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We\u2019re in the dog days of the New England Winter and many of you have experienced more snow and cold temperatures than you ever have in your own country.\u00a0 Days are short, the nights are cold, which gives many of us the \u201cwinter blues,\u201d characterized by mild depression, lack of motivation, and low energy.\u00a0 It can also make you feel more isolated and homesick.<\/p>\n
Here are some tips on how to keep your mood lifted during the dark months of the year:<\/strong><\/p>\n *get enough sleep and rest – we need more of it in the winter \u2013 but don\u2019t oversleep, which will make you more lethargic.\u00a0 Sometimes a short nap can work wonders!\u00a0 Relax when your energy level is down and give yourself time to rejuvenate.<\/p>\n *get out into the fresh air and sun as much as possible.\u00a0 The sun provides you with vitamin D and improves your mood.\u00a0 The air provides you with oxygen and you\u2019ll feel more energized.<\/p>\n *exercise regularly. It maintains your weight, lifts your mood, releases stress and gives you more energy.<\/p>\n *eat healthy food.\u00a0 Try to eat less refined and processed food (white bread, white rice and sugar) and more complex carbohydrates like whole wheat bread, brown rice, vegetables and fruit.\u00a0 This gives your body more nutrients and stabilizes your blood sugar and energy level. \u00a0\u00a0Make sure you drink your 8 glasses of water each day.<\/p>\n *Rely on your social network.\u00a0 Meeting with friends over coffee and tea and chatting on the phone can brighten your mood.\u00a0 You can always give me a call!<\/p>\n *Plan something that is exciting to you.\u00a0 Looking forward to an event can brighten your mood: a weekend trip, a party, a sporting event, reading a nice book or watching a movie under the warm covers.<\/p>\n *Embrace the winter season.\u00a0 Make the best out of what it has to offer \u2013 skiing, skating, sledding, building snow men, making snow angels.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t let winter bother you, your spirits will be brighter!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"