The art of mastering happiness – 5 tips on overcoming winter depression

 

 

Seasonal depression is a real condition that I personally suffered from when I was living in Europe. Thick clouds would last for months and a never-ending curtain of gloominess would settle over the cities. Everything was clothed in grey, white, and black giving a feeling of coldness and emptiness. I had a hard time thriving in a concrete jungle surrounded by fog and cold air. Today, I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I rarely experience a form of SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) or winter depression. Living in Southern California I see the Sun shining approximately 284 days/year and I have to admit that the Sun is a large contribution towards my mood. On those rare rainy days like the one when I took these photos, I learned how to overcome sadness and occasional depression caused by weather change.

1. Wear bright colors.  A light dress with bright tones reflects more light and helps in elevating my mood. During winter it is hard to find flowers and colorful blooms to satisfy my visual hunger for beautiful scenery. Wearing a floral and an airy dress can instantly make me feel playful and happy. If it is cold and I have to wear a jacket I don’t hesitate to wear a bright color jacket (pink or light blue). I like to elevate my look with a bold color lipstick to remind myself of spring.2.
2. Visit a place that makes you happy. I often visit a place that reminds me of art and beauty. Buildings that have unique shapes and forms incorporated in their architecture often make me feel special. Art galleries with colorful paintings are capable of satisfying my visual hunger for the beautiful. Each piece tells a unique story about a place or a person. An elegant library with a vast collection of books is another place I like to visit when I am looking for inspiration and wisdom. The Huntington Gardens and Libraries is the perfect place to satisfy all my intellectual needs. 3.
3. Spoil your senses. A cup of aromatic tea or a delightful piece of cake can brighten my day. I pay attention to my senses (taste, smell, vision, touch and hearing) and try to satisfy some if not all of them. Classical music is always elevating on a gloomy day and the sound of the rain is definitely very melodic. I enjoy looking at old photos that bring back happy memories and that make me smile. 4.
4. Be present. Being present helps me to enjoy life to the fullest. Even if it is a rainy day I look foreword to wearing my rain boots and using my colorful umbrella (pink of course :)) and jumping in a puddle to feel like a child again.
5. Don’t be afraid to embrace your true feelings. Sometimes all I want to do on a rainy day is to sleep and enjoy the company of a warm and cozy blanket. And that is fine, because as long as it makes me happy I accomplished something.

I am not saying that I don’t have bad days, a depression session, or occasional bad mood. What I am trying to say is that every little effort can make a difference. There are many days when things are not working out and I label it with “one of those days”, but I wrote this post with the purpose of reminding myself of all the things that can improve on a difficult day.

I would love to hear from you on ways to overcome seasonal depression or improve your mood. Thank you so much for reading, it means a lot to me! And seeing your presence here makes my day!

Outfit details:

Dress: Nordstrom

Shoes: Amazon

Clutch: Asos

XO