Wellbeing - Beating the winter blues

Disclaimer: This DevLog is intended to help anyone, who is in a similar situation we are in at the moment. Everyone has to make their own decisions. This merely is our own honest view and opinion, based on our experience. We would love to hear from you, what you think about it all. We wish you all the success and fun you deserve with the development and release of your game! eXplore Studio

In the Northern hemisphere, autumn is now well under way and the amount of natural sunlight we get every day is definitely less than in summer. For instance, in June or July, we would not need to turn the lights on before nine or ten in the evening, whereas nowadays, it is almost pitch dark by half past four in the afternoon! In truth, some of us really appreciate this time of the year with all of the cosiness and memories that it conveys: warm drinks by the fireplace, aromas of cinnamon and cranberry filling the air up, decorated houses, people coming together and obviously the many celebrations and holidays that are happening between November and December… Sadly, this season is not everyone’s favourite and many people suffer from the ‘winter blue’ and find themselves feeling sad, less motivated or engaged and could even experience significant mood swings. So, if you suffer from the ‘winter blues’ or if you know someone who would benefit from some help and support, here are some tips you can implement to manage your emotions. 

The first recommendation is to seize any opportunities for sunlight and exercise. Therefore, you might want to check the weather forecast quite regularly and schedule any outside activities accordingly. It is an excellent way to catch some vitamin D and generate endorphins and dopamine, the “feel good” hormones, at the same  time! And you also want to keep in mind that exercise promotes positive mental health, reduces stress and anxiety, improves attention, memory and quality of sleep and has long-term health benefits. However, there might be some days when the weather is not cooperating well. For instance, on rainy, snowy and cold days, you might want to consider some indoor activities like yoga or walking in place for twenty or thirty minutes that will make your body move and resist the urge to engage in only sedentary activities.

The second recommendation would be to form and keep healthy lifestyle habits. So, instead of spending more time on the sofa or in bed and eating foods that are not good for the body, you are encouraged to make wiser choices to look after your body. It is important for example that you try to incorporate (more) fruits and vegetables in your diet, take some breaks during the day and sleep enough. This will also do your immune system a favour when colds and flus notoriously spread during this time of year.  

The third recommendation is to create a self-care box. It is a personalised collection of items that can help you feel better when you're feeling low, upset or distressed. It's filled with things that can bring you comfort from tea, bath bomb, candles with a familiar smell, books, a journal to write down your thoughts, paint, colouring books, knitting or crochet kit etc… and is your own little 'go-to' place for when you're not feeling your best. 

Finally, the fourth and last recommendation is to stay connected with others. Even when it feels like a struggle to get out of the house, social connection can boost your mood, help improve your sleep and increase your quality of life. You can meet your friends or family members in person but if for whatever reason , this is not an option, you can always schedule a ‘Face Time’ coffee and indulge in a lovely time with a trusted person.

Take good care of yourself and speak to a trusted person if you need support!