During winter, your body gets less direct sunlight, which can lower your serotonin levels. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for winter to be associated with a decline in your mental health. Below are a few ways to help you get through the sensation of depression throughout the winter.

How to Improve Your Mental Health in the Winter

1. Try Light Therapy

Light therapy aims to improve mood by exposing a patient to light that mimics the sun’s rays. It can boost mood, provide energy, and help stave off winter sadness if done routinely leading up to the season. Light therapy is done by sitting near a light box or special lamp for half an hour each morning. You can work with a behavioral health specialist to either attend sessions in their office or ask them to recommend the best light boxes to start treatment at home.

2. Find a Way to Enjoy Winter

Learning to love winter—or appreciate something about it—might make it easier to ward off the season’s blues. Try new winter activities for fun, such as reading by the fireplace, writing, coloring, watching new movies, playing cards, or learning a new craft like making clay figurines.

3. Stay Active

Exercise can regulate hormones to boost your mood, which can combat feeling down in the winter. It increases your self-esteem as well, which can also improve mental wellness. Find an exercise that you enjoy so you’ll be motivated to do it, such as walking, swimming, yoga, weight lifting, or dancing.

4. Talk to a Close Friend 

Simply having someone to vent to will help you feel better. Talk to them about the way you’ve been feeling, the struggles you’ve been having, and any thoughts you have that bother you. Feeling heard and knowing someone cares about you will bring some relief. If talking to a friend doesn’t help or makes you uncomfortable, consider speaking to a counselor at a behavioral health center, as they’re trained and will be able to offer effective coping skills and treatment options.

If your winter blues are severe, you may have a mental health condition called seasonal affective disorder—when you display signs of serious depression during specific seasons. The team at Comprehensive Behavioral Health in Staunton, VA, will listen to your symptoms and concerns and offer supportive therapies to improve your life. They also offer medication management and TMS therapy, an effective treatment that uses magnetic waves. Learn more about their services on their website and call (540) 688-2646 to start getting back to you today.