Top 5 Tips to Beating Blue Monday
Blue Monday
.. Or blue January. It’s been deemed the least happiest month due to a number of factors - days are short, weather is gloomy and the excitement of the holidays is over.
While a sunny getaway of vacation is great, it’s not always accessible to everyone, or sustainable long term. So, I’ve put together some tips on how to brighten your day and increase happiness not only for this month but all year long!
1.) Get outdoors every chance you get. Connect with nature, go for a walk, snow shoe, ski, etc whenever you can. Getting out in daylight can help increase your sense of happiness, boost your mood, and increase overall energy levels.
2.) Practice gratitude. Finding things to be grateful for when you are feeling low may seem difficult, but it can be the single best thing you start doing daily to increase your mood. You can write a few down, or even write a note, text or email to someone you appreciate, and help boost your mood by practicing gratitude, and theirs knowing they have made a significant impact in your life.
3.) Vitamin D Supplementation. The sunshine vitamin! Here in Canada, there is essentially zero natural vitamin D synthesis during the winter months as the sun never reaches a high enough peak to allow for skin production. Tip: get your levels tested first to help guide safe and effective treatment!
4.) Reach out. If you are feeling low, let someone you know who will listen and support you. It can be a friend, family member or health care professional. Social and community support are the foundations for mental health and well-being. So talk to someone about how you are feeling!
5.) Bonus: Get yourself a vitamin boost! Intramuscular injections are a great way to get effective therapeutic doses B12, B9 (folate), B6 all of which help support healthy blood cells, hormone detoxification and neurotransmitter production (brain chemicals - serotonin, dopamine, etc.) and contribute to increased mood and energy levels.
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Contact to book your B-vitamin booster or to get your Vitamin D levels checked!
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- Dr. Randi Brown, ND