| With the weather getting cooler and the days | | | | even a little bit is a great start to kicking out those |
| getting shorter, it is often difficult to keep positive. | | | | bad thoughts. |
| Eliminating negative thoughts and feelings and | | | | Get some good, natural light |
| replacing it with a good mood can be a bit challenging | | | | The right lighting at the right time can also impact |
| as well sometimes. | | | | your mood and thoughts more than you think. Its |
| The good news is that banishing negative energy | | | | darker in the morning and the days are getting |
| during winter seasons is definitely possible and I will | | | | shorter and unfortunately, the darkness tends to |
| give you a few tips on just how to do that. | | | | make you sleepier and groggier. Often times, offices |
| Get sleep | | | | have harsh florescent lights that aren't good for you- |
| The first thing that you need to do to help keep | | | | if your especially prone to headaches, these lights will |
| positive is to make sure your getting enough sleep | | | | only make them worse. With the lack of the natural |
| and that you feel well-rested in the morning. While | | | | lighting that is so abundant during the summer and |
| some people need 8 hours of sleep to function well | | | | the replacement of harsher lights, it's easy to see |
| throughout the day, others need only 6 hours of | | | | why wintertime negatively impacts overall thought |
| sleep. | | | | processes and mood. |
| You might be asking yourself, what does sleep have | | | | While you might not be able to change the lights at |
| to do with your mood? Well, did you ever notice the | | | | your workplace, there are a few things you can do |
| difference in your mood when you get enough sleep | | | | to improve the lighting and your mood. Right before |
| versus not enough sleep? I'm sure you have- | | | | you get up out of bed to start your day, put on a |
| personally, I am really grumpy when I'm sleepy and I | | | | soft light in your bedroom. Keep it on for a while. |
| have a hard time keeping a smile on my face. | | | | This will help your brain wake up and feel a little more |
| Eat good food throughout the day | | | | energized. Put a soft light in your office or cubicle at |
| Diet actually has a big impact on mood as well. I | | | | work. Exchange the harsher lights at your home with |
| know that when I'm busy, cooking and preparing | | | | a softer one. Also, adding more lights to your home |
| healthy food is not on my list of priorities. It is | | | | is important as well. Try taking a candle light bath at |
| tempting, after skipping lunch for an important | | | | night to help relax the tension away- the soft light will |
| meeting, to head to the local fast food joint to order | | | | help you fall asleep easier. With these small changes |
| a hamburger, fries, and shake to appease the | | | | in lighting, you will notice a difference in how you feel. |
| stomach growling. | | | | Keep a journal |
| While this my satisfy your hunger, eating highly fatty, | | | | If you are a chronic worrier, I want you to start |
| processed foods that have a high sugar content will | | | | keeping a journal. Write down all the negative |
| lead to the inevitable sugar crash afterwards and you | | | | thoughts and worries you have, when you have |
| feel like you have no energy. | | | | them, and what triggers them. Here is an example: |
| Now try eating smaller, healthier items and lots of | | | | 'Feeling low, at the end of the day, triggered by not |
| water throughout the day. An easy way to do this is | | | | being able to meet my friends tonight.' I want you to |
| to prepare your food the night before and placing it | | | | be honest here in this exercise and do it for about a |
| in a resealable container. It doesn't have to be time | | | | week. |
| consuming either- you can put some of your left | | | | After your week of writing down your thoughts, I |
| over dinner in a container with other food that goes | | | | want you to make an additional column in your |
| well with it- maybe some brown rice or whole wheat | | | | journal. Here, I want you to make positive note in |
| bread for example. Another great idea would be to | | | | this section with an action. An example here would |
| add fruit, yogart, granola and honey together- they | | | | be: 'Feeling low, at the end of the day, triggered by |
| are a great snack and take little time to prepare. | | | | not being able to meet my friends. It's ok to feel low |
| Notice how your energy levels even out and a more | | | | about not making time to meet my friends. I will read |
| even mood. | | | | a book on effective time management and make |
| It may seem slight, but after a while, it should start | | | | time to meet with Jill and Mary.' |
| to be more and more noticeable. You'll really notice | | | | Giving yourself permission to feel a certain way is |
| the difference if you decide to try junk food again | | | | great. Making an action plan will help you do what you |
| for a day. | | | | want and give you more time to think about the |
| Exercise | | | | positive. Most people spend too much time worrying |
| Getting a little bit more exercising done throughout | | | | about things- which is counter productive and an |
| the day or staying active will help keep you positive. | | | | energy zapper. So, making a plan to fix the things |
| Friends are great motivators at helping keep your | | | | you can fix and not thinking about the things you |
| mood up, so invite one to go out for a walk with and | | | | can't control will help improve your mood over the |
| catch up on all the latest gossip. Exercising or finding | | | | winter. |
| the time to keep up with friends might not be easy | | | | Laughter |
| with a busy schedule, but try and make at least a | | | | Laugh!! Make silly jokes, tell a friend a funny story, or |
| little time for it during the day as a priority. | | | | just watch a hilarious video on YouTube. Laughing is |
| While getting exercise may seem like a hassle and | | | | contagious and will always make you feel better. |
| tiring, just being a little bit more active in the morning | | | | I hope these tips will be able to help you fight |
| is a great start. Starting with maybe a walk around | | | | negative thoughts, as well as keeping you positive |
| the block will give you extra energy through the day. | | | | and upbeat throughout the upcoming wintertime. |
| Also, a walk around the block during your afternoon | | | | Having a positive outlook on life will improve your |
| break will also help you keep awake and focused. | | | | quality of life many times over. Please feel free to |
| The great thing about exercise is that it releases | | | | contact me if you need more information or if you'd |
| chemicals in your brain that help you feel better, so | | | | like a personalized approach. |
