The Best Cures For The Post-Holiday Blues

#1 Light Therapy

Light therapy boxes give off light that mimics sunshine. The lack of light plays a huge factor in overall happiness. When I moved to the UK from Sydney, Australia, I know I suffered immensely from SAD. In the land down under, my winters were so mild that I had never owned a proper coat before. I was used to sunny winter days that were still reasonably long (around 11 hours on average) compared to the UK. The lack of light (and the treatment of it) also carries over to the next point...

#2Vitamin D

Many people are finding benefit in supplementation of Vitamin D to help with depressive symptoms. As Vitamin D levels notoriously drop during the winter months as sunlight is the most prevalent natural source for Vitamin D, many physicians will test your vitamin D levels and may suggest vitamin D supplementation to help boost your mood during the winter.

Check out our SHINE Vitamin D here.

#3 Exercise

In our recent blog, Dr Harry speaks of the importance of exercise for physical, but also psychological health. Physical activity has been shown to be an effective treatment strategy for depression.[4] Keeping active in any form will not only produce those happy endorphins we always hear about, but will also keep you in a good routine all year round. We know it is easy to feel demotivated in the colder months, so read this blog for tips to keeping active in the cooler seasons.

#4 Eat healthy food

Making poor food choices regularly can exacerbate feelings of guilt/worthlessness and perpetuate the desire to hibernate - only adding to the negative cycle.

We often reach for sweet food for energy and comfort (especially with so many post-holiday treats lying around) However, the elevation in mood that comes after sugary foods is temporary.

Inflammation is not only terrible for our body, but can also lead to headaches, abdominal cramping and bloating, poor concentration, low mood, and lethargy or fatigue. These symptoms can all add up and worsen SAD. Sugar is just one cause of inflammation [5][6] that we can easily lower to feel better. 

Dr Harry also advises to eat enough Omega 3s and plant-based foods, which have various positive psychological benefits 🌱.

#5 Yoga/ Mindfulness

Becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions can bring some peace and calm into an otherwise anxious period of the year. We have spoken more about this here. Having a meditation practise, and trying to be more in tune with your mind can separate the feelings from reality and put things into perspective.

#6 Get out and about and socialise

Hibernation seems like the option of choice when feeling low and lethargic, but in actuality, only makes the issue worse. Distancing and isolating yourself from regular activities and pleasures can only exaggerate the SAD symptoms while creating an echo chamber for negative thoughts. Keep those relationships thriving!

#7 Embrace the cold

Book a ski holiday with your loved ones. The best thing about sports that embrace the cold such as skiing, is that you’re engaging in a physical activity that doesn’t quite seem as laborious or as boring as ‘working out’, only you get the same results! And in cases where the weather just can’t cooperate and forces you indoors, opt to play board games to distract your mind and channel your thoughts on something fun.

#8 Stick to routines and keep busy

This one was a big one for me. Being stimulated and busy makes the weeks go by a lot faster. Try to maintain those regular hours and don’t keep pressing that snooze button. Although the days are shorter, yours don't need to be! Those routines will aid in staying motivated and creating healthy habits.

#9 And remember...

This will pass! When Summer rolls around, this will all seem like a distant memory. Plus, if you’ve managed to be diligent about keeping SAD at a distance and stuck to the practice of healthy eating and exercise, you’ll also have the added bonus of being a season ahead of those health & fitness goals.