By Sarah McKenney
Spiritual Support and Volunteer Coordinator
Some of you may have noticed increased feelings of sadness, general lack of energy or sleepiness, lack of motivation, etc., during the winter months. This is very common in the winter, because of the lack of sunshine. There is an actual term for this — Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression.
While this may be a little late (as we are finally into spring), remember we live in Indiana and the weather is likely to go up and down for a couple more months. Below are some self-care tips on how to take care of yourself during this season.
Be kind to yourself: Be patient with yourself during this time. Treat yourself every once in a while, write in a journal/diary, give yourself "me time" to recenter and encourage yourself.
Get Exercise: Be sure to get some exercise, whether that's taking breaks to go on a walk for 5 or 10 minutes or a full workout. Getting the heart pumping helps to create chemicals in the body that provide energy and increase mood.
Go Outside: Spend time outside (especially when sunny). If its cold, then bundle up, but get outside. The sun rays provides Vitamin D, and you can still soak this up through your eyes and this, too, will boost mood and energy.
HAVE FUN! Have some fun. Try to retrain your thoughts into positive ones throughout your day. Plan fun activities and take the time to appreciate the laughter and silliness.
Sleep: Keep a normal sleep schedule. Even though this may be challenging because you feel more tired, be sure to not sleep too much. This can actually make you MORE sleepy. BUT, make sure you are getting enough quality sleep in a quiet and dark room with technology (phones, tablets, tv, etc) turned off.
Aromatherapy: Using essential oils and/or candles are a great way to improve mood. Some specific oils that might be helpful are: lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang, and orange.
Talk about it: Talk to a friend about what is going on. You may also consider talking to a therapist as well.