Winter weather
It's been rather wintery here. I always wanted to spend our winters in Bali. It hasn't happened. Sadly.
I am okay with rain. Yes, I can do rain. Extremely heavy rain definitely excepted. Wind - I am a triple air sign so mostly wind and I are very compatible, and I really am not the best in extreme wind. Icy cold - to be honest, at these times, I do get joint pain in various places where I've damaged myself over the years. I thought that this was just an age thing, but I was recently talking to a woman in her late thirties who has pain in her knees in the extreme cold. From snowboarding accidents in her twenties.
When there are two of these factors together, I realise that I really don't like it. Heavy rain and very strong wind? I heartedly dislike this. I get grumpy.
Wind and icy cold, yes, I can do this, albeit reluctantly, and feeling a bit down when I'm in it.
But put all three together, and I am downright crabby. It's just so full-on when you're out in it. I ended up soaking wet this week just trying to get out of a door and putting my umbrella up. I was not a happy punter. The weather was just so fierce!!
I was telling a medical person this recently, and they said that I have SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Usually it's associated with depression in winter. But I'm not that. In fact, when the shortest day of the year happens as the inclement weather is settling it, I cheerfully tell myself that it's almost spring, which of course it's not. But, I do this every year. I look forward to that day as the weather is getting much colder.
Years ago, I read somewhere that people who are born in spring are more prone to SAD. And I was a spring baby. I wonder who else gets the winter blues?
Habits for The Blues
Going straight out into the sunlight each morning is highly recommended for feeling happy during the day. But so many of us have to get up and about in winter before the sun arises. So what can we do about this?
Whenever I lived where I could see the rising sun, I would go outside and stare at the red sun, just above the horizon for ten seconds at the most, then close my eyes, and watch the after image for maybe thirty seconds.
This is usually done in the yoga child pose. But, what you can do, as soon as you awake, is to sit on the edge of the bed, drop your torso down over your thighs, quickly relax your body, close your eyes, and in the darkness before your eyes, inside your head, visualise the red sun, it doesn't have to be for a long time, then let the image go, and Just Be, staying relaxed in that position, eyes still closed, letting thoughts and feelings come and go.
Happy hormones in winter
Seriously, this does make us happier. It releases happy hormones into our being. It is good to do all year round, especially if you can see the rising sun. But in winter? When it's dark? It still works if we do this inside.
I seriously recommend it.
Any other hints for dealing with SAD?
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