No More Winter Blues: 5 Ways to Kick Seasonal Stress - Rufus Carter
With winter in full swing, the mixture of gray skies and low temps has left many of us managing our Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Some people know exactly what they need this time of year to counteract these feelings, while others are never sure what to do and suffer in silence. If you’re among the latter group, it’s time to turn things around and say goodbye to SAD stress. From Basic Counseling Skills, here’s how to reduce your stress this season and find new ways to manage the winter blues.
Make Time for Self-Care at Home and at Work
Seasonal depression makes it easy to let your self-care routine fall by the wayside. But as ZenBusiness notes, whether you’re seeking happiness at work or at home, it’s important to remain vigilant when it comes to taking care of your mind and body. By taking a few important steps, such as prioritizing wellness by eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep, avoiding negative self-talk, and focusing on doing your best rather than perfection, you can be happier and healthier in all areas of your life — even as you battle seasonal stress.
Budget Wisely
Recovering from holiday spending tends to throw us for a loop once the bills come due in January. And concerns with financial stress can contribute to SAD. Rather than succumbing to the stress, make a point to sit down and review all of your expenses, then determine what expenses you can cut. Eliminate unnecessary subscriptions, cut back on dining out, forgo a daily stop at your local coffee shop and focus more on buying shelf-stable ingredients that you can use to produce delicious, healthy and affordable meals.
Manage Stress with CBD Oil
Rather than turning to alcohol to quell anxiety or to battle your blues, consider a more natural approach with CBD. According to Real Simple, people often turn to CBD oil to reduce their stress and symptoms of anxiety because it has a noticeable calming effect. While CBD is derived from the cannabis plant, it is a non-psychoactive substance, so it doesn’t result in a “high” like THC. With so many retailers flooding the market with new CBD products, you’ll want to buy your CBD oil from a retailer with a good reputation. Despite CBD’s reputation for safety, talk to your doctor before using it to make sure they give you the go-ahead, and be sure you try it at home before driving or working.
Consider a Getaway
A great way to counteract seasonal blues is to get away to somewhere sunny. Even if it’s chilly where you’re looking to travel, guaranteed sun offers a great alternative to cold, gray days. If you choose to travel this time of your life, the last thing you want to deal with is a flight delay. The good news? By being selective about which flights you book, you can reduce your chances of being delayed. According to Forbes, you should try to get a seat on the earliest flight of the day whenever possible — you’re less likely to have your departure time pushed back. Avoid choosing flights with short layovers so that you have a buffer in case your first flight arrives a little late.
Do you wish you could save time at security and arrive at your gate early? You might want to consider signing up for TSA Precheck. When you’re able to walk past the line, you’ll realize why the extra cost is worth it, especially during busy travel days.
Photo Source: Unsplash
Make Time for Self-Care at Home and at Work
Seasonal depression makes it easy to let your self-care routine fall by the wayside. But as ZenBusiness notes, whether you’re seeking happiness at work or at home, it’s important to remain vigilant when it comes to taking care of your mind and body. By taking a few important steps, such as prioritizing wellness by eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep, avoiding negative self-talk, and focusing on doing your best rather than perfection, you can be happier and healthier in all areas of your life — even as you battle seasonal stress.
Budget Wisely
Recovering from holiday spending tends to throw us for a loop once the bills come due in January. And concerns with financial stress can contribute to SAD. Rather than succumbing to the stress, make a point to sit down and review all of your expenses, then determine what expenses you can cut. Eliminate unnecessary subscriptions, cut back on dining out, forgo a daily stop at your local coffee shop and focus more on buying shelf-stable ingredients that you can use to produce delicious, healthy and affordable meals.
Manage Stress with CBD Oil
Rather than turning to alcohol to quell anxiety or to battle your blues, consider a more natural approach with CBD. According to Real Simple, people often turn to CBD oil to reduce their stress and symptoms of anxiety because it has a noticeable calming effect. While CBD is derived from the cannabis plant, it is a non-psychoactive substance, so it doesn’t result in a “high” like THC. With so many retailers flooding the market with new CBD products, you’ll want to buy your CBD oil from a retailer with a good reputation. Despite CBD’s reputation for safety, talk to your doctor before using it to make sure they give you the go-ahead, and be sure you try it at home before driving or working.
Consider a Getaway
A great way to counteract seasonal blues is to get away to somewhere sunny. Even if it’s chilly where you’re looking to travel, guaranteed sun offers a great alternative to cold, gray days. If you choose to travel this time of your life, the last thing you want to deal with is a flight delay. The good news? By being selective about which flights you book, you can reduce your chances of being delayed. According to Forbes, you should try to get a seat on the earliest flight of the day whenever possible — you’re less likely to have your departure time pushed back. Avoid choosing flights with short layovers so that you have a buffer in case your first flight arrives a little late.
Do you wish you could save time at security and arrive at your gate early? You might want to consider signing up for TSA Precheck. When you’re able to walk past the line, you’ll realize why the extra cost is worth it, especially during busy travel days.
Photo Source: Unsplash
