SUPERMARKETGURU FOOD &
HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
Back in the Groove
Published on: January 10, 2004by Shauna Harrison
Reality. I mean, really, it's like cruel and unusual punishment to have to jump back into reality after the longer-than-normal break of the winter holidays. The marathon TV watching, late-night parties, festive decorating, present wrapping, holiday preparing, the no-schedule schedule, and the general laziness are gone. When that first post-holiday Monday comes around it's like a slap in the face. Suddenly, it's an extraordinarily daunting task to wake up to an alarm. Your routine has been broken, your bills have piled up, the stockings that were hung by the chimney with care are now strewn about the house along with the tissue paper, ornaments, ribbons and pine needles, your motivation to stick to your New Year's resolutions is rapidly diminishing, and your body is punishing you for the extra splurging, drinking, and couch potato-ing. Yeah, and it's just the first week of January. You've got to be kidding me. It's enough to make you want to crawl back in bed, hide under the covers, and wait until March.
The post-holiday, mid-winter blues have struck. For some reason, this time of year right after the exciting, emotional, highly anticipated holidays have subdued, we all tend to get a little down and feel a little bit off. Getting back into the groove that we had before December seems impossible. There are however some ways to lift your spirits and boost your morale to make the transition a little smoother and get you through the rest of winter.
- Get moving: As painful and intimidating as it sounds, exercise can work wonders. Working up a sweat releases endorphins and will help give your mood a lift. You will feel good about yourself and if it was part of your resolutions to be more active, than you can also invoke a sense of accomplishment. It's a great way to get rid of the general malaise and depression of the winter blues.
- Your Z's: Getting enough sleep is key to a good mood and good health. Make it easier on your body by waking up and going to sleep as close to the same time every day as possible. A consistent routine will make the morning alarm a little more manageable. One the same note, sleeping too much can make you groggy, so try to get adequate sleep but don't overdo it. Moderation ... that lovely word again.
- Proper nutrition: Now, it is more important than ever. Consuming the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals will keep you healthy physically and mentally. Too much sugar or too much caffeine will keep your energy up briefly, but will send you crashing down harder than you could imagine. Keep your energy up by eating smaller meals throughout the day and assuring a balanced diet. If you are trying to lose weight as a part of your resolution, don't cut back too many calories. If you are unsure how many calories you should be eating for your size and activity level, check with your doctor or a nutritionist. Inadequate calorie consumption is a sure-fire way of zapping your energy and putting you in a bad mood.
- Soak up some rays: Many studies have shown that sunshine is an effective and natural energy booster. If you live where there is sunshine (as sporadic as it may be in the winter) take advantage! Get outside for a bit and just enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Go for a walk or a run and you've got yourself a double dose of mood-lifting activities!
- "I'll be there for you": Yep, that's right. Friends. And, I'm not talkin' sit in front of the TV and watching the reruns, I mean, your actual friends. Call them, arrange to have coffee or a meal with them, invite them over, invite yourself over to their house (hey, with some friends, it's a perfectly acceptable proposition), strike up a conversation with the person next to you on the treadmill and make new friends. However you choose to interact with them, make a point to and don't let other things get in the way. Isolation is no fun and can often just make your negative mood or attitude ten times worse. Surrounding yourself with people who love you, don't judge you, let you be you (however silly, childish, or ridiculous that may be), and who you know you can't stay in a bad mood around is an easy way to have fun, let your problems go and come out with an overall positive feeling. I know I'm very lucky to have the amazing friends that I have and I'm sure you feel the same way. There's nothing quite like friends because you know they will be there for you, especially when the rain starts to pour.
- Call your mom: When all else fails, call home. Again, I'm lucky that I have a good relationship with my mom and she rocks. I call her almost everyday and I know she will love and support me even if the whole world is against me. OK, so that never happens, but it does seem like it sometimes, don't you agree?
- You time: I'm a firm believer in carving out space in your day for you time. Make it a point to do something that makes you happy and makes you release whatever else is happening around you. For me, this is working out, but it can be reading a book, playing the Wii, listening to music, going for a drive, sitting alone at a coffee shop, going to a movie, taking a bubble bath, getting a massage, or whatever makes you happy. If you have to schedule it in, do it. Eventually it will become routine, but it is a necessary part of your day and it is well deserved.
- Good deed for the day: It may sound a little backwards, but doing something nice for someone else can actually make you feel better. Send some cookies to your friend who lives on the opposite coast, do volunteer work, buy or make your friends dinner, send your mom flowers, or even something as simple as being generally courteous to others can make you feel good about yourself and who knows, maybe that other person is experiencing the same blues you are and you could be helping them out more than you realize. Karma. It will come back.
- Write about it: Keeping a journal can sometimes help you release all the negative energy and thoughts you may be having. Write them down and let them go. This works especially well if you want to talk about it, but don't really want to tell anyone else. You can talk to yourself without really talking to yourself.
- Laugh: At yourself, at a movie, read the comics, watch the comedy channel, heck, sit outside and people watch (you'd be amazed at how entertaining that can be). Laughing is a great stress reliever and the easiest way to get you smiling. Learn not to take life so seriously and have a little fun. Friends often come in handy for this one too!
Life is too short to stay in a funk for too long. The winter blues are no fun and you can easily get stuck in the downward spiral that can have some serious and deleterious effects on your physical and mental health. If you get out of the negative groove now you can keep yourself healthy and out of hibernation. Find your more positive and happy self, and as the lovely Madonna said, "get into the groove."
