I had a sad day last week at work, but nothing bad happened. I made it to work on time and my co-workers were cool as usual, yet I felt like I needed a pacifier and a sippy cup. Then I realized it was those pesky winter blues. They will creep up on you like an out of work ninja and chop away at your psyche. What can be done to battle back, you might be wondering.
Step 1: You need to stay active. That doesn’t mean being busy at work banging on the keyboards. You could sign up at the New England Martial Arts training center and learn to karate kick from Sensei Steve. Or take lessons at the new Brazilian jiu jitsu place downtown. Exercise of any kind is imperative to your mental health. The mental and physical benefits of challenging your body to a game of exercise are countless. You are not too old to box or to join a rec soccer league. Play one-on-one against your son in the driveway every Sunday before dinner. Do what you will have the discipline to do again. My therapist is a bucket of baseballs I dent up. I’m upright and exerting calculated effort with each swing. I am focusing on the good in life with my dedicated teammates rather than sitting down and internalizing No. 14′s personal problems.
Step 2: Load up on fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium, and B vitamins. Fish oil is great for heart health, reduces inflammation and improves cognitive function. Pop a couple magnesium pills before bedtime, and you will have a sounder night’s sleep. Magnesium also helps with anxiety for people of all ages. Low levels of B vitamins in your system can cause brain fog. Proper levels clear that fog and aid in energy production. We are approaching the winter solstice, a.k.a. the shortest day of the year, on Dec. 21. With such a lack of sunlight, it is far from uncommon to have a vitamin D deficiency. The sun’s rays aren’t always harmful. Solar energy gives us more kick than a can of Monster ever will.
