However you may be affected by colder and darker skies, the wintertime blahs are real. Some manage the blustery months by staying active. Others may be afflicted with the challenges of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression that affects all ages and may require professional support to overcome. Here are 10 things you can do to combat seasonal blues:
- Soak up some vitamin D. Don’t forget to get outside for fresh air. Just because it may be cloudy or blustery outside, our bodies can still absorb the daylight’s nutrients. Take a walk during lunch.
- Shake a rug, get your groove on. Have your own dance party for a night in, or take an exercise class.
- Throw a tropical party. Heat up the house, serve up your favorite summer treats, and put on summer clothes.
- Get that warm, fuzzy feeling. Reach out to a senior, cook dinner for a sick friend, or anonymously donate a gift certificate to someone who’s struggling to make ends meet.
- Try something silly. Be spontaneous—do something to break up your routine: Blow bubbles, skip to your car, walk for hours in the rain, or splash in the puddles.
- Initiate a new winter family tradition. Book a vacation at a snowy lodge, start a game night, or chill out with a movie classic.
- Create a change of pace. Rearrange your furniture, freshen up your workspace, or rethink your kitchen’s color scheme.
- Be a kid again—play! Watch cartoons or old comedy favorites, or go to a playground and mess around on the swings or jungle gym.
- Nerd out on a new (or old) hobby. Silence all critics. Be you with crazy abandon. Create an original: spin pottery, make a funny video, plug in the band saw, or take out the knitting needles.
- Indulge in creature comforts. Treat yourself to a massage, manicure, or pedicure.
Please follow all current COVID-19 safety protocols when engaging in activities with others.
Visit PacificSource.com for free online tools and resources.
As a PacificSource member, you can access CaféWell, an online health engagement portal. To get started, go to PacificSource.com, log into InTouch, and click CaféWell. Visit CaféWell to:
- Complete a health assessment to identify your potential health risks.
- Get your health and wellness questions answered by an expert health coach.
- Connect with family, friends, and others with similar health goals.
- Access helpful tips and articles on health and wellness.
If you have questions about your coverage, a claim, or any benefit or service, please visit PacificSource.com and log into InTouch for Members to access information, or contact our Customer Service team by email or phone:
- cs@pacificsource.com | (888) 977-9299
- En Español: (541) 684-5456 or (800) 624-6052, ext. 1009
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