11 tips on how to get through the winter happy and balanced

Bye bye winter blues: 11 tips against winter depression

When the days are getting colder and shorter, the sun rarely shines and the time is mainly spent indoors, this can sometimes affect the mood. Some people feel increasingly melancholic, depressed and listless during this time. Sad (seasonal affective disorder), also known as winter depression, is a depressive disorder that can occur mainly in the autumn and winter months. Winter depression is different from classic depression.

While classic depression can occur all year round, winter depression is temporary and is mainly caused by external influences. Under certain circumstances, however, it can also develop into a real depression. So that this does not happen, it is helpful to devote yourself to the beautiful sides of winter and ideally to develop a new perception. I have summarized 11 tips for you on how you can effectively contribute to your personal well-being in the cold season:

1. Motion creates emotion

move it baby Movement is the magic word. Not only sport helps effectively against depressive moods, but any kind of exercise. Even an open and self-confident posture reduces stress hormones many times over. If you change the way you move, you not only change your biochemistry, but also your emotions and thoughts. Movement always releases energy, strengthens the immune system, keeps you fit and releases many endorphins.

Blockages can be solved wonderfully in this way. Both the physical and the mental. Don't feel like doing sports? Then try yoga or that one dance class you've been wanting to take for a long time. How about dancing while cooking? Find your very own type of movement that makes you happy. The important thing is not to think too much about the implementation, otherwise your inner bastard will say hello. Just get into the movement and go with the energy.

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2. Going out into the fresh air

Do you know the magical smell of winter air? So heavy, clear and powerful. Yes I know. It's wet and cold and uncomfortable outside, so the cozy blanket is just too tempting when it's warm not to go outside the front door unnecessarily. Go anyway! A walk in the fresh air is good for your skin and lungs, gets you moving and makes you look forward to going home even more. You can also see and discover more and more intensively on foot.

3. Listen to music or make music yourself

Shake it! Whether for dancing or reminiscing: Favorite music can work wonders as a mood lifter. At best, however, avoid overly melancholic music that could make you sad. I'm probably the biggest fan of melancholic songs myself, but I know that I'd rather save them for sunnier days.

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4. Encounters

Especially during the Christmas season, I notice how inconsiderate many people behave towards others. At the same time, each of us would like to be treated with consideration and respect for one another. Don't let negative and inconsiderate people bring you down. Often only their own vulnerability and their personal painful experiences speak from them. Now is the ideal time to meet up with friends and family, but also to be open to new encounters. Approach each other without prejudice, perceive your surroundings carefully and recognize the magic between us humans. Who still has heavy luggage with them? Who can you help carry a little bit? Mutual closeness warms from within.

5. Try coziness

The cold season is perfect for making yourself really comfortable at home. You can set up and decorate your home according to your taste. Scented candles lift the mood and bathe your kingdom in magical light. For example, you can find endless inspiration for decoration and furnishing Pinterest.

6. Gratitude

Do you already keep a gratitude journal? If you haven't already, I can only recommend that you start doing so as soon as possible. Even if I don't write in my gratitude journal every day, every entry lifts my spirits enormously. As soon as you start thinking about what you can be thankful for in your life, you realize how wonderful it is. Because nothing in life is easy to take for granted. Supposed little things that seem invisible in everyday life bring gratitude to light. Those who like it more intense can start journaling and will be surprised at the effect writing down experiences and thoughts can have on well-being.

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7. Rauhnächte – Enjoy the special time

There is a fairytale atmosphere in the air. There is something magical and mysterious about the time towards the end of the year and the beginning of a new year. Almost everywhere it is beautifully decorated and everything is brightly lit. Maybe the snow crunches under your feet and snowflakes get caught on eyelashes and hair. You can use this special time to deal intensively with the insights from the old year and the wishes for the new year. The are particularly suitable for this Rauhnächte around December 25th and January 06th very well. The 12 nights stand for the next 12 months. It is said that everything that happens or encounters one of these days or nights will be fulfilled in the corresponding month. It is therefore recommended to pay special attention to your dreams during these nights.

8. Because love also goes through the stomach

Now is the time for those with a sweet tooth. It smells and smells of fresh cookies and other goodies. In winter you can really feast without paying strict attention to calories. Nevertheless, it is advisable not to forget that a diet rich in vitamins not only fills you up and makes you happy for a short moment, but also contributes to your well-being and health in the long term. Especially in winter you should pay attention to a vitamin-rich diet to strengthen the immune system. Since I started eating consciously, I feel much fitter and more radiant than ever before, without having to forego super delicious dishes. You can now find recommended recipes on so many blogs and on Instagram that you can untie them directly. How about a joint and fun cooking evening with friends? It's fun and eating together tastes even better.

9. Everything becomes visible in the dark

You only learn to see in the dark. In the dark season, however, problems and weaknesses also come to light. However, it does not do much to just suppress problems. Consciousness forgets nothing. Don't see the recognition of a problem as an additional burden, but as a valuable gift. Because you can now take action and change something. This is the time to find new perspectives in order to really get going in the next year.

10. For more analogue and less digital

A week ago I was in Fuerteventura and hardly had any WiFi there. Since my high-speed volume was also used up, I was only able to access the Internet very rarely. At first it was a rather strange and sometimes helpless feeling not being able to go online at any time and to google something quickly. But after a few days I got used to it and found it an absolute liberation. I watched the people who probably don't have a single social media channel and admired their lives for it. Of course, as a copywriter and blogger, I can't afford this "luxury" and don't want to, because I love my job, but I know how important it is to put down the smartphone and really talk to people, really in the moment to enjoy and just be there.

11. Read books

Do you know that feeling of immersing yourself in a completely different world on the sofa? To travel without boarding a train or plane? Books have these magic powers. For me, winter time is book time. I read all year round, but in winter I can manage 2-3 books a month. How about just losing yourself in a really good story again? Whether non-fiction or novels. A good book sweetens the winter. Right now I'm reading Valerie Geary's The Silence of the Bees and I'm transported into a mysterious summer in the middle of winter.

I hope I was able to give you some inspiration and I'm looking forward to your opinion. Feel free to write me in the comments what other ideas and methods you know of to say goodbye to the winter blues. I look forward to it!