Winter Blues?

I'm in alberta too, and this winter has kicked me in the *kitten*. It snowed WAY to early, and last year was barely winter so i feel ripped off lol. I haven't really done much to combat the need to hibernate. I wish I would get up super early and lounge around until I have to get ready for work, but now that my child is self sufficient in the morning, I don't get up until i absolutely have to. I don't even have enough motivation to go to the gym 3 days a week. I did a paper in University on SADDS, I even wrote about how to help yourself with things like tanning or "happy" lights. But I don't do any of it. I curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea and a book, and pray I make it until 9:00pm so I can go to bed. They say to exercise, tan, sit infront of florescent lights first thing in the morning, take vitamin D supplements, etc...but it's hard to do that when your dragging your butt.

As soon as my alarm goes off, I think about something that will happen that day that will make me happy. Like, going to ballet class that night, being excited about my lunch that day (seriously....grab at anything you got!), going shopping after work, or even looking forward to something like "only 3 more days until a party", etc.

I know how it is though. Dark when the alarm goes off, and dark when I leave the window-less office.

Keeping hitting "snooze"? I put my alarm clock on the other side of the room - I have to get out of bed to turn it off. That usually works....

Out in ottawa I find it hard to get up and go to classes sometimes, especially knowing they're only 1h30min and I could be using that time warmed up in my dorm room in bed! Just have to self motivate and deal with the good old Canadian winters :ohwell:

I'm the same way. The best thing I've done to make myself get out of bed is turn on the light (there's one within easy reach while still in bed). That helps.

A lot of people get the winter blues. The UV in sunlight actually causes a chemical reaction inside of our bodies that makes our bodies produce more of the hormones that make us happy (I don't remember all the scientific jargon, but you could Google it if you're interested). So the best thing for the Winter Blues is to get more sunlight, like taking lunch outside. I know it's hard when it's cold, but it is good for you. Doctors are even prescribing sunlamps to people with depression (even seasonal depression like the winter blues) to help get them more UV exposure. I looked into this topic a few years ago because I get the winter blues myself. I try to spend as much time outside as I can on the weekends (hard to during the week with work and keeping up with the house and dinner and everyday life) and I've found over the last couple of years that I do a lot better. Hope this helps!

Load up on vitamin D. Get a good quality supplement and start taking like 5000 IU a day... there have been lots of studies on this, and Canadians, in particular are seriously lacking in D.

You may have Seasonal Affective Disorder. No big deal in it's mild state. I have an alarm that simulates the sunrise - it (and a weekly B-12 shot) has cured me of the problem you describe.
There are many of these lamps out there - for example the Soleil Sun Alarm Clock Radio.

Sounds like SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I get it yearly. Vitamin D3 helps. I usually start taking it at the beginning of October. St John's Wort also helps. If it's severe, talk to your Doctor. Exercise also helps, as well as direct sunlight. I know the last thing you want to do during cold weather is go outside, but that's one of the single biggest things that will help. While sitting in the sun inside also helps, it's not as effective. But it's a good alternative.

I take 5000iu of D3 each morning.

I'm not as far north as you, but being above the 45th parallel is a lot different than where I grew up in Southern Cal. Here in the Pacific NW we don't see the sun much for about nine months, and it can really get to you. The D3 really made a difference for me.




edited cuz I said B3 instead of D3