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The holiday season is a time to visit home, be with family, and celebrate what you truly love about life. As wonderful as these times can be, however, winter can also cause mental health problems for lots of people. According to Psychology Today, about ten million Americans experience seasonal depression every year.

Here are some self care tips that might help you get through whatever you may be feeling this winter.

Get up early and go outside

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With the sun setting at around five o’clock, it can be easy to feel like the day has barely begun by the time it starts to end. However, if you adjust your sleep schedule so that you fall asleep and wake up earlier, you’ll feel more in tune with the earth. This will give you more energy, mentally and physically.

It’s important to get outside no matter what time of year it is, but it’s especially important in the wintertime. With cold temperatures and constant rain and snow, it’s easy to stay inside every day. However, it’s been proven that going on walks and being in nature can really help and heal you.

So, try to get outside whenever you possibly can! This will do wonders for your health.

Slow down

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Humans are not meant to go full speed every month of every year of their lives. Poor self care and taking on more than you can handle are just two things that can cause burnout.

Luckily, winter actually helps us out in this manner. We’re supposed to slow down and take a rest during this season; it’s kind of like taking a mental hibernation for a few months. So, if you find yourself feeling “lazier” during the winter, don’t feel guilty about it! You aren’t lazy. You’re just taking the rest that your brain and body need.

Take care of your body

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This means keeping yourself warm, staying hydrated, eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising. These things are vital for your mental and physical health.

Take care of your mind

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Taking care of your mind is arguably more important than taking care of your body. It’s difficult to develop a good routine and take care of yourself if you don’t have a mind that will allow you to do so.

Meditation, mindfulness, journaling, and practicing gratitude are just a few things that can help you develop good mental habits. With good mental habits, every aspect of your life will become easier to deal with.

Seek out therapy

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All these things are often easier said than done. If you need help getting everything in order, it’s perfectly alright to seek out help for a part of the year. Therapy is a great way to sort out your life or just vent to someone you know will listen and be there for you.

Remember. It’s always okay to ask for help if you’re in need of it.

Center yourself

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Slow down, take a deep breath, and look around. You might be feeling stressed or overwhelmed with all this, but realize that you don’t need to do it all at once. Just take it one day, one minute, one breath at a time.

You got this!

This Blog Was Written By Leah Kissick

Leah Kissick is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainable fashion. She believes that Earth’s health will not be renewed unless we practice what we preach and take action. She hopes her writing will help ethical and sustainable brands flourish and make an impact on the fashion industry overall. To find more information about her, you can find her portfolio here.