Since time went back, it has been darker a lot earlier when we leave. It’s that time of year when around 4:30 pm it seems like the sun begins to set, so by the time you leave work or get home it’s nearly pitch black outside. The days are shorter and if you work during the week, that means less time outside, in the sun, and enjoying the fall temperatures. Although fall is my favorite time of the year, I would be lying if I said the time change never impacts me. It’s one of the reasons why I like to set up my holiday decorations sooner and leave them up a little bit longer than most. When you are not spending as much time in the sun during the week, it can start to get to you a little.
This year, we’re doing some things to try to combat it in hopes of reframing the cooler months for us. Rather than approaching winter with dread, we’re hoping to do some of these things to find ways to enjoy it and find some joy within it.
Go on walks during the weekend if it’s not too cold:
One of my husband and I’s favorite things to do is explore new places and get outside. Whether it’s going on drives or going on walks, we enjoy the time we spend together as a family. If it’s not too cold, we’d love to keep going on walks. I’m not someone who enjoys going on walks during the winter, but I know it’ll be good for us all to get out of the house – as long as it’s not freezing or below freezing temparatures.
Take Vitamin D supplements:
I didn’t realize until I got much older how much Vitamin D deficiencies play into SAD. I started taking Vitamin D during my pregnancy after being recommended it by my doctor, but upon doing some more research, I learned that it can help with other things such as boosting your mood a bit. I would check with your doctor about this before trying or adding any new supplements, but this is something that was recommended for us.
Go on drives:
When it is too cold, my husband and I enjoy going on drives as it allows us to be able to feel like we’re exploring or getting out of our immediate area, even if it’s just for a little bit. We have a couple of places in mind that we haven’t driven to with our daughter yet, that we’re looking into driving to over the winter. However, sometimes driving without a destination (within reason of course as we don’t want to end up too far away from home driving one way), is fun as well!
PLAN INDOOR TRADITIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO DO AS A FAMILY:
Growing up, some of my fondest memories included going to the bookstore as a family, picking out books, grabbing artisanal cheeses, and then coming home and reading our books in the same room. We would also have family movie nights on Fridays and it’s something we’d love to create with our family as we get older. Although she’s a little young, we’re thinking of creating some wintertime traditions that we can do in the house. I know I’ve been looking at some crafts that are appropriate for her age that we could possibly do together as a family.
ADD SOME COZY ADDITIONS TO OUR HOME DECOR:
One of my favorite things about the decorations we typically see during the holiday season is the lights. Even when Christmas is over, we’ve been thinking about leaving lights up for the winter for a cozy indoor ambiance or by purchasing battery-operated faux candles. I’ve even started grabbing decorations for Valentine’s Day.
SEE THE WINTER LIGHT DISPLAYS:
Two years ago was our first year experiencing the holiday lights at Longwood Gardens in a bit and we both enjoyed it a lot. It’s something we’re hoping to do annually where we get to enjoy the holiday lights while also exploring some of the other various light displays in our area.
DRINK TEA:
I know this seems so simple, but there’s something so cozy about drinking hot tea under blankets in the winter. My husband is more of a tea drinker than I am, but we haven’t been drinking it as much in the last few years or so. We’re planning on trying out some new teas we haven’t tried before this winter and establishing that as our nightly routine after we put our daughter to bed.
What are some things you are thinking of doing this year to fight Seasonal Affective Disorder?
