10/05/2022
Seasonal depression can be all encompassing.
It can affect us in every area - mentally, emotionally and physically.
Personally, without direct ☀️ on my face and soul, in the past I’ve found myself transforming into a bit of a monster at home from mental exhaustion and physical pain thanks to fibromyalgia.
💔 My poor kids got the brunt of it.
Over the last few years I’ve discovered tools to help me essentially recreate the feeling of warmer days and refuel my spirit.
L.I.G.H.T.S
💡 Light - nothing compares to the sun, but, we’re blessed to have options that FEEL a teensy bit like it’s warm rays. Certain types of white and red light trick our brains into thinking we’re outside.
🙏🏼 Insight - make time to connect to your version of God/spirit/Universe. Use the cozy downtime as a study session to truly dive into your spirit.
🧘♀️ Get moving - whether it’s yoga, dance, weights, barre, Pilates, you name it. Move your body. It’s so easy to get sucked into the couch cushions and justify it.
🔥 Heat - this is a huge one for me. My body locks up when cold and causes widespread pain, headaches and tension. Last winter I invested in an electric coat and hand warmer and lemme tell you - 👏🏼 game 👏🏼 changer.
🫖 Tea - Hilary, our in-house herbalist, mentioned herbal teas as a way of combating SAD, and although I’ve never been much a of tea drinker - she’s right. I experimented with hibiscus, green, turmeric and more and the simple act of sipping warm liquid and inhaling the fragrance grounds me.
🎵 Sound - sound healing is an absolutely phenomenal way of relieving stress and grounding ourselves. I’ve been using my N.O.W Tone system as well as Native American drumming, meditation sounds, nature ambiance to recreate the outdoor environment feel.
🗣 Alexa - play mediation music.
Aside from sound, smell immediately activates our memory and experiences so diffusing foresty-essential oil blends aids in that outdoor recreation.
I’ve personally used all the tools mentioned and will tag them in stories so you can check them out.
Be proactive and stop SAD before you’re chillin’ with your hands in a bag of Cheetos sobbing over a hallmark movie.