Wellness In Potentially SAD Times
By Adelaide Whitmire
Fall has officially been here for a few weeks now! While it’s nice to cozy up with a warm cup of cider or stroll through paths of colorful foliage, the often gloomy days can affect our mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that usually comes around in the fall and winter months. The Mayo Clinic notes that SAD often persists by “sapping your energy and making you feel moody.” According to the Mayo Clinic, fall and winter SAD may include oversleeping, appetite changes, weight gain, and tiredness or low energy. It’s important to note that SAD can also appear in the spring and summer and may include symptoms like trouble sleeping (insomnia), poor appetite, weight loss, agitation or anxiety, and increased irritability. Luckily, there are wellness practices that can help manage symptoms by taking care of your mind and body.
In honor of the season, we’re going to look at some options for practicing mind and body wellness that might help stave off the autumn blues.
Lift Your Spirits
Our minds are beautifully complex – always thinking, taking in information, and processing emotions. Sometimes our minds need us to make some time to honor all the work it does. When we take time to let our minds relax, it often lifts our mood and allows us to feel more energized and productive.
If you search for ways to boost your mental wellness, you’re likely to stumble upon a couple of specific tasks: journaling, meditation, and picking up a new hobby. Now, these are great practices – meditation and breathwork boast several benefits, including reduced stress. Journaling has similar benefits, as it can help us process emotions or practice gratitude. Lastly, enjoyable hobbies promote structure and socializing, which can boost productivity and mood. These are all excellent ways to improve your mental wellness, which is why they’re trendy right now.
Everyone loves a good trend, but there can be pressure to follow them, even when they don’t work for us. If the above practices don’t sound good to you, that’s ok! Think of another way to calm your mind and make your heart happy. Perhaps you need to curl up with your favorite book. If the sun is shining, put on your headphones and listen to some music while you soak up vitamin D. Or maybe, you need to make (and then eat) some homemade cookies. Whatever makes you feel at peace and lifts your spirits is ultimately beneficial for your mental wellness.
Show Your Body Some Love
Another crucial piece to balancing overall wellness is caring for your body. The mind and body are inherently connected – they work together to make our whole being.
We know that exercise is great for your body – we should all be engaging in some form of activity every day. However, this does not mean you need to be doing daily CrossFit or copying the regimens of fitness influencers. If these activities feel good to you and your body, then go for it! If they don’t, that’s ok too. The important thing is that you engage in joyful movement. Joyful movement includes any physical activity that is enjoyable for you and your body. This can be walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, HIIT workouts, weight-lifting – whatever you want! Engaging in movement that brings you joy helps you stay consistent and healthy, rather than being a part of your day that you dread or find exhausting.
Don’t forget that your body needs proper nourishment and care too! Ensuring you’re properly nourished keeps your mind and body fueled throughout the day. If you need some new ideas on how to do that, there are tons of resources on meal prep and recipes. You can also make nutrition fun by cooking with your family or significant other. Similar to movement, make nourishing your body fun so it’s something you look forward to.
Always do your best to honor yourself and show your body some love – literally! Send it some positive affirmations and appreciate all it does to keep you going throughout the day.
If Things Become Overwhelming
We’ve established that wellness practices can be very useful, but if these symptoms become unmanageable, or if you want extra support, it’s important to reach out to a mental health professional. Remember, you can always talk to someone close to you if you need support accessing resources. These resources are a great place to start if you’re looking for support:
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://nami.org/Home
King County Mental Health Services: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/mental-health-substance-abuse/services/mental-health.aspx
In Summary…
It takes a lot to be a person. The mind, body, and everything in between is constantly working so we can go about our day. We need to care for ourselves by:
Engaging in activities we enjoy
Incorporating practices that reduce stress
Honoring our bodies with positivity and love
Participating in joyful movement and nutrition
Seeking professional support if we need it
Following these steps in a way that works for you will set you up for successful wellness practices!
*This post is not intended as medical advice, nor should it be used as such. Always contact a medical professional with questions or concerns about mental/physical health*