The countdown is on! And we’re not talking about Christmas. The shortest day of the year is on Monday, Dec. 21 and that marks the Winter Solstice, bringing longer periods of beautiful, healthful daylight to the northern hemisphere and here on the Coast, starting Tuesday.
If you are one of the many folks who experience the winter blues or struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mild to moderate form of depression, longer periods of daylight along with other lifestyle interventions can help lift symptoms.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, between two and three per cent of the population are likely to have SAD, with approximately 15 per cent of us experiencing a downturn in mood or basic winter blues. People who live in northern places like Canada are believed to be more susceptible, due to our shorter winter days.
Helpful ways to feel better include spending more time outdoors, especially on sunny days, or using a light therapy lamp in your home or office. Try going for a walk at lunch hour when the natural sunlight is brightest. You can also rearrange your home office or living space to optimize exposure to daylight and enhance the quality of electric lighting by switching up your bulbs and florescent tubes to full spectrum quality. In addition to possibly lessoning mild seasonal mood swings, full spectrum lighting is also said to reduce glare and eye strain.
Light box therapy is a more dedicated way to help people who have SAD, with results usually noticed within two to three weeks of use. Light therapy boxes and other devices are powerful and concentrated sources of full spectrum lighting, so you only have to sit next to them for 30 to 60 minutes a day. Some therapy fixtures also come with dimmers enabling people to use them as task lighting.
Taking gentle care of yourself during the winter by ensuring you get adequate sleep, eat healthily and stay active can also help lift the winter blues and may protect you from conditions such as SAD. Spending quality time on hobbies or crafts can make you feel more engaged, during longer, darker evenings.
Celebrating the season in your own way can ease winter doldrums and lift your mood, too. Acknowledging the Winter Solstice is becoming a popular way to socialize. Gathering with friends for a meal or bonfire, lighting candles and decorating with light are simple ways to signify brighter times ahead.
