Water Features to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder

Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder

When the leaves fall, the skies turn gray, and the temperatures drop, life seems to get a little more difficult. During those winter months, a lot of people are dealing with the struggles of seasonal affective disorder. This occurs when the lack of sunlight and fresh air begins to take a toll on a person’s health, mood, and mental state. There are a few things you can do to avoid this, or at least soften the blow. With a regular boost of Vitamin D, a workout routine, and an indoor water feature, you’ll feel like you flew south for the winter.

Eat right

People often neglect the profound effect that their diet has on their mood and overall well-being. During the harsh winter days, when depression seems to creep up out of absolutely nowhere, it is very important to stay on top of what you take in. One of the main reasons people suffer from season affective disorder is the lack of vitamin D in their systems. Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, and during the winter, your body thirsts for it. With a vitamin D supplement, or vitamin rich foods, you can keep this feeling at bay.

Stay active

A big mistake that a lot of people make is keeping their exercise exclusive to the time of year that invites it. That is a big problem when it comes to suffering from seasonal affective disorder. When you are regularly active, your body takes note of that. Sticking to a regular workout schedule, even if it’s just a small bedroom workout or brisk walk around the block, tells your body that there is reason to move. You will have more energy and motivation, which will increase your mood and soothe the effects of the hard, cold winter.

Create the scene

Even when it’s 10 degrees outside with a foot of snow on the ground, you can enjoy yourself indoors as if it were a spring day. Installing a well-placed water feature can bring a new sense of life and energy to your home. The dry air from your furnace will be combatted by its humidifying and air purification qualities. And, the steady flow of water is reminiscent of the spring, distracting you from the frozen world outside. You can build an entire indoor oasis that always serves as your private little getaway – all year.

The harshest time of the year doesn’t have to be so harsh if you prepare for it. Seasonal affective disorder is real, and it’s real bad. With some extra vitamin D and exercise, and an indoor waterfall to set the scene, you can ease the pain until the weather breaks.