5 Ways to Fight the Symptoms of Seasonal Depression

The symptoms of seasonal depression become more and more difficult to fight as fiercely cold weather sets in, and the days start getting shorter--with darkness falling during the late afternoon hours. If you're like me, you may not be clinically diagnosed with seasonally induced sadness--but there's definitely a sense of disenchantment and frustration that can set in. Here are a few ways to help ward it off:

Recognize that it is completely normal.
In an environment that naturally lends itself to less activity it is easy to start to feel like you are being lazy. Give yourself a break.

Stay busy.
Even if you're not doing very much outside your home, be sure to keep your mind busy. Work on the action steps for your goals, read books, paint--whatever you can do to keep the creative juices flowing is good. Don't let your mind become idle--that's when it can start to zone in on those negative egoic (read: fearful) thoughts.

Surround yourself with light.
Fill your home with lots of warm light to help accommodate for the lesser amount of sunlight you're getting.

Take a break from social media, blogs and email.
Nothing can make me feel worse about myself than when I am already sad, than scrolling through my social media feeds. In these times it gets so easy to start comparing my life to the "great" lives it seems like everyone else has. Most people only post the good stuff on social media anyway--everyone has their struggles. Beginning comparison thinking is the worst thing you can do for your mood. Avoid it at all costs.

Remember that it is only temporary.
The seasons will continue to change as part of the earth's natural ebb and flow--as will your moods along your journey. You just have to roll with it, knowing that things will turn around. Spring will come around before you know it, bringing you lots of sunshine and bright skies. Hang in there. 

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How To Make Your World Better Overnight

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This post is for me, just as much as it is for you.

I'm having a hard time with some things, like we all do sometimes.  I believe that our respective skies have to fall every now and then, just to prove to us that we can survive it. 

One of the toughest aspects of my life these days, as a woman trying to hold on to herself, is that no matter what I'm going through, my world just keeps on spinning.  It doesn't slow down for me.  I feel like I'm running on a faulty treadmill that won't stop and I'm afraid to jump off.  I'm so out of breath that I can't even get the words out to ask anyone for help.

And the most aggravating part of it all is that I know it doesn't have to be this way.  We've all had problems come and go.  Some even stay and we manage to enjoy life in spite of them.  We climb our mountains and stand up to our bullies.  Then we encounter another challenge or crisis and become dutifully consumed all over again. 

Today, I want to remind you (and me) that none of our issues are random.  What helps me to wake up every morning with hope and determination is my awareness that every problem I have is an opportunity.  I may go to bed feeling heavy and uncertain - childishly frustrated that I can't solve everything overnight.   But in the morning I start fresh.

Start each day with the mentality that no matter what happens, you will view it like it was strategically placed in your life -  not to curse you - but to help you become a better version of yourself. 

When I make this conscious effort, I notice that my mood is significantly more resilient and less likely to take drastic swings when things don't go my way.  It doesn't make the problems necessarily seem smaller, it just gives you more motivation to face them.

The student loan people still won't let me decrease my payment.  My car is still on its death bed.  I'm still adjusting to my dad's new normal. And as much as I try to pray it and write it out of my system, I still have this sneaking suspicion that something is inherently and fundamentally wrong with mind.  I could go on, but you'd be bored.  I'm sure you have your own list of complications.

I live for the idea that every unwelcomed event, person or situation is really a doorway into the next me.  A stronger, wiser me.  Yay.  I'm so anxious to meet her.

What do you think?  Could this work for you, too?  Try it tomorrow, even on the smallest thing like someone cutting you off in traffic.  Think to yourself, "This jackass was strategically placed to help me become a more patient person."  Keep your road rage in check and drive on in peace. 

If we all practice this, we'll not only make our own private worlds better, but we'll also make the whole wide world better. Win Win.

