Bone chilling temperatures, snowstorms, and the sun setting by 4pm signals how winter has arrived. We still have a long way left until spring and summer. The winter blues have set in and people need to understand that there are many ways to defeat the winter blues. Although there are people out there who love winter, many find this season to be grueling. Winter will end before you know it, but until now we must remain positive and show that we do not mind that winter is here. There are many ways to defeat the winter blues.

First off, one way to combat the winter blues is to maintain our daily dose of exercise. Winter blues will make someone feel unmotivated to get in some exercise or some sun. However, exercise is a feel good activity and practicing this daily habit is a must in order to have a positive outlook for winter. This means that spending some quality time at the gym whether doing cardio, lifting weights, or even yoga are all important to your mental health. Even by taking a walk or run to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery of snow and ice on those days it isn't to cold outside can help you clear your mind up and make you stay healthy. Winter can make people have a negative outlook to exercise but people need to remember that winter is only temporary.

Besides staying active and healthy, another component to winter is a time to reflect and slow down. Winter can provide a good excuse to practice meditating and activities that make you feel good. To avoid getting into a depression, staying indoors curling up with a good book is a way to spend winter. Being close with families and friends is a good way to check up on each other and provides you a time to socialize. In terms of scheduling, winter can take a toll on what the day and night time is for you. With an average of sixteen hours of nighttime and eight hours of daylight at the core of winter, it may feel that it is always nighttime and you must be indoors. However, practice by getting up early when it is dark outside to avoid sleeping in. It is a chance to be productive and will make you feel happy when you get something done at the crack of dawn.

For now, winter is here but it is only temporary. Although you may be yearning for those care free days of spring and summer, do keep in mind that after the winter solstice that occurs December 21or 22 the daylight hours will slowly increase. Also, be aware that the time change when we spring forward an hour occurs in early March which means more daylight. For now, being positive and practicing these skills are the best ways to defeat the winter blues.