Finding balance in every day is “the new black.” Self-care Sundays will transition from a fancy day at the spa with the girls to something much more manageable that we will think about (and practice) daily. And with the hustle of the holidays combined with gloomier weather, you might be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder too.
Photo by Max van den Oetelaar
Managing Stress & Anxiety
Maybe, just maybe, we feel a daily dose of stress because we don’t take care of it. Anyone else feel like the remedy to stress and anxiety is to get a mani/pedi or have a movie marathon or a glass of wine or anything that is in the “treat yo’self” category? But how often do we have the time to do these things? Definitely not daily. Seasonal Affective Disorder (ironically the acronym is SAD) is real. It’s not just “winter blues.” Remember THIS post that shared a few chic self-care ideas to do today? Or THIS post about making a DIY self-care kit for a friend?
Symptoms of SAD: Take a peek at the list below… are you experiencing any of these on the regular?
- low energy
- difficulty concentrating
- sluggish
- trouble sleeping
- appetite changes
- anxiety
- agitation
- loss in interest of activities you used to love
*If you are experiencing a high degree of the symptoms above, speak to a doctor. Seeking professional help is critical to managing your symptoms.
Solution: Sometimes trying out a few quick & simple ideas can boost your mood. Instead of bottling up all that stress for a “special occasion”, we need to think about managing it differently than we did before. We need to do a “daily dose of positivity” to conquer all the ick.
Ideas: One size does not fit all for what will alleviate your burnout. But what everyone will have in common is finding 10 minutes each and every day dedicated to their personal wellness.
- Light Therapy: helps you fight fatigue, regain focus, and improve your mood
- Happy Light
- Combats the effects of season changes (reduced sunlight in the fall & winter are a major contributor to how we feel...)
- A powerful light gently reminds your body to recalibrate and stabilize, so you can be less tired and more focused.
- THIS Verilux light lets you adjust color from daylight to warm white, choose from 4 brightness levels, & use a countdown timer. Just plug it in!
- Happy Light
- Social Media “detox”
- Unplug and take a mindful break from all of the Like-ing.
- Infrared Sauna Treatment: all 3 infrared wavelengths in 1 infrared sauna to detox, improve relaxation and more.
- Art Therapy: Colorfully creative ways to relax…
- Paint by Numbers (for adults…)
- Carving Faces (woodworking)
- Zen Garden with Stamps or a Winter Zen Garden
- “No Excuses” Art Journal
- “Ugh – I Can’t Even” Adult Coloring Book
- Mood Booster playlists
- Shake your grooooooove thang by creating a few different types of playlists on Spotify to play depending on what vibe you’re craving. Might be disco, 80’s, spa, concerts you’ve been to or whatever!
- Ylang Ylang: Becoming increasingly popular, THIS scent creates a calming effect. THIS lotion is perfect for a quick, on-the-go way to breathe in some tranquility.
- Weighted Blankets: The calming effect of THESE blankets is rumored to help you sleep more soundly and reduce anxiety.
When in doubt, chill out.
You are in charge of how you feel, so choose happiness for today. Try to slow down, smile and enjoy the moment.
I need to get a weighted blanket. I always hear such great things! I hate SAD–I don’t experience it often, but sometimes it pops up, and I hate the low energy I feel.
I really enjoyed reading this post. Your tips are really helpful. Looking forward to implementing more self-care days.
I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and it’s starting to hit me bad right now. I do love your tips, and self-care is of huge importance during all year but especially so right now!
Thanks for the great tips. I think they’re good for everyone not just people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
I have heard such great things about weighted blankets! I truly believe self care is one of the best things you can do for yourself. And once you figure out what your “pamper spot” is – you should keep doing it!
I think art therapy is a great way to deal with seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy can also be effective!
I definitely deal with SAD. I need to look into getting a happy light for myself. I gifted one to my sister a couple of years ago and she loves it.
I think these are all wonderful ideas. I love the art therapy ones myself. I really enjoy art like that.
I know a couple of people who suffer from SAD. I will share this with them and hope it makes a difference. I’d like to try one of those lights. I’m super sensitive to different types of light (I can’t stand incandescent lights during the day time.)
Self care can really do big wonders for you. I am really loving this blog. I’m going to recommend this to my friends who I know have this seasonal affective disorder. Thanks for sharing.
I think SAD is more common than most people realize.. An add’l. tip is taking advantage of the Employee Assistance Benefits most employer sponsored health plans offer. Talking about it can help.
These are some amazing tips – I find this time of year so hard, with the long nights and short days, Feb is when I hit the dirt so I am going to try some of these things before then!
I’ve been considering the light therapy, especially with me at a desk all day long. I need to check out the Verilux further, thanks
I really love this blog. We all need self care. These tips will be very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing!
A few people I knew didn’t believe when I said that Seasonal Affective Disorder was a real thing. They just thought it was an excuse
I know I deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder. The holidays make it a little harder to deal with – trying to make sure that SAD doesn’t show through. These are some great tips! I’ll need to try some.