8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues Photo taken from PTPAs Blogaholics Its SAD that everyone starts to feel down during these cold times, and no I dont mean sad like the emotion, even though it definitely applies! Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months, usually in the beginning of the cold season. And who wouldnt be, especially with this death of a semester system? As a happy-go-lucky college student who never really deals with mood swings and depression, I was kind of shocked when I didnt feel like myself last week. Then again, coming from warm climates, I didnt know that someone could get so depressed in cold weather. I was in this weird funk and I didnt know why until a friend of mine pointed out that I may have been suffering from this concept of SAD. It was odd to me since this was technically the first time ever that I was actually depressed. Curious as I am, I needed to get out of this, so I found 8 ways to beat the winter blues this year: 1.  Exercise.  Whether its a walk outside or a jog in the RPAC, exercise naturally releases endorphins in the body plus relieves you of daily stress. 2.  Eat a healthy diet.  I know this can be difficult, especially being budget-friendly college students with pizza and fast food delivery at the touch of a button. But what you eat greatly affects your energy levels and mood. Stay away from processed carbs (such as white bread and rice) and go for more complex carbs (like whole grains and vegetables), which help stabilize blood sugar and energy levels. 3.  Take in some vitamin D.  Although the most natural way to get your daily dose of vitamin D is from the sun, that can be a little difficult to find in the middle of winter in Ohio. Instead opt for more vitamin D-rich foods such as salmon, milk and eggs, or take a vitamin D supplement instead. 4.  Avoid binge drinking.  I understand its college, but shots of vodka are not the cure for depression and the hangover will definitely not help your mood the morning after. 5.  Be social.  After long hours of studying and spending hours in Thompson, you deserve to have social interaction with the rest of the world. Plan a night out with your friends or a shopping trip to Easton. The anticipation of the event will improve your mood and can keep you motivated. 6.  Relax.  Sometimes this is a difficult concept to comprehend, but it may be one of the best possible things you could do during the cold season. Have some time every day where you do absolutely nothing. Its totally acceptable to sit on the couch for a couple hours to catch up on American Horror Story or Breaking Amish. 7.  Embrace the winter season.  Instead of thinking about all the things you cant do in the cold snow, think of ways you can have fun in the snow. Go ice skating, sledding, or make a snowman on the Oval. Dont forget to end your day with a cup of hot chocolate! 8. Dont forget the ZZZs.  Your body is already in a funk from the changing seasons, and depriving yourself of sleep wont help at all. Make sure youre getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and a short 30-minute nap midday can help you re-energize yourself for the rest of the day. Bipolar weather is an understatement here in Ohio (I mean, wasnt it 80 degrees and sunny two weeks ago?!), but with the warm Fall weather coming to an end, well all get through it together. Theres no reason a little bit of wind and snow should keep us from enjoying life. Until then, happy Winter, everyone!