The shorter days of the fall and winter months can make it harder to feel as cheerful and productive as you may be in the spring and summer. However, making intentional lifestyle choices can help you get just as much out of days with less daylight. Here are four helpful tips for improving the quality of your life during the fall and winter!
Don't Neglect Healthy Habits
Sticking to a healthy routine can be more difficult in the winter. It can feel harder to be productive when early darkness makes you feel like it is time to go to bed as soon as the sun goes down. However, finding time to keep small habits in your life is an essential step in maintaining your physical and mental health throughout the fall and winter months.
Eating nutritious foods, drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep are important at any time of year. Their positive effects can help to fight the negative impact that shorter days can have on your life.
Practice Mindfulness
Shorter days can certainly affect your mood. It can be easy to allow them to have a more significant impact on your life than they deserve to. Spend time identifying exactly how you are feeling and think about more in-depth reasons why that might be the case. This can help you find positive ways to combat negative thoughts instead of allowing them to consume you.
Listening to music, journaling, practicing yoga, or even simply meditating for a few minutes each day can be an important step in taking a step back and minimizing the amount that you allow fewer hours of daylight to affect the quality of your life.
Use Daylight Light Bulbs
Choosing the right light bulbs can significantly improve the appearance and mood of your home. Replace dim, warm bulbs with the brightest and whitest options on the market. This can make it much easier to see after dark. In fact, it can provide a surprisingly adequate job of recreating the positive effects natural light can have on your mental health.
Prioritize Light When You Can
Even the shortest days of the winter provide around eight hours of daylight. Strategically arranging your days to prioritize enjoying as much sunshine as possible can boost your productivity. What's more, it can improve your overall ability to enjoy each day.
Reserve mornings and afternoons for short walks, errands, and hobbies that work best in natural light. This makes it easier to avoid running out of time for these activities. Save watching TV, reading with a strong lamp, and other activities that don't require as much light in the evening. This can help you get the most out of the light you do have.
At Senior Helpers of Portland West, we are here to help seniors in Portland, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, and surrounding areas find simple ways to improve the quality of their lives. The negative impact on mental health that a lack of daylight can be associated with can make the fall and winter months challenging. However, making a few adjustments to your routine can make it easier to enjoy the things you love throughout the year. Contact us to learn more about the services we provide!