Six tips to help beat the winter blues

If you’re like me, this is the time of year when you just want to hibernate. It’s dark, bleak and cold outside, which makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning and easy to pass on going out at night. I tend to get the blues because the holidays are over and, let’s face it, we’ve got a long way to go until Memorial Day.

This year I’ve taken precautions to keep myself cheery and motivated. Here are some tips that I find helpful to beat the winter blues.

Take vitamin D: The lack of sunlight during the winter months lowers your body’s level of vitamin D. According to WebMD, some studies say that vitamin D helps boost mood by keeping levels of serotonin high, which wards off depression. By taking a daily supplement of 1000 IU of vitamin D, you can help improve your mood and your immune system.

Stay active: Exercise is another natural mood booster. When it’s cold and dark, though, it’s hard to find the motivation to work out. If it’s within your budget, join a gym for the winter. I chose an expensive gym that’s less than five minutes from my house. After work, I hop on the treadmill, tune into E! News and the Daily 10 and before I know it, an hour has passed. On the weekends, if it’s warm enough, I take advantage of the sunlight and go for a walk on Jemison Trail.

Use self-tanner: Each winter, it never fails that I look at a photo of me from the summer and yearn for that long-lost tan. Now, I know you’re supposed to be paler this time of year. But giving myself a little bit of color makes me look and feel better. I like Faux Tan by Bare Escentuals. Note: Do not go crazy with the self-tanner. Orange is not natural. Just apply enough to give yourself a healthy glow.

Indulge in comfort food: This my all-time favorite category of food. It means different things to different people. But when the temperature drops, I think of hearty soups, chili, mashed potatoes, and all things carb. So go ahead and have some. I bet you’ll feel full and happy when you do.

Make it a movie night: A cold winter night provides the perfect excuse to get cozy and have a movie night at home. I love to bundle up in the quilt that my grandmother made me, light candles, have a glass of red wine and hit the couch for some Netflix action. Another bonus: it’s free.

Change your perspective: This is probably the most important tip. Don’t stress yourself out over little things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Of course, it’s easier said than done. But if you teach yourself to be thankful for the simple pleasures in life, you’ll be a lot happier.