re going for! It is said that shopping is a form of visualization which boosts performance and reduces anxiety. So next time you’re shopping (even just window shopping), visualize how you’ll use the products/clothes you’re considering getting!

Move Your Body

It is proven that working out or doing any form of physical activity improves mental health by reducing anxiety and depression, along with improving self-esteem and mood. We understand that finding the motivation to work out can sometimes be difficult so start off small. Try combining this tip with vitamin D (the sunny kind) by talking a walk for some sun and fresh air!

Self-Care

We will never not mention self care in a blog post. It is so important to take moments/hours/days for yourself. Self care can be anything from taking a relaxing bath, doing a face mask or having a whole pamper day at a spa. Remember to always prioritize yourself first. If you’re looking to create healthy habits to improve mental health, click here read one of our previous blog post on the topic!