Healthy Living Mental Health Care Tips for Winter

The winter months can be very challenging for many people. Besides the stress of the holidays, money, and just feeling like you don’t have enough time to do what needs to be done, we lose the luxury of getting outdoors to de-stress. And losing precious hours of daylight doesn’t help either.  But there are a few ways that you can still take care of yourself and your mental health during the winter months. Here are a few of those tips.

• Watch your news intake. If you feel negatively impacted by the news, limit your exposure. Some people spend hours in front of the television watching cable news and getting fired up by the political drama. Try limiting your news exposure to 15 minutes, then shifting your attention to something more uplifting. The same applies to scrolling through social media apps. Limit your time and move on to a more rewarding activity.
• Bundle up and go outside. Regular exercise is not only healthy for your body, but also for your mind. As little as 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day can boost your energy, help you sleep better and improve your mood thanks to chemicals that are released in your brain. Being in nature has also been shown to relax your mind.
• Meditation is a good practice, even if only for five to ten minutes a day.
• Start a gratitude journal. Keeping a gratitude journal can significantly elevate your mood and mental outlook. At the end of each day, write down at least one thing that you are grateful for that day. It can be as minor as, “I enjoyed the sandwich I ate for lunch.” What tends to happen is the nature of your thoughts will change. You’ll start paying more attention to the happier moments, shifting your narrative from negative to positive.