Monday 29 January 2007
Don't roll over for the Winter Blues!
How are you doing right now? Are you okay? Or are you feeling a little blue? Well if you are, I’m here to say that you’re not alone. You see, for those of us in the northern hemisphere, we have reached one of the lowest points in the calendar. And when you look around, it’s easy to see why.
Many of us were on an adrenalin rush leading up to Christmas. The pressure to get just the right gift was intense. Spending time with family wasn’t the most relaxing thing to do for many of us. Our schedules were thrown out of whack. More than a few overdid it on the food and drink. And so you might say that this is the time of year when our chickens come home to roost.
It probably all started when we tried to get back into our work clothes that we know used to fit – only weeks ago. Then after sipping some broth and nibbling on nothing but a bit of lettuce all day we come home to find the credit card bills from our December spending sprees just waiting for us. Joy of joys!
To add insult to injury, it’s dark in the mornings causing all but the most motivated to reach over for the snooze button. And to top it all off, those of us in Europe have recently experienced what felt like a return to the ice age – global warming notwithstanding. So, it’s a wonder that we’re not all depressed.
By the way, how is that New Year’s Resolution of yours going? There, that’s done it. If you weren’t feeling it before, now you’ll know what I’m talking about.
To be sure, studies have shown that 1 out of 5 of us find this time of year especially difficult. Even though a large number of us are feeling it, all too often we keep it to ourselves thinking that no-one wants to hear about it or that no-one else could be feeling the same.
Even when we try to be proactive and take corrective measures, we can in fact simply be making it harder for ourselves without realising it. For example, body image is the leading cause of unhappiness this time of year. So, we go on diets and deprive ourselves of what we want to eat.
Well, we all know what happens when we are told that we cannot do or have something. It’s all we think about. And because we are so desperate to get back into those jeans, too often we end up starving ourselves, depriving our bodies and brains of essential nutrients – which negatively impacts our moods and frequently ends in a binge.
But the message that we have to take on board is that it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to give in to depression. After all, happiness is always an option. Now that isn’t to say that it’s the easiest of roads. But it is one that is available to us – if we so choose. Perhaps some tips at this point might help.
Alan’s Top Ten Tips to Overcome the Winter Blues
- Get out of bed WHEN the alarm goes off.
- Have a shower and get dressed EVERY DAY – make an effort even if it’s your day off.
- Appreciate that our moods, like the weather, change. What you’re feeling now isn’t going to be the way you’ll feel forever.
- Make a list of your blessings and the things for which you can be grateful. And do this regularly.
- Do something that is not only positive but active when you begin to feel blue – tidying the house or going for a walk are two ideas.
- Smile and laugh – even faking it can improve your mood dramatically.
- Volunteer – get out of the house and do something for others less fortunate than yourself.
- Identify three people whom you love – and then tell them.
- If you let yourself down, get up, dust yourself off and forgive yourself.
- And above all, be your own best friend. Somewhere along the way, too many of us slip into the role of our own worst enemy.
Every day I work with my clients to help them live fuller and healthier lives. If you’ve been struggling with bad habits, or repeating mistakes from your past, then let 2007 be the year that you choose a better way – a happier and more authentic way of living. And instead of just trying to cut out the negative, embrace change and do something positive – you could even sign up for one of my readings as your first positive step. Check out the full range here.
I always welcome your thoughts and feedback on IntuitiveBridges, so let me hear from you by clicking here.
Until next week,
Kindest regards,
 Back
To Top
|
