The Best Thing You Can Do For Yourself And Your Family To Stay Sane This Winter

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When you hear that winter is coming, do you feel happiness or dread? For most people, it’s a time for cheer and holiday preparations. However, as the days become shorter and the weather gets colder, some people feel depressed. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression impacted by the changing of seasons. Approximately 4%-6% of people experience winter depression, and another 10%-20% have SAD.

It’s natural to go a little stir-crazy during the season, especially when schools close for seasonal breaks, and everyone is stuck at home. To keep yourself and your family sane this winter, try using these six helpful tips.

SEE ALSO: How To Manage Your Psychological Wellness

1. Practice self-care

It’s crucial that you practice self-care, so you don’t experience burnout during these cold months. Contemplate which activities make you feel the most relaxed. The key is to utilize these interests to take care of your mental, physical and emotional health. If you are searching for new self-care activities, consider meditation. Meditation helps to reduce anxiety and depression while simultaneously improving concentration and psychological well-being.

Other forms of self-care include:

• Journaling
• Taking time for rest and relaxation
• Treating yourself
• Exercising regularly

2. Prioritize family time

When you finish work for the day, it’s important to prioritize family time. Log off your email and turn off your computer — do whatever you need to disconnect from work and reconnect with your family. Time spent together helps to reduce stress, strengthen bonds and improve communication.

You have the opportunity to be a role model and build your child’s self-esteem and confidence. When you feel ready to lose your sanity try to focus on how you can positively influence your family with your actions.

3. Spend time outdoors

Even if the air is crisp, spending time outdoors is good for your mental and physical health. The sun leads to the creation of vitamin D, which helps to strengthen bones. Additionally, spending time in nature lowers your blood pressure and improves concentration.

The great outdoors provides the perfect landscape for your kids to go and play. Unstructured playtime allows children to explore and make mistakes. It also fosters social, cognitive, and behavioral development that is crucial to growth. Free play encourages decision-making, which leads to innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Instead of spending another Saturday in front of the television, get outside and enjoy the fresh air with your family.

4. Plan for the New Year

Planning future vacations, adventures and home renovations will help the time pass faster. It will give you and your family something to look forward to since spring is only a few months away. It’s strategic to use the winter period to plan because you can begin setting aside money in preparation for your big trip or investment.

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If the new year still feels too far away, then consider planning a winter vacation! There are many beautiful locations to enjoy during the cold season, which can offer a change of scenery.

5. Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity makes you feel better, mentally and physically. The cold season can feel draining because the days are shorter, and your body lacks vitamin D from the sun. Exercising gives you energy because it releases endorphins and gets your blood pumping. Endorphins block your perception of pain and are associated with states of pleasure.

Regular exercise is a crucial part of childhood development because it helps to build strong muscles and bones. Additionally, it reduces the risk of becoming overweight and lowers the likelihood of getting type two diabetes. Kids and teens should have 60 minutes of exercise every day to enjoy these health benefits and improve their life.

6. Emphasize healthy eating

During the winter months, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of snacking on cookies and feasting during the holidays. While this can feel good at the time, a poor diet can lead to moodiness and irritability, and negatively impact a person’s health. The effects are often apparent in younger children who have difficulty concentrating in school or throw tantrums after eating excessive amounts of sugar.

In comparison, a balanced diet gives you energy and improves concentration. It also reduces the risk of certain conditions, like heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes. By eating nutritious meals, you are providing your body with essential nutrients to operate at peak performance.

6. Socialize with friends

Socializing gives you and your family a healthy outlet for stress. It reduces feelings of loneliness and increases your sense of belonging and happiness. For your children, it provides them with the opportunity to strengthen their social skills. As an adult, it allows you to have mature conversations and vent to people your age.

It’s best to socialize in-person, but via technology is also beneficial and offers similar results.

Enjoy winter’s wonders

Use these six tips to keep you and your family sane this winter. Remember to have patience when you begin to feel stressed. Your emotions are valid and reasonable, and successfully managing them will help you enjoy the season with your family. Try to appreciate the wonders of winter because before you know it, the flowers will bloom, and you might catch yourself wishing for snow!