6 tips to beat the winter blues

Winter can feel like drudgery. The days are short, nights are long and the work day seems to never end. Here are 6 tips for beating the winter blues, even when spring seems like it won’t ever arrive:

• Workout. Moving gets the endorphins pumping, and it can help shake off the blues (to say nothing of budging the extra pounds you put on at Christmas).

• Expose yourself to light: Use a lightbox or move your desk closer to a window to maximize the hours of sunlight you receive.

• Distract yourself: When there is a nagging problem, it’s normal to focus on it. However, this tendency can make the problem seem worse than it is. By shifting focus to something positive, you can minimize the time spent focusing on what’s bugging you and thereby find more peace.

• Plan ahead: Plan something be it a trip, a party or a new activity. Planning for something that excites you gives you something to look forward to.

• Eat better: When bummed about the short winter days, it can be tempting to eat junky “feel good” food. That may give you a short boost to your mood, in the end, it will only bum you out more. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables can boost your overall sense of well-being.

• Laugh: Laughing is fun! Plus, it releases endorphines. If you can’t (or don’t want to) exercise, laugher can offer a quick endorphin fix.

If all else fails, dream of someday living in the tropics. It won’t increase your daylight hours, but daydreaming of someplace warm and sunny never hurt anyone.