Do you experience more sadness, irritability and apathy, or less energy and motivation, in these dreary winter months? Stress during winter is a very real phenomenon for many people for many reasons. Shorter days, much longer dark periods, the desire to eat more and exercise less or to “hibernate” more, the threat of inclement weather inhibiting normal activities, and uncomfortably cold temperatures are some of the reasons.
During the winter months we want to sleep more, stay in bed longer and eat more comfort foods high in calories and fats. This can leave you with a sense of lethargy, which can enhance winter depression. One thing we can do to offset this is exercise regularly. An exercise routine creates more energy to fight the desire to lounge in bed longer and increases motivation. It can be a good way to meet and mix with other people, too, which helps to prevent mid-winter isolation. It will also offset those extra calories.
Another method to prevent the stress of weather-related isolation is making a special effort, or even forcing yourself, to seek social activities with peers. This is a good time to dust off your old indoor hobbies or look for new hobbies as a fun way to meet and interact with others who share similar interests.
Another great way to spend quality time is to seek volunteer opportunities for projects that are especially meaningful to you. A good way to start your search for volunteer activities is consulting the Web sites of IU or the city of Bloomington.
