Fighting the Winter Blues

With the days being shorter and the air outside is a lot colder. Staying indoors, and only doing things that brings us comfort is tempting. Like sitting on our phones or binging our favorite TV series. However, while comfortable and warm these activities are. They leave us sedentary, and not as active as we are in the summer. This affects the balance of chemicals produced in the body that impacts how we feel. Particularly pain and pleasure. These are our endorphins taking affect.

Endorphins are our natural pain and stress fighters. They interact with your brain responsible for our emotional responses and sensitivity to pain. Since Endorphins are also responsible for our feelings of pleasure they are linked to our reward system involved in eating, drinking, sexual activity, and maternal behaviour. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help boost the level of endorphins in your body. One of those things is exercise.

Exercise encourages the body to produce more endorphins. For example, sometimes runners experience a “runner’s high”, or a level of vitality after a workout. These are the Endorphins kicking in. The same experience can be had for anyone after an extended period of physical exercise. Working your body physically can give you more energy throughout the day, allowing you to sleep better at night and feel more relaxed. It also helps the brain repair and recover, reduces inflammation in the body, and helps you feel calm and have an overall sense of well-being.

You can replicate these positive sensations by taking steps to add a bit more exercise into your day. Any activity leaving you out of breath for bouts of 10 minutes or more throughout the week can help you fend off the winter blues.

Regular meditation, yoga, and tai-chi helps to decrease stress hormones and increase endorphins as well. So you Yogies can that Endorphin boost too.  Not only that, simple pleasures such as love, laughter, sunshine, and chocolate all increase endorphins as well.

Take care of yourself this winter Red Deer, and remember that there are lots of ways to make the short dark winter days brighter.

Dr. Elton Clemence

Dr. Elton Clemence practices at Family First Chiropractic located at 142 Erickson drive in Red Deer. Call us today to make an appointment (403)347-3261 or visit us at www.family1stchiro.ca.