Greener Days Prevail

I used to dread November. The come down after the high of summer and a festive October would always leave me feeling out of sorts. Pair that with daylight savings making the sun set before 5pm, and it often snowing in November (it’s actually snowing as I type this), and you have a great recipe for sending your mood into a downward spiral.

The only saving grace for me this time of year was that December was around the corner and my mood would be temporarily lifted for the holiday season before I crashed even harder come January and the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) really started to settle in.

It’s taken me years to get here, but I now feel like I have a much better handle and appreciation for the colder, shorter days, and a big part of that for me is due to embracing this time of year instead of resisting it. This season urges us to slow down and recharge, and so, that’s exactly what I do.

If you need some help getting yourself to a similar place, here’s my simple list of things that I have found help with elevating my mood:

1. Putting my Christmas decorations up early

I used to put my Christmas decorations up beginning of December, but now I put them up just after Remembrance Day. Though it might seem like a placebo, it really does help to boost my mood having my Christmas tree up and being surrounded by twinkling lights. Being a parent also helps make the holidays feel more magical again, so putting our decorations up a bit earlier helps to kickstart that magic.

2. Taking my vitamin D supplement

If you live in southern Ontario like myself, then you know that once November arrives, the sunny days quickly become far and few between. This means our bodies start producing less serotonin, which can affect our immune system and mood and contribute to SAD. While we should still be trying to get outside as much as we can, I also take the CanPrev D3 Drops 1000IU every morning and really feel like they help to regulate my mood and increase productivity this time of year.

3. Using my downtime to revisit certain hobbies and get back into routine

Less plans used to bum me out, but with how busy my family and I tend to be from May to October, it’s something I now embrace come November. I use this extra time to get back into my cozier hobbies, which include reading, writing, and baking, and I also try and get back into a consistent workout routine. Jason and I also usually get back into playing a video game together and start a new show, which makes for fun and cozy at-home date nights.

4. Prioritizing rest

As soon as the clocks go back, a lot of us feel guilty for feeling more tired and lethargic, when it’s totally normal. Shorter days mean our brains start producing more melatonin, which I now take as my body telling me it craves more rest. Whether that’s trying to get an extra hour of sleep at night or just climbing into bed a bit earlier to watch a movie or read a book, I think we all really need to make rest a priority this time of year in order to recharge our batteries.

5. Cooking hearty meals

One thing I really embrace is shifting what I eat based on the time of year and what’s in season, and with the shorter, colder months it’s all about warmer, heartier meals for me. Think lots of root vegetables, homemade soups, and anything that can be drenched in gravy. And if it can be made in the crock pot? Even better. I find more joy in cooking this time of year, so I lean into that and prioritize comforting and nourishing meals.

I hope this list is helpful and received like a warm hug for anyone who feels how I used to feel every November. Implementing these things and this mindset now makes going into January a lot easier for me. As mentioned, it’s all about embracing instead of resisting. Finding the flow instead of fighting the current. You got this!