Fending off Winter Depression

The Winter season is often associated with the joys of the holiday season. But those joys are often gone by the time we hit January and February. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go before we reach Springtime. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to fight off Winter depression. 

Vitamin D

One of the biggest reasons for Winter depression is a lack of Vitamin D. With shorter sunlight hours and colder temperatures driving us indoors, we do not get enough vitamin D. Many diseases, including depression, are correlated with low Vitamin D levels. Some foods, such as tuna, swordfish, milk, eggs, and yogurt are high in vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements can also help. Talk with your doctor before starting supplements for vitamin D, or changing your diet to include more foods with more Vitamin D.

Read More

Reading a new or favorite book can help you feel happier. Reading more over time also helps with keeping your mind active. Taking on a classic novel is a great way to kill time and fight Winter blues.

Watch Movies

With access to so many different streaming services today, there are thousands of movies in easy reach. Sitting down to watch a movie can be a good way to deal with Winter depression. Humor has been shown to relieve pain, proving that laughter is the best medicine. Pick out a good comedy film and have a laugh. Many streaming services also have libraries of stand up comedy.

Embrace the Winter Season

Ultimately, the best way to fight winter depression is to enjoy all of the seasonal fun that comes with it. Go ice skating. Make hot cocoa. Take a trip to a ski resort. When it snows, help your children or grandchildren build a snowman. Embracing the joys of the season will help you overcome the sorrows.

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are a number of resources out there. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here.  
For almost 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.