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Love Note - Friday 12/7/12

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Link Love: The Simply Luxurious Life (Why Never Giving Up is the Best Idea)

Happy Monday! I hope you all are having a wonderful week so far. I am in a little bit of a funk/at a bit of a crossroads today. There is one particular goal that I have that I've been working on achieving for a really long time--probably about 15 years--and lately I've been feeling like maybe it won't ever happen. Every time I feel that I have made significant progress or had a breakthrough, something occurs to make me feel like I haven't done anything at all. It's high and low and an emotional roller coaster, and today I was thinking about putting it on the back burner. In fact, I was having a conversation with a friend about my frustrations, just as this post from one of my favorite blogs, The Simply Luxurious Life, hit my inbox. The message here couldn't be more clear, and I thought that maybe someone else might be struggling with a decision and need this advice too. 

“Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.”

~ U.S. President Calvin Coolidge  

Each one of us is on a journey, and based on the many emails I receive from you, my readers, I know that many of you are in the middle of striving toward the goal you have set for yourself. Whether it’s a professional or personal goal, working towards a promotion or strengthening your relationship, I genuinely believe so long as you are heading in the right direction, never giving up is the best idea.

Why? Let me explain. Read the rest of this post...

We know that timing is everything, and even if it isn't my time just yet, I've got to keep working to be ready when my time comes. This post served as the best kind of reminder. Here's to never giving up.     {photo source}  

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Love Note - Friday 11/30/12

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Why No One Can Compete With You. Ever.

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It’s happening. I’m starting to do that end of the year reflection thing. You’re doing it too, I just know it. How are you feeling about your journey through 2012?

Being hard on myself was so 2010 and 2011, so I happy to say that I’m not going to overanalyze what I accomplished and what I didn’t for 2012. However, it’s never a bad time to acknowledge an area where you’ve grown, and how that growth has enriched the quality of your life.  

As such, I just have to tell you what a GREAT year I had professionally. If you can’t tell, I’m proud of myself. I feel like this year, I stopped playing small at work, I put my big girl panties on, and I took on more responsibility and leadership than I ever have before. And low and behold, it was acknowledged and rewarded.

Ironically, I’ve never ever wanted to leave my job more than I do now. Maybe because I proved to myself that my true value proposition is not tied to a specific company or job. I’ve worked at the same company since I graduated from college so it’s no wonder that I associate any security or success that I’ve had with that company.

But I’ve learned that my true value comes from just doing what I know how to do. I’m not talking about the skills and accomplishments that go on my resume. I mean, anyone could do my job from a tactical standpoint. I could quit tomorrow and business would keep on keeping on -- they’d fill my position, and I’d just be someone that they used to know.  However, Maya Angelou said, ”People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”

And this, I believe, is my strength -- how I make people feel and the energy that I bring into a group. It's more impactful than my technical knowledge, my educational background or anything else that can be taught. So, when I doubt if I’ll be successful at another company or in other endeavors, I need only remind myself that all I had to do in order to have the most successful year of my career was to fully embrace who I am and what I bring to the table. The solution to doubt is always to be true to yourself.

Authenticity. It’s like our own built-in guarantee, but we don’t realize it. It guarantees that we are always on the right track as long as we are being honest with ourselves and with the world about who we are and who we are not. This psychologist guy named Carl Rogers once said, “What you are is good enough if you would only be it openly.”

This year, I really proved this to myself that who I am is enough. What about you? Were there any lessons that really stood out for you?

 

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The Season for Giving

As the season of gratitude that we call Thanksgiving comes to a close, the season for giving—Christmas—comes in on its heels. Amidst thoughts of holiday décor, fine foods, snowy weather and presents under the tree, be reminded to give things that are intangible, like your time and your love. Why not:

Volunteer to serve food at a shelter?

Have your nieces and nephews over for a sleepover to give your sister or brother a break?

Invite that neighbor who is spending the holidays alone over for a meal?

Volunteer to shop or wrap presents for an elderly friend, neighbor or relative?

Make a donation to an annual or community drive like Toys for Tots, your local food bank or (this year in particular) the Red Cross?

What are some of the ways you give back during the holidays?

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