Do you experience seasonal depression? I didn’t think I experienced it much since I love this time of year, but looking back, with my first son, I saw where it creeped in at times. Now that I have two kids going into the holiday season, it’s important to stay on top of my mood.
Even if you’re not a naturally sad or depressed person, it being dark when we wake up and it being dark by the time we get home can totally take a toll on you. Seasonal depression is real and whether you experience one symptom or all the symptoms, it’s important to be proactive to stay on top of it.
That said let’s get into ways to beat seasonal depression as a new mom.
Understand Your Triggers to Stay Ahead of Seasonal Depression
One way to get ahead of seasonal depression is to understand what triggers you during this season. For some people it’s simply the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that just feels overwhelming. Having kids adds to that. Maybe you’re planning for your holiday trip or hosting for the holidays. Maybe the holidays aren’t exactly the most wonderful time of year for you. Maybe this time of year reminds you of something sad. One, that’s okay, but two, this gives you an opportunity to be intentional about the things you expose yourself to this time of year.
Get Outside During the Day
Seasonal depression can be triggered due to it being dark when you wake up and dark when you get home. If you’re cant get outside much, that can really have an effect on your mood.
If you’re working from home let some natural light in, open your windows. If you’re can, change your working environment. Thankfully my dog has to go out periodically so she definitely gets me outside. Now that I have two kids, getting those walks in during the brief moments of daylight will be important for all of us.
Journal or Record Your Days
Staying ahead of your seasonal depression looks like being aware and honest about your feelings and what’s going on. I’m not putting any pressure on anyone to do anything in the last month and some change. If you just to want to tap into your mental, ask self discovery questions or use journal prompts.
Journaling doesn’t always have to be super deep, your entries don’t always have to be super long; sometimes it’s just simply acknowledging what you feel, dumping your thoughts and moving on with your day.
Find A Therapist
Therapy isn’t a cuss word, though people like to treat it like such. Seek the help you need.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area with or without insurance, check out Soco Rey Therapy; if you’re anywhere else check out Therapy for Black Girls and Therapy with Joy.
Make Time to Do What You Love
Finding time and ways to do something for yourself is so important for staying ahead of seasonal depression. It’s easy to get caught up in the things. The gifts, the holidays, the sales, the things you see everyone else doing especially in the creative space. We tend to go into overdrive for others during this time of year; so much so that there is no real rest and relaxation period.
We get bombarded with “there are this many days left in the year” memes and we feel pressured to show up when the reality of it is, all of that is someone else’s wishes and desires. Don’t do anything that you don’t actually want to do. Don’t count the days left in the year and put an unrealistic expectation on yourself to do all the things.
At the very least 1x a week if not more decide what you’re going to do for yourself! That will keep you ahead of your seasonal depression.
Get Enough Rest to Beat Seasonal Depression
People often say they end up going to sleep earlier because it gets darker earlier, but if you’re sleep deprived or not getting as much rest as usual, take advantage. I don’t know about you all, but when I don’t get enough sleep, I start to feel it. Additionally, having 2 kids can add onto that.
If something doesn’t get done, I take it as me needing the rest more. Don’t add to the depression by skipping sleep.
Meditate on Scripture
One main way I stay ahead of seasonal depression is by reading the word of God. Knowing the truths about myself, about spending, about being taken care of by God. All of those things give me peace and rest. Remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Reading something once doesn’t mean it will sink in right away. Read it again, break it down again. Postpartum is a wild journey, the Word of God has definitely been a much needed piece to this journey.
Some of my favorite devotionals are shared on my post 34 of My Favorite Devotionals.
Eat Whole Foods and Stay Hydrated
Diet can definitely be linked to mood and mental health. When you eat better, eat more whole foods, fruit, vegetables and the like, your nourishing your body so of course your mood is better. Don’t cut out your favorites, but find new ways to eat them. You can get ahead of seasonal depression by eating your colors especially since it gets dark earlier. As a breastfeeding mama, I still drink water of course, but I actually drink a lot of coconut water, watermelon juice, green juice, things that actually hydrate me. Water keeps me flushed, but I still feel thirsty often.
Set Your Mood to Stay Ahead of Seasonal Depression
Setting the mood is so important for getting ahead of seasonal depression. I still work from home, but having a new job, my mood is so different than it used to be. Setting the mood isn’t just a time of year thing. Lately I’ve been making small upgrades in our home. I upgraded our Air Fryer and aesthetically it looks so much nicer in our kitchen then our old one did, bonus points because it is also so much quieter. Updating fixtures in our bathroom, preparing to do some backsplash work, get pictures printed. The smallest things that ultimately make a big difference,
Making an effort to keep my work from home style fun and comfortable but ultimately aligned with my style adds to the overall mood and work experience I desire to have.
NONE of these things prevent depression or prevent bad days from happening, but it’s in being proactive that helps us stay ahead of our seasonal depression instead of succumbing to it.
Do you experience sadness or depression this time of year?
Other Lifestyle and Motherhood Related Posts:
- How to Rediscover Yourself in Motherhood and Live More
- How to Create the Best Girls Morning Routine
- My 5 Hour Birth Story
- 7 Devotionals For Building Confidence in Yourself
- Postpartum Essentials for a New Mom
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Thanks so much for reading Ness!!!