4 Tips to Help You Beat the Winter Blues


Prioritize your health this winter. 

Across most of Canada, winter means month after month of shorter days and longer nights, plus seemingly endless cold and snow. We should be used to it by now. After all, it’s the same every year. Yet these long dark months leave many of us feeling down. Here are a few encouraging tips for beating the winter blues.

1. Get some sun
If you’re into winter sports, like skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling, you probably love this time of year. For the rest of us, though, spending time outside doesn’t sound too appealing when it’s this cold and gets dark so early. But sunlight can have such a large impact on mood that we should all make this a priority. Bundle up and take a long walk on your lunch break, go for a hike on weekends or hit the slopes more often. Not only will this give you a healthy dose of sunshine, it’ll also keep you fit and active when your natural inclination might be to hibernate all winter.

2. Focus on your health
In addition to being less active during the winter months, we also tend to turn to quick-and-easy comfort foods. If you’re feeling down, there’s nothing wrong with reaching for foods that make you feel good, but think about what that means. Is your “comfort food” high-fat potato chips or take-out pizza? Is it sugary hot chocolate loaded with whip cream and marshmallows? Every so often, sure. But too much of these unhealthy foods can leave you feeling sluggish.

Instead, choose comforting yet healthy options like soups, stews or chili, made with lean proteins and loaded with veggies. 

3. Spend time with friends and family
Several studies have shown that socializing has a positive impact on your mental well-being. You might not feel up to hosting a huge party, and that’s fine. You can keep it simple by planning a movie night with family or meeting friends for coffee or lunch. If you do feel like going big, now’s a great time to start thinking about a Super Bowl party. Either way, you’ll connect, you’ll laugh and you’ll feel great. Just remember not to overdo it on the high-fat, high-sugar treats.

4. Get away from it all
When all else fails, plan a vacation somewhere sunny and warm. A week or two on a beach or by the pool is sure to improve anyone’s mood!
The Burton Team

29 West Street South
Orillia,ON, L3V 5G2
Phone:705.329.4466
Fax: 705.329.4029
E-mail: info@burtonfinancial.com
Web: http://www.burtonfinancial.com