You've got snowbanks that only Andre the Giant could see over, it's the coldest it's been all year, and you've been cooped up inside for the past two weeks eating junk food and watching Friends re-runs--all just to feel good. But the more you do it, the worse you feel, and the farther you plummet into that downward spiral of despondency. As tall as the snow banks, as low as the winter blues.
So what can you do? C'mon--think! There's got to be something to get us out of these blues! Something... What is it?... Any ideas? None? C'mon--gotta have some ideas no? It can't be anymore Friends episodes--besides, once Chandler and what's her name eventually hooked up, all the tension went out of the show. Didn't they learn anything from Fraser when Niles and Daphne got together and killed the show--or vice versa?
Now, brain science tells us that freaking out releases cortisol which, upon entering our brains, actually lowers our IQ for a period of time--so going into winter blues panic isn't going to help us. We need a good burst of serotonin--the happy neurotransmitter. Ya--that's it! We want to get good doses of serotonin. We want to feel good...
Here are a few suggestions for breaking those habits that have crept up on us over the past month:
1. Clean out your cupboards: That's right--clean them out of GMO, high cholesterol, high fructose, high salt, high fat foods. Much of how we feel is related to how we eat. Switch over to some good fruits and vegetables--whole foods, before the organic food chain took over that phrase. Even if you're shopping at a place like Whole Foods, you're not necessarily buying the healthiest food, unless its really whole, plant-based, foods--so be careful. Clean out rancid cooking oils, and buy yourself some coconut oil and a bottle of olive oil--that's it. None of that Canola stuff. As well, get rid of the chemical fabric softeners, heavy chemical floor, toilet, and appliance cleaners--that stuff will make you sick as well. Switch over to natural organic cleaning products (you can get them now in most stores).
2. Unplug electronics at night: Unplug wifi when you go to sleep, or simply when you're not using it, for it releases microwaves that can cause migraines, sleeplessness, and even brain malfunction--especially in children. Shut off and unplug computers and phones, especially if they're in your bedroom.
3. Eat whole foods: As mentioned above, get yourself some good plant-based foods like kale and chard and beets and garlic. Make them into salads (but use only healthy dressings) or juice them. You'll feel a major boost of energy, and you won't feel as sluggish. As well, if you're not exercising as much in the winter, it's best to cut down overall on your food intake to prevent the creeping up of extra pounds.
4. Vitamins: If you're on medication, check with your doctor before taking any vitamins. One of the big sources of vitamins lost during dark winter months is Vitamin D. And even if you're eating citrus, some extra Vitamin C won't hurt. Take a good Calcium-Magnesium to keep your bones and teeth strong.
5. Community: Social interaction is very healthy. Some studies have shown that even people who drink alcohol (whose overall unhealthiness, especially for cognitive performance, is receiving more attention) with others are less ill than those who drink alone, simply because of its social context. Best to get out with others around activities that don't include depressants, such as exercise and community service.
6. Fast and/or cleanse: Yep--you've read this right. There are innumerable health benefits to fasting once a week, such as not eating from supper the night before until lunch the following day. You can also research different kinds of cleanses, such as fasting an entire day by drinking only liquids. Either way, fasting will you release toxins in your body that are part of a blue mood.
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