Call it what you want.  Winter blues.  Cabin fever.  Cold weather yuckies.  Whatever.  It exists and the peak time for this rut to hit is right around the corner.  For some, it’s already hitting now.  Wikipedia defines cabin fever as”an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do for an extended period of time.  Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, paranoia, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow or dark.”  Sound familiar?  Symptoms can vary from person to person, of course, but it’s safe to say that cabin fever is enough to get us in a little rut.

Cabin fever used to hit me hard, but over the years I’ve established ways to beat the winter blues.  I’ll be honest…I’m not much of a winter person.  I don’t partake in winter activities like skiing or snow shoeing.  Some people eat, live and breathe winter sports.  I’m not one of them.  My time outdoors is limited.  Although I’ve come up with ways to pacify my winter claustrophobia, I still crave the smell of fresh air and to be able to open the windows and doors, but otherwise, the effects are minimal.

A few suggestions to get you by…

*Soak up the sun.  Someone gave me this bit of advice years ago and I shrugged it off.  However, at some point I read about Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I do not suffer from depression or SAD, but there was mention of sunlight in the articles I read.  That caught my attention.  According to The Mayo Clinic, the cause of SAD is unknown, but there are factors that come into play.  One of them is your body’s circadian rhythm.  The reduced daylight time may disrupt your body’s internal clock.  It also can cause a drop in your serotonin levels.  Just 30 minutes of being out in the sunlight can do a world of good.  My favorite thing to do for those 30 minutes is take a walk or snap some pictures.  If you’ve got kids, join them outdoors for some winter play.

*Rekindle a love affair with an old hobby or get interested in a new one.  There is so much out there to get those creative juices flowing.  In the past 6 months I have gotten back into several hobbies of mine that had been dormant for years.  One of them is is photography.  It’s a passion of mine.  Getting outdoors is no problem for me when I get the urge to grab the camera for that perfect shot.  I’ve also tip toed back into my lost world of quilting, crocheting and cooking.  I don’t have a lot of time to devote to these hobbies, but when there are a few extra hours to spare, I don’t waste them being bored and restless.  I get creative.  My mind is diverted from the fact that I’m cooped up inside.

*Watch what you eat.  This is so important.  The foods you eat directly effect your mood.  As tempting as it is to dive into the batch of peanut butter brownies I whipped up the night before, I don’t.  I’m sensitive to sugar as it is so I know that an hour after I eat one or two I’ll be in that post-sugar slump.  When that happens all I want to do is crawl under a blanket and sleep.  Try to get in as many fresh fruits and veggies as you can.  Don’t stop eating salads just because there is a blizzard brewing outside.  If a salad doesn’t tempt you, make a big pot of soup loaded with vitamin rich veggies.  You want to eat foods that “stabilize your blood sugar and trigger feel good brain chemicals like serotonin.”  WebMD put together a slide show of 19 foods that will boost your mood and energy level.

*Move.  No, I’m not talking about packing your bags and leaving your home.  I’m telling you to put down the remote and get off the sofa for a bit.  Physical activity releases the feel good chemicals called endorphins.  The positive effects of these chemicals being released, according to WebMD, is the reduction of stress, lessened feelings of anxiety and depression, boosts self esteem, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure and improves your overall mood.  Incorporating some physical activity into your day doesn’t have to include a trip to the gym for a vigorous two hour workout.  Who has time for that?  I don’t.  It simply means move around a bit.  Go for a walk.  Play with the kids or your dog.  Put on some loud music and dance your butt off.  Shovel your driveway instead of paying someone to do it.  It doesn’t matter what it is…just move.

*Get out!  Cabin fever tends to isolate us from others and the world.  One of the things that we started doing is planning one night a week to go out.  We call it date night, but you can call it whatever you want.  I don’t worry about work, projects, housework, my list o’ stuff that needs to be done or anything else.  When my shift ends, we’re out the door.  Normally the only thing planned is dinner out.  We choose one of our favorite inexpensive restaurants and linger over a nice dinner.  Then, anything goes.  It’s fun.  We laugh and have a great time.  We’re actually planning on a day trip to the ocean in the next couple of weeks.  If the temps are in the 30′s or 40′s why not!  Bundle up, walk the beach and enjoy a picnic lunch in the car.  Total bliss!  We’ve also been known to break out the grill and fire it up when it’s snowing.  There are summer activities that you can do in the winter and it’s fun.

*Take your vitamins.  A few years ago a good friend of mine got me in the habit of taking my vitamins everyday.  Prior to that, I would take them when I remembered.  Since then, I have had a pill case at my desk fully stocked with my daily dose of vitamins.  On the rare occasion that I miss a day, I can tell the difference.  Stocking up on vitamins doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  For the past few years I’ve ordered mine at Puritan’s Pride.  Right now you can buy 1 get 1 free or buy 2 get 3 free.  This is when I stock up.  It’s amazing what a daily multiple vitamin, some vitamin B and vitamin C can do.  Before you get started, make sure to check with your doctor first.