Mental health: Five easy ways to protect your mood this fall

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These simple tips will help you maintain your well-being as the days get shorter

While some people love watching the leaves fall and spending the evenings curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, others find that shorter days and gray weather take a toll on their mental health and well-being.

Whether you’re trying to manage seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or struggling to wake up on gray mornings, below are some steps you can take to help yourself feel better.

1. Balance your diet

If you often feel sluggish and sluggish during the colder months, the first step is to take the time to prepare rich and nutritious dishes.

The winter months can make us crave fast food, treats and sweets as our bodies need more energy to warm up while still doing what they did in the warmer months: work, parenting, exercise.

To balance this, add healthy cooked foods and soups to your diet. – which are not only rich in vitamins and nutrients that will help your brain but also protect your ability to cope with everyday life and keep warm.

2. Maintain vitamin D levels

While most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight between March and September, during the colder months you should take extra steps to ensure your vitamin D levels are not disrupted.

This is important for several reasons. Vitamin D plays a vital role in maintaining the health of our bones, teeth and muscles, as well as regulating mood.

Before taking any supplement, talk to your doctor.

3. Don’t let the cold hold you back

Going outside for a walk will help you wake up and feel better.

After all, there’s a reason why the Nordic term “friluftsliv” is so popular in the Nordic countries during the winter months – loving the outdoors and staying active is important, no matter the time of year.

Try brisk walking through the park with a hot drink in hand on one of those cold mornings.

4. Listen to your body

Giving your body what it needs will make the winter months a little easier. While self-care is important all year round, taking the time to listen to our bodies and minds – and give them what they need – is even more important when we’re not in our favorite season.

Do what makes you happy, read, listen, watch what you love and inspire you, even if it means you have to decorate your tree from the beginning of October.

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