A new year is here, the holidays are officially behind us, and winter is in full swing. Around this time of year, many people may experience a case of the winter blues. It is normal to feel off, whether this be sadness, fatigue, or loneliness. Approximately 1 in 4 Canadians experiences seasonal depression around this time of year. The good news is that there are things you can do to help alleviate the winter gloom by improving your physical and mental health.
Change up your walking routine
Nordic walking uses poles that look like those used in cross-country skiing. This form of walking exercise originated in Finland. It was developed as a summer conditioning program for cross-country skiers but eventually grew in popularity across Europe and North America. It is particularly well-suited to seniors, and research has shown it provides better total fitness results relative to regular walking and resistance training in healthy older adults.
Write it out
Whether it's writing memoirs, poetry, keeping a journal, documenting feelings, or recounting joyful events, writing will allow you to release your emotions and be entertained. Writing can have positive effects on both physical and mental health. It can be beneficial in releasing emotions and deep feelings and can also lead people to change behaviours positively by thinking differently about certain situations.
Consider starting a writing group with some family members or friends to challenge yourself to write a little bit every day on a topic that matters to you.
Dust off a board game
There are many options for board games – logic games, numbers-based games, games of strategy, etc. In addition to the joy they bring when playing them, they also positively affect knowledge, cognitive functions, physical activity, anxiety, and the severity of Alzheimer's disease (to name just a few). Consider dusting off one of your board games to play with members of your household or trying a digital version to play with family and friends virtually. It’s a great way to break social isolation and have fun!
Maintaining physical and mental health is an essential part of healthy aging. Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Find an activity that is safe and accessible and make it a part of your daily or weekly routine. To learn more about the benefits of these activities, read more in our featured resources below.
