r/durham • u/FessorLife1504 • 1d ago
Tell me your tricks for feeling your best
I thrive in the summer. Tons of energy, happy, motivated, etc. it’s been Fall for all of two seconds now and I can feel myself having low energy, struggling to wake up since it’s darker out in the mornings, wanting more coffee, and not feeling as motivated. Has anyone got any tips for having that summer mentality in the fall/winter? Do you take supplements? Any thoughts are welcome.
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u/pretzelday666 1d ago
Go to the gym. It lifts my mood the whole day
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u/Murky_Cauliflower_28 1d ago
Second this. I joined a Crossfit program and while I totally suck at it, the community is amazing. Zero judgement. Beginner friendly. Just come and lift.
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u/getinmylunchboxx 1d ago
I have a similar issue! Some things that help me:
- I make sure to take vitamin D (increase my dose in the fall/winter) and b-12
- I know it’s hard, but going out for a walk first thing in the morning. If you have a neighbour/friend/dog to walk with that helps maintain accountability, but I find even when it’s dark going for a walk around the block gets my blood flowing
- a sunrise lamp: it’s a morning, alarm clock that essentially mimic the rising sun, and it gradually gets brighter much like a sunrise. This helps with circadian rhythm!
- I love the suggestion someone else made about going out to feed the birds!! I have a feeder in my backyard and when it’s not raining, I like to go out with my cup of coffee and watch the birds
- depending what you do for work, and if you have access to a vehicle, getting up in the morning and going out for a coffee is a nice way to get going. I like to go to the bean and basket in Pickering Village. Everyone who works there is super friendly, I find it’s a great way to kickstart the day having to have a little interactions, you can even bring Work if you work from home and sit in the cafe. It’s less stressful than the Starbucks/Tim Hortons environment, and you support local business in the process
These are little things that I find helpful, but it’s not a perfect art obviously. I find the walk is one of the most valuable every day things because I can feel the benefit in my day , however, it is the hardest habit to maintain
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u/ripndipp 1d ago
Appreciate this, lately I've been very lonely and I work remotely, I'll visit soon.
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u/MiddleDragonfruit171 1d ago
I find having the right gear for every season really helps. And stuff that you enjoy and want to put on. It's one thing to say "get outside" - because well you should! Bur if you're not dressed appropriately it's not great. I've got rain boots, winter boots, a fall jacket, rain jacket and winter jacket I love and enjoy wearing. It makes all the difference. I want to put those things on and go from walks and enjoy nature. Even just going to the store feels better when I'm wearing the right stuff and not dressed for the wrong season.
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u/LazerSturgeon 1d ago
Humans are basically house plants with emotions. You need sunlight, water, nutrients. In North America the average person is just about always a bit Vitamin D deficient, so taking that can help.
As someone else said, exercise. 15 minutes of getting your heart rate up will do wonders.
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u/Gladiator33333 1d ago
Wake up, go to the gym, grav a coffee from Tims, come home, wake up kids and get them up and ready with wife. Play with them a bit, watch them eat breakfast with the little time I have before I start my work day. It definitely helps with the morning blues when youre busy.
Hope this helps OP!
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u/Zeus_The_Potato 1d ago
workout in the morning - walk out of the gym or your home workout feeling like a million bucks. start the day on that high.
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u/Either-Pear1954 1d ago
find an activity you can do all winter. Gives you a social outlet and forces you out of the house The gym is a great idea. If you can find a group fitness class, it can also be a great social thing as well.
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u/lefthandshake1 1d ago
There are already some great suggestions here- I second having something to do on your weekly schedule that gets you out of the house and is social/around other people. Book club, start jiu jitsu or a fitness class. Also Canadians just don't get enough sunlight in the year- take Vitamin D in the colder months. I've noticed a huge difference in my mood since I started doing this.
Also love supporting a local cafe!
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u/FessorLife1504 1d ago
I LOVE all of these replies. Thanks for making this a wholesome thread everyone.
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u/Right_Ideal_2511 1d ago
Don’t force yourself into making any dramatic changes- keep your day focused on being a good person- an asset to your employer and I find that prayers are important if you have faith in God ?!?!…. less is more with being happy and a better mindset…
Be well…
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u/Rex_Carson_44 20h ago
They have SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) lights. You can get them for your home. That and Vitamin D. Exercise and good nutrition obviously but also make sure you're sleeping well. Other then that... BIG HUGS and know you're not alone!!
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u/Illumipadd 1d ago
I feed my backyard birds and it makes me feel connected to what’s going on outside.
It’s also a good reason to get started in the morning even when I might feel drained because how can I look out and see a cardinal sitting patiently in my grass and do nothing about it?