Staying Active During the Winter Months Kelly Inda Graduate Assistant EIU Counseling Center

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)  Type of depression that is related to changes in the seasons  Most often appears during the late fall or early winter and continues during the darker winter months  Don’t just brush it off as a seasonal “funk”. Take the necessary steps to stay motivated and keep your mood steady throughout the year  Symptoms may start out mild, but may worsen as the season progresses. Some symptoms include:  Irritability  Slow or low energy  Changes in appetite  Oversleeping  Problems getting along with others

Activities to Beat the Winter Blues  Build a snowman in the quad. Make it a floor/hall competition  Grab a buddy and do an indoor workout.  Use textbooks as weights and run/walk the stairs in your building  Make mundane activities fun, like cleaning or grocery shopping. Use these as an excuse to workout.  Have a healthy eating contest with your floor. Have residents take pictures of their healthy food and make it a competition

Activities Cont.  Remember… the gym is still open in the winter! Use extra time between classes to get a workout in  Maintain healthy eating habits to keep up your energy  Find apps on your smartphone to complete indoor workouts and track calories burned  Find a holiday fun run 5K! EIU has one coming up in December. Check out the link.

Activities Cont.  If you have holiday guests, ask them to bring workout clothes and take a walk around the neighborhood  Find what motivates you (besides food) and treat yourself if you’ve reached a fitness goal  Find a friend and hold each other accountable. Working out with a friend is much easier than by yourself

Lastly…  Use your three week winter break to develop a workout/healthy lifestyle plan. If you start it over break, you’re more likely to continue once you return to school.  Going back home can be a transition, but make it fun. Get your family to workout with you.  The more active that you stay, the less likely you’ll be to overeat on leftovers and overindulge on treats.  Don’t think of working out as a chore. The more fun you make it and engage in activities you like, you’ll find great enjoyment!