It’s that time of year again — the sun sets earlier every night, the forecast says no sunshine in sight, and many students are finding it harder to get out of bed every morning. Feeling the fall/winter blues is an extremely common occurrence, with over 10 million Americans reporting that they suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. What can college students do to boost their mood and mental state when this fall and winter weather is keeping them down?
This is a no-brainer, but it’s important. Since SAD is mainly caused by a lack of vitamin D from the sun, finding ways to soak up some natural light can make a huge difference. This can be difficult because there aren’t always clear skies and sunshine to take advantage of — but any chance you get to get outside in the sun is well worth it. Also, leaving window blinds open and opting for natural light when possible can help ward off the seasonal sadness.
It is well-known that exercise is one of the best ways to improve your mood — getting active produces endorphins which makes you feel happier. Whether it’s hitting the gym, doing some yoga in your dorm, or braving the weather for a walk outside — getting your body moving is important for preventing seasonal depression.
This is always a good idea, Top Site Info but especially when the time of year is getting you down, making the effort to get out of your living space and spending time with people you love can make such a difference.Getting coffee with someone you haven’t seen in a while, having a study night with classmates, or getting Grub Truck with friends this weekend are all ways to engage in your social life. What you do doesn’t really matter, but it’s crucial to avoid isolating yourself from friends — especially at this time of year.
Falling into the same monotonous routine can be a big cause of feelings of discontent during the winter, and when the weather doesn’t allow us to get outside, it can be even easier to become trapped within our own boring routines.That’s why this time of year is the perfect opportunity to pick up a fun new hobby. Knitting, painting, baking, yoga, writing, gaming, or sewing — there’s an endless list of fun skills to learn and hobbies to start while you’re staying warm and cozy this season. Learning something new can keep your mind engaged and your day-to-day routine more interesting.
A lack of vitamin D is one of the primary causes for SAD, so it can be helpful to find ways to get a little extra of the vitamin however you can.There are vitamin D supplements that can be taken daily, and many foods contain vitamin D. Making sure to include foods like eggs, dairy products and fish in your diet can greatly increase your vitamin D levels and your overall mood.
Getting out and helping those in need is important for so many reasons, but taking the time to do good for others can also greatly improve your overall mental health.If you enjoyed this short article and you would like to obtain additional details concerning TSI kindly see the web-page.
