Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Reading Time: 2 min

The festive holiday season and chilly winter months often come with emotional challenges that can dim your cheer. Shorter days, family visits, financial pressures, and nostalgia can negatively impact mental health. But with some proactive self-care strategies, you can nurture your wellbeing and navigate the unique struggles of this time of year.

Illuminate Inner Hygge to Brighten Dreary Winter Days

As the winter chill sets in, creating a warm, cozy environment indoors can provide comfort. Embrace the Danish concept of “hygge” by lighting candles, cuddling up with blankets, sipping tea, reading books, and carving out other comforting rituals. Boost your mood naturally by filling your home with hygge this season.

Stay Active to Release Endorphins That Combat the Winter Blues

It’s tempting to become a couch potato in cold weather, but inactivity exacerbates melancholy. Exercise releases feel-good endorphins and relieves stress. Adapt your workout for indoor conditions if necessary. Just 30 minutes of movement per day can make a difference in brightening your mental health during the winter.

Soak Up Sunshine and Consider Light Therapy for Low Vitamin D and SAD

Limited sunlight in winter can lead to vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression. Bundle up and spend time outdoors on sunny days. If symptoms persist, use a light therapy box. Mimicking natural light can help regulate your circadian rhythms and mood when sunlight is scarce.

Stay Connected to Loved Ones to Avoid Isolation

Shorter days and frigid conditions often lead to increased isolation in winter, which can worsen feelings of loneliness and depression. Schedule video calls, plan indoor fun with friends, chat on the phone, or meet up for socially distanced activities to stay engaged. The human connection provides a mental health boost.

Set Realistic Expectations and Boundaries to Reduce Holiday Stress

Unreasonable expectations for holiday perfection often heighten anxiety and depression when reality falls short. Embrace imperfections and say no to unnecessary commitments. Set a budget for gifts and activities that reduces financial strain. Be selective about events to prevent burnout. Focus on traditions that genuinely bring you joy.

Prioritize Self-Care Activities That Nurture Mental Wellness

Amidst the flurry of holiday busyness, carve out time for self-care through meditating, enjoying hobbies, taking bubble baths, reading, listening to music, journaling, or other relaxing rituals. Even brief moments of mindfulness and pleasure can provide relief from holiday stress. Don’t let hectic schedules crowd out nurturing habits.

Seek Help to Avoid Suffering Through Mental Health Struggles Alone

If seasonal depression or emotional difficulties seem persistent or overwhelming this time of year, reach out for mental health support. Friends, family, therapists, community resources, and our compassionate psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner are here to help you manage mental health challenges. You don’t have to weather the winter blues alone.

With proactive self-care and seeking social support when needed, you can diminish the mental health pitfalls of winter and the holidays. Use these tips and contact our office if you need additional guidance tailored to your situation. Together, we can help you nurture emotional wellbeing in order to shine your brightest this season.

Autor

NADINE KAKANOU

Nadine Kakanou is an experienced psychiatric nurse practitioner with a decade of diverse mental health expertise, including the ability to address the challenges of winter and holiday blues, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Mastering ADHD: Strategies for Adults in Daily Life

Mastering ADHD: Strategies for Adults in Daily Life

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

The Importance of Well-Baby Care

The Importance of Well-Baby Care

How Suboxone Works to Treat Opioid Addiction

How Suboxone Works to Treat Opioid Addiction

What is Croup?

What is Croup?

The Top 7 Benefits of Choosing Telehealth for Your Family

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

How Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease

How Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Healthcare Workers

Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Healthcare Workers

12 Common Illnesses that Peak in the Fall 

12 Common Illnesses that Peak in the Fall 

What is Mindfulness? Best Practice for Greater Well-being

What is Mindfulness? Best Practice for Greater Well-being

7 Habits for Your Heart-Healthy Living

7 Habits for Your Heart-Healthy Living

Why Telehealth Is the Future of Convenient, Quality Care — And Why You Should Book Your Virtual Visit Today

How Often Should I Get a Physical?

How Often Should I Get a Physical?

How Can You Ease Back-to-School Anxiety and Stress?

How Can You Ease Back-to-School Anxiety and Stress?

 Rett Syndrome

 Rett Syndrome

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Anxiety, and Depression

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health, Anxiety, and Depression

6 Benefits of Group Therapy

6 Benefits of Group Therapy

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

Overcoming Trauma: Finding Light in the Darkness

Overcoming Trauma: Finding Light in the Darkness

Work Injury? Get Evaluated and Plan Your Recovery

Work Injury? Get Evaluated and Plan Your Recovery

Are Your Immunizations Up-to-Date?

Are Your Immunizations Up-to-Date?

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

The Importance of Relationship and Family Counseling

Five Reasons Why You Should Get an Annual Check-Up

Five Reasons Why You Should Get an Annual Check-Up

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

New Year’s Cholesterol Control: Top 5 Tips

New Year’s Cholesterol Control: Top 5 Tips

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

Strengthen Your Relationship with Couples Counseling

Strengthen Your Relationship with Couples Counseling

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

What is Common Cold?

What is Common Cold?

Understanding What a Weight Management Program Involves

Understanding What a Weight Management Program Involves

Protect Your Heart and Health: The Importance of Getting a Flu Shot

Protect Your Heart and Health: The Importance of Getting a Flu Shot

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

Marathon Running Safety: How to Train Safely

Marathon Running Safety: How to Train Safely

Types of Work Injuries

Types of Work Injuries

What to Know When Heart Disease Runs in Your Family

What to Know When Heart Disease Runs in Your Family

15 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young and Healthy

15 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young and Healthy

5 Steps for Heart Health: Fight Coronary Disease

5 Steps for Heart Health: Fight Coronary Disease

9 Tips to Live a Healthy Lifestyle – And Why It’s Important

9 Tips to Live a Healthy Lifestyle – And Why It’s Important

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

What to Expect During Your First Well-Woman Exam

What to Expect During Your First Well-Woman Exam

10 Home Remedies for Strep Throat Symptoms

10 Home Remedies for Strep Throat Symptoms

This will close in 0 seconds

We'll text you

Enter your info and we’ll text you shortly.

By clicking Send, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and I consent to receiving text messages from this practice acknowledging that data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.