4 “mind vitamins” to fight the winter blues
Full moon 24 May 2024
All the winter bugs are here!!
The last month was one full of sickness in our house - we had Covid followed by some other winter cold and flu. This made me realize a thing about winter and mental health:
While all of us know the importance of looking after our physical bodies at this time of the year to prevent illness, the mental wellbeing aspect in winter doesn't usually get extra attention and it can be easily forgotten that the darker months of the year make it harder for us to socialize and exercise, that there are a lot more grey days and early, long nights, all of which can cause a slump in our mood and possibly even lead to depression if we don’t pull ourselves out of the funk early enough.
The mind and gut connection is a proven one. Most of us are dosing up on vitamins in the colder months to support our physical health, so it only makes sense to dose up on the things that support our mental wellbeing at the same time. I, for one, am mindful that the darker months can affect my mood immensely and I highly recommend these tried and tested “mind vitamins” to fight off the winter blues:
What do you consume? Is it healthy fueling, feel good information and or pictures? Or is it junk?
What is going on in your head? Listen to your internal voice; be kind to yourself! You are the person that should be your own biggest fan (and no one needs to know about this ;-))
Invite creativity. This is the perfect thing to do in the colder months; light a candle, get cozy, do some drawing, crafting, sewing, planting, redecorating, upcycling - you get the idea. The process will help you create a sense of calm and groundedness and the completion of a project is an actual high - a total happy hormone rush guaranteed!
Do what brings you joy! Even though you might need extra motivation to do so, it is so so important. If you are unsure about what this is for you - come and see me for a coaching session, I will help you find your zest again.
Stay well, mentally and physically and much love to you all
Marisa
