The new year has hit, and here comes the post-holiday letdown. Many of us tend to slide into a funk in January and February. Winter transitions from being quaint and festive to simply being cold and dark. And way too long.
Socialize
I notice that I tend to withdraw when I start to feel down. I don't want to go out, I decline social invitations from friends, and dread turning on the computer to a flood of emails.
If a playdate once a week is all you can muster, then go for it. But be sure to do at least that! Talking with adults on a regular basis will help you feel better, and not so isolated. No, the grocery store run does not count, sorry.
Taking this a step further, plan a fun night with friends. Host a potluck and invite everyone over with their kids. It will give you something fun to plan, and force you to get your house in some sort of order, which will help with the funk too. Or, if you're particularly adventurous and really want to kick Winter in the keister, plan a Mom's Night Out and go have a few cocktails (or bowling, or a movie - whatever qualifies as fun in your world).
Don't retreat into your cave. Get out there! The positive energy from other people will give your flagging energy levels a boost.
Sleep
In one way, this seems counter-intuitive. When I'm depressed, I tend to want to sleep too much. My daughters get up before dawn, and I just want to pull the covers over my head and stay there all day.
However, sleep is important for your brain function, and that needs all the help it can get to break this slide into a major funk. Go to bed, and get at least six hours of sleep a night, though eight would be better. If you have a little one who naps, go ahead and take a nap! Get your rest, and you will feel like you have enough energy to make it through the rest of the day.
Sometimes insomnia is an issue with depression. If you are having trouble sleeping (either staying asleep or going to sleep in the first place), it can be caused by a physical imbalance in your body. Coral calcium is helpful with restoring this balance, and has been shown to help with sleep issues. I give some to my girls every night and take it myself.
My oldest daughter had lots of trouble with night terrors and I started giving her coral every night on the advice of a Master Herbalist. When my daughter takes it regularly, she does not have any trouble with nightmares. She does not fear bedtime anymore, and dubbed the coral her "Dream Powder". I mix it in chocolate almond milk, and both girls drink it right down. If you don't like the chalky texture in your drink, it is available in capsule form, with some extra ingredients. This blend is called Fortify, and I like the capsules better myself.
Whatever you do, don't let yourself get worn down and wiped out. Fatigue will just help that funk get rolling!
Winter may seem like it never ends, but keeping active socially and getting enough rest will make the wait for Spring easier.
Jodi Selander is the founder of PlacentaBenefits.info. She provides placenta encapsulation services to new mothers in southern Nevada and is building a global network of Placenta Encapsulation Specialists. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and two young daughters.
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