First of all, I would like to acknowledge that today is Martin Luther King Day and would like to thank him for his hard work on civil rights. Although there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, I believe that it is people like him that has helped made the world a better place. With that, I thank him for standing up for what is right.
Coincidentally, Blue Monday falls on the same day as Martin Luther King day. Blue Monday is described as being the saddest day of the year. It is because we are in the depth of winter, very little sunlight and dealing with credit card bills from Christmas gifts. However, does this really mean we are all going to feel depressed today or is the idea of Blue Monday a myth? For this week’s blog, I will give out my view on Blue Monday and how to beat the winter blues despite the snow and cold.
Blue Monday
The term “Blue Monday” is based on a mathematical calculation based on weather, debt, motivation and the days since Christmas and New years. An organization called the “Mental Health Charity Mind” suggests that a single date on the calendar does not determine when people are the most depressed. I agree with the organization because one can feel depressed at anytime of the year.
Winter Blues
The term “Winter Blues” describes someone who is feeling sad during the winter months. It can be understandable because we have to dress in layers when we go outside and we can not enjoy the time to relax outdoors as we would normally do during the summer months. It can seem depressing since we are trying to hibernate indoors and not getting enough vitamin C from the sun.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Having the winter views should not prevent one from going out and enjoying life. However, people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or known by its acronym SAD) struggle with dealing with the cold temperatures and lack of daylight. SAD is a form of depression and is caused by sleep disruption and not wanting to do anything. If that is you, then I would suggest that you go see a doctor and seek treatment.
How to deal with the Winter Blues
For those that who are having a hard time dealing with winter and are unable to go on vacation to a warmer climate, here are some ways to deal with the winter blues.
1. Embrace it
It is important to embrace winter since it is here to stay and it is impossible to avoid the cold and snow. There are fun outdoor activities that you can take part of. It can be done in a form of skiing, tobogganing, skating, and snowboarding.
Photo by Xue guangjian on Pexels.com2. Attend a winter themed event
In my hometown of Montreal, there are plenty of events going on that will give you something to look forward to. There is the Fete Des Neiges Festival, Igloo Fest, Montreal En Lumiere and so much more! To find out on what is going on during the winter months in your hometown, a simple google research should give out some ideas on what to do.
3. Exercise
It is very important to stay in shape at any time of the year and winter is no exception. A great way to do this is to join a gym. With plenty of exercise options and staying nice and warm, the gym should keep you going during the cold days of winter. It can be tough to get to the gym but as Nike’s slogan goes, “Just do it”.
It can be tempting to go after comfort food to deal with the winter blues. While it is fine to do this every now and then, it is important to stay on a balanced diet, regardless of what time of year it is.
Overall, stay in shape this winter and go have fun. Do not let a day in the calendar determine your mood. I get that winter can be miserable because it is cold outside and everyone gets sick but before you know it, spring will come and a cold winter means that we will appreciate spring even more when it finally arrives. Don’t worry, be happy (even if it’s Monday). Also, a reminder that we are 58 days till spring (as of January 21st).
Stay warm!
Come back next week as I tackle on what is the most important thing that we should always cherish. That would be family. I will explain my views on what makes a family and why they are the most important people in the world to you and me.
Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.
Robert Toto
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