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).

6 Benefits of Group Therapy

6 Benefits of Group Therapy

5 Signs Your Anxiety is Problematic

5 Signs Your Anxiety is Problematic

Allergies in Kids: Symptoms & Treatment

Allergies in Kids: Symptoms & Treatment

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Flu Season Is Here: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Diet and Mental Health: How Nutrition Shapes Your Well-Being

Diet and Mental Health: How Nutrition Shapes Your Well-Being

5 Steps for Heart Health: Fight Coronary Disease

5 Steps for Heart Health: Fight Coronary Disease

How Setting Goals Can Positively Impact Our Mental Health

How Setting Goals Can Positively Impact Our Mental Health

10 Home Remedies for Strep Throat Symptoms

10 Home Remedies for Strep Throat Symptoms

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

10 Critical Dehydration Signs & Prevention Tips

Sore Throat vs Strep Symptoms: How To Tell The Difference

Sore Throat vs Strep Symptoms: How To Tell The Difference

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Tips for a Stress-Free and Enjoyable Holiday Season

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Dizziness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Croup?

What is Croup?

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

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

What is Common Cold?

What is Common Cold?

Baby’s First Year: Doctor Visit Schedule

Baby’s First Year: Doctor Visit Schedule

Getting Help for Your Anger Issues

Getting Help for Your Anger Issues

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

Guide to Treatment-Resistant STDs for Active Adults

9 Ways to Boost Your Immunity This Fall

9 Ways to Boost Your Immunity This Fall

Are Your Immunizations Up-to-Date?

Are Your Immunizations Up-to-Date?

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

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

15 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young and Healthy

15 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young and Healthy

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

Noncardiac Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments 

What is Mindfulness? Best Practice for Greater Well-being

What is Mindfulness? Best Practice for Greater Well-being

Why Relationships Are Key to Well-Being

Why Relationships Are Key to Well-Being

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

Introduction to Stress and Its Impact on Health

What are Anger Issues?

What are Anger Issues?

How To Deal With Pet Allergies: Tips and Tricks

How To Deal With Pet Allergies: Tips and Tricks

See Your Doctor from the Comfort of Your Home

See Your Doctor from the Comfort of Your Home

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

Understanding Anxiety: What Is It?

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

Erectile Dysfunction – Everything You Need to Know

The Importance of Back-to-School Health Checks for Kids

The Importance of Back-to-School Health Checks for Kids

Depression and Sleep Problems: How Are They Connected?

Depression and Sleep Problems: How Are They Connected?

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

The Differences Between Flu and COVID-19

When Should I Go to the ER Instead of Urgent Care?

When Should I Go to the ER Instead of Urgent Care?

STD Awareness: Popular Questions, Advice, Treatments

STD Awareness: Popular Questions, Advice, Treatments

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

Your Complete Guide to Men’s Health Screenings by Ages

Understanding Your Options for Mental Health Treatment

Understanding Your Options for Mental Health Treatment

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

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

Home-Based Child Behavioral Disorder Help

Home-Based Child Behavioral Disorder Help

What STD Tests Should I Consider?

What STD Tests Should I Consider?

Effective Heat Rash Treatment and Prevention

Effective Heat Rash Treatment and Prevention

The Importance of Getting Your Women’s Health Screening

The Importance of Getting Your Women’s Health Screening

How to Know if You Have an Urgent Care Need

How to Know if You Have an Urgent Care Need

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

I Feel Constant Frustration: Can Anger Management Help?

Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression

Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Keeping Your Holiday and Winter Cheer Bright

Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Healthcare Workers

Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Healthcare Workers

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

Top 10 Tips to Manage Blood Pressure & Prevent Hypertension

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

Holiday Blues: How to Manage, When to Seek Help

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.