For those of us who live in parts of the country that are impacted by winter, you may be feeling a bit melancholy right now. Both children and adults experience some degree of the winter blues as days are short and our landscapes are a consistent hue of bland greys and browns.

According to statistics, “winter depression” impacts approximately 6% of the U.S. population – that’s about 1 in every 16 who feel inexplicably gloomy nearly half of the year! And ladies take note… the majority diagnosed with the more severe form of winter depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are female (60-90%).

Being indoors for extended periods of time can impact your mood, cause lack of interest in activities, lead to increased weight gain, as well as an ongoing lethargy.

So what can you do to enjoy these months and give your psyche a kick-start? The trick is to take advantage of everything that winter has to offer. The attitude with which we approach winter will drive our mood and productivity. This same positive attitude will rub off on to our family members, children, friends and colleagues.

So, here are some tips on how to beat the winter blues:

Go Outside! Fresh air and sunshine is really good for you. It’s good for your digestion, improves blood pressure and heart rate, elevates your mood, strengthens your immune system, cleans your lungs and increases your energy, which in turn leads to a sharper mind. For more detailed information, read this article.

The trick to enjoying winter outside is planning and dressing appropriately. Figure out what you are going to do and then dress for the occasion. You can do something simple like going for a solitary walk – or have some fun with your kids by building a snowman, having a snowball fight, and the list goes on! For some other ideas, check out this article.

Exercise. A lot of people abandon exercise during the winter. Getting motivated may be hard, but the fact is once you start, you will feel invigorated and craving more! You’ll also be setting a great example for your kids.

For outdoor exercise, you can do almost any warm-weather activity in the winter – and more! Walking, running, biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc. Be sure you are dressed appropriately, hydrated and safe (i.e., don’t go biking when there is snow on the ground).

For indoor exercise, do things like join a gym (many provide daycare for children as young as six weeks), try a dance or Zumba class, join an indoor sports league, or take your little one(s) to the community pool. There are options – just focus on what you enjoy and stick to it.

Inside Out. Trying to find fun things to do with kids in the winter doesn’t mean you have to struggle to invent new things to do at home. Winter is a great time to take advantage of community and other kinds of indoor activities your area has to offer. Spend an afternoon at a kids’ museum; check out your local library for children’s activities. Many malls and children’s retailers now cater to families with young children and offer parent/child activities. The trick is to get resourceful. Your community newspaper will likely have a section of family activities, and get on those email distribution lists so you know what’s happening and when.

We’d like to remind you that we are not doctors, and if you are concerned that your winter blues are a bit more, we advise you to see your doctor. Here’s a great article to help you figure this out.