Kids love winter. Winter sports enthusiasts love winter. Penguins and polar bears love winter. Seniors not so much. It’s cold out. It’s dreary. It’s snowing and the sidewalks are slippery. Danger. Danger. Danger. Slips and falls, heart attacks, and boredom. Not much for seniors to love about winter.
People are not solar powered, but they will all admit that they feel perkier when surrounded by light and brightness. Yes, we are talking about bright spaces and a good supply of natural light. This time of year it feels like brightness and light are in short supply.
Once the holidays decorations have been put away, feelings of doom and gloom set in. It is dark when you wake up and it is dark at dinnertime. Doom and gloom.
Researchers use the term Season Affect Disorder (SAD), but that description is a little over the top for most of us. We just feel a little less animated than usual, a little bored. We don’t like it, but we grin, bear, and complain about it, until the winter solstice occurs, and we can start counting the days until it will be light and bright again.
You can talk to a professional if you feel your “seasonal blues” are interrupting your flow, or you can do some experimenting on your own. Think of winter as a time of personal growth. Create your own light. Create your own joy. Think of ways to brighten up your life.
Do something. Open the blinds, pull open the drapes and turn on every light in your house. Make your room, your apartment, or even your whole house a cozy nest.
Splurge on bright colored area rugs, table runners, centerpieces or buy new dishes that add a splash of color. Bring nature into your rooms. Plant an herb garden, put up a hanging basket, and fill your bird feeders.
Fill your library with good books and favorite movies. Consider learning or relearning everything from how to cook, paint a picture or write your memoirs. Expand your mindset by exploring all sorts of indoor activities, maybe a fitness program. Make winter special again.
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