Gather here to chat about your day & have fun with all your Imzy friends!
Do you get the winter blues?
Tell us about it!
What do you do to shake the seasonal blues?
<3

Gather here to chat about your day & have fun with all your Imzy friends!
Tell us about it!
What do you do to shake the seasonal blues?
<3
Gather here to chat about your day & have fun with all your Imzy friends!
I sure do... I study in Scotland and, on the whole, winters are almost on the extreme side of harsh when it comes to light. Last year (starting mid September until end February) we had no more than 15-20 days of any amount of light... And then the summer rolled around and all it gave us was about 15 sunny days too. This winter is thankfully merciful and has been compensating for almost 330 days of low hanging dark grey clouds, but damn is it hard. It feels like you're always going to bed, always, always, always. You spend your life in bed if you aren't careful.
I'm also from Bulgaria (same latitude as northern Italy for reference) and grew up there too. We treat rainy days like a special excuse to read a book and drink a coffee on the couch while the sound of thunder and downpour floods in through the open windows. You can imagine how where I am from and where I stay are a disaster combination.
I deal with it by putting white light bulbs in the rooms I spend the most time in--just do it, trust me. I'm also doing triathlon training with my university's club. It's rigorous, time-consuming, very social, and so freaking rewarding. It really helps keep the blues and jitters at bay, all the while keeping me from skipping class, keeping my appetite sharp, and giving me lots of energy.
I also keep a journal where I write and develop all sorts of musings ranging from profound to dumb as heck, but it keeps me off the internet which is such a good idea when the entire world is perpetual night. I've found that it's a massive help to my attempts to get mired in dark thoughts because I'm reluctant to repeat myself on paper over and over again. I also make a rule to always finish on a positive "I can do this, and I am doing it" note no matter how exceptionally crap or thoroughly not up for motivational bull I may be feeling...
Also a good rich diet and lots of fruit...
Might have to get myself to a tanning bed though.
I used to, and I had one of those special lamps for people with SAD! I still might get them actually, but I always forget about it once the sun comes back out so it sort of takes me by surprise every February, hmm :/
But here at the end of February/beginning of March there are plum blossoms to look forward to, followed by the cherry blossoms at the end of March/beginning of April, so knowing that there are pretty flowers to look forward to helps me deal with the cold and dark!
There was something very comforting about driving in -32 temps and snow and then climbing into a glass bed that was terribly bright and slowly got warmer and warmer and then about the time it was getting too hot the 12 minutes would be up. It really helped me get through all the months of grey skies and no sun.
I don't get them as bad as my husband does. We moved from Iowa to Las Vegas and he saw a huge improvement. I had been telling him to try the tanning beds in the long Iowa winters, but he wouldn't do it. I used to buy a tanning package in late January to get me thru to some sunshine. He would almost hibernate, he didn't want to go anywhere or do anything from about November through April. I know moving is alittle extreme but it sure made a difference with how he felt. I never got down as much as he did but when I did I would go tanning. I am sure some people are going to be horrified with this suggestion, but you can do this in moderation. 🌞
I used to be one of those folks that would turn their nose up on tan beds, but after three winters in Scotland as a Bulgarian... I'm... very seriously considering it.
Tanning was what my friends in Minnesota suggested when I was living up there! I never got around to trying it, though. I grew up in south Texas, and so heading into those MN winters was ridic rough.