Beating the Winter Blues

It’s that time of year again; cold, wet and grey – and whilst the boiler may be pumping out red hot heat, you may be left feeling fed up and blue. The winter blues are a common occurrence, characterised by feelings of sadness, lack of motivation and low energy, but we have a few fool-proof ways to help you overcome them!

1. Have some God-and-you-time

This isn’t to try and sound like some odd self help book, but the Bible clearly says: “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isa. 40:31. Spending some specific time with God every day will do wonders for you, your Christian walk and your general well-being. I try and have a cup of tea with Him every morning and sort the day out before it begins. It might seem like a chore sometimes, but once you get into the habit you will start to look forward to your time with God and the great feeling it leaves you with.

2. Catch some Zzzz’s!

Its true and your mother was right! You need to get to bed on time. Lack of sleep can make you irritable, moody and can also affect your health. The average adult needs between 7-8 hours sleep a night, with consistent bedtimes and waking hours! (I direct this to myself!) As lovely as those 12 hour sleep binges at the weekend seem they can actually leave you feeling more tired. Apparently the Spanish have it right and 10-30 minute afternoon siestas can help re-energise you.

3. Don’t worry!  

I know this is easier said than done but the Bible tells us: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6-7) If you’re a worrier, the bad news is that not worrying is a command. Hand your problems, worries and anxieties over God and trust him to sort them, don’t take them back once you have given them to him and try to remind yourself that you are not the General Manager of the universe!

4. Walk in the light

Did you know getting into the sunlight is important? Not only does sunlight contain vitamin D but exposure to it also releases neurotransmitters. This is why many people become more depressed during winter – the days are shorter and the cold weather means we venture outside less. The answer is obviously to get out more, wrap up warm and go for a brisk walk, keep your curtains open and try to sit near a window if you are indoors. There are also light bulbs called “full spectrum” bulbs, which mimic natural light and affect your mind just like the real thing.

5. Count your blessings!

“Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) It’s strange but when you start to count all the blessings God has given you in your life and thank him, it really starts to make all the negative things seem to fade in to inconsequence. One of my favourite films is Pollyanna. Pollyanna is an orphan whose missionary parents have died and she is sent to live with her rather stern Aunt. When bad things happen, Pollyanna plays the Glad Game, where she tries to think of something to be glad about in whatever circumstance she is in. For example when she is given a crutch instead of a doll, she is glad that she doesn’t have to use the crutch – you get the idea!

6. Get some exercise

Just like sunlight, exercise also releases endorphins into the blood stream making you feel more positive as well as relieving your body’s natural reaction to stress (nausea, racing heart etc). If you really don’t want to grab your trainers and get all sweaty, try singing.  It’s a little known fact but singing also releases those important happy endorphins as well exercising the abdominal and intercostal muscles, and stimulating the circulation.

7. Speak in tongues

Prayer has already been mentioned, but speaking in tongues is so important I think it deserves its own category! The bible specifically says “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself “(1 Corinthians 14:4). I read recently that brain specialists at the City of Faith Hospital in Oklahoma discovered that when you speak in tongues, your brain releases two chemicals directly into your immune system, boosting it by an amazing 35 – 40 percent. What is even more incredible is that these secretions are triggered by a part of our brains that has no other apparent purpose and is only activated when we pray in tongues! So for a happy healthy body, soul and spirit try speaking in tongues for 15 minutes every day.

8. Avoid binge drinking

Whilst a glass of red wine may be considered good for you – 6 or 7 really won’t do you any good at all! Not only will it lessen your inhibitions, making you act in a way you may regret later, but alcohol is also actually a depressant – so rather than improving your mood, it’s really only going to leave you feeling low, sick and tired. We think a better spirit, (with fantastic side effects) to get drunk on is the Holy one. Just ask Pastor Neil!

9. You are what you eat

It’s common sense: if you eat rubbish, you will feel rubbish. It is hard especially when it’s cold outside and your body demands comfort food, but processed foods, (like white bread, rice and sugar) are not only low in nutrients but also zap energy and affect your mood (causing depression and lack of concentration). Eating more complex carbohydrates (such as brown rice, bread and five portion of fruit and veg a day) will stabilise your blood sugar and energy as well as providing much needed nutrients.

10. Laugh, laugh and laugh some more

Some Christians have a tendency to take life and faith far too gravely and of course there are things in our journey that we must regard earnestly and seriously, but laughter and joy are heavenly gifts and part of the kingdom of God. “Merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). So don’t feel guilty – watch a silly film, play some games with family and friends, laugh, relax and let yourself go a bit!

11. Develop a forgiving attitude

I heard a preacher once say, that not forgiving someone was like taking poison yourself and hoping it would kill your enemy. Un-forgiveness will only fester inside you if not dealt with swiftly, and will leave you full of bitterness and resentment. Forgiving can be hard, it’s a choice – one you may have to actively choose to take daily for a while in some cases. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves, but if God can forgive and forget everything you have ever done instantly, you really must free and forgive yourself too – and not hold on to it.

12. Get Involved

It’s great to have interests and hobbies, outside of work and family. It makes you feel relaxed, rewarded and useful. This is of course an unashamed and unapologetic plug, but there are loads of jobs to be done around church at the moment. It really is great fun to be on a team and an excellent way to get to know people and make friends, as well as making a real difference.

13. Live within your budget

Money (or rather lack of it) is one of the most stressful and worrying things we face in life, especially in this time of financial uncertainty. The Bible has lots of great guidelines on money and spiritual laws on tithing, plus there are some fantastic biblical based courses on managing money such as the Crown Course, which we ran at church a while ago. If you are facing debt there are some great Christian organisations that can help you. If you are just a bit bad with money think: do I need it? Will I use it? Can I afford it? Another tip someone shared with me was to freeze your credit card in a block of ice, when you want to purchase something you will need to defrost the card first, giving you time to think before you buy!

14. Forget the past

“…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13, 14). As 2012 starts, you may not be where you thought you would be in your life, but if you are walking with God, remember His  thoughts are not your thoughts and His ways are not your ways, He sees the big picture so take comfort from Romans 8:28, He works all things for your good. Look forward to the year, with all the great and exciting things God has in store for you.

15. Watch what you say

A lot of sadness can come from things people say to you (if this happens – check out point 11 above!) or the things you say about yourself or to others. Words are one of the most powerful weapons we have, and used well bring joy and peace, used badly cause carnage and damage. The Bible says: “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”. (Proverbs 16:24)  and that “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10). My advice: don’t speak negatively over yourself or anyone else and if you can’t think of anything nice to say – don’t say anything at all!