Four Tips for a Brighter Blue Monday
January can be a difficult month for many with gloomy weather, holiday bills and broken New Year’s resolutions.
Karlene Karst, nutritionist and founder of Sea-licious, joined CTV Morning Live with four tips to combat the winter blues.
CURB THE CANDY
When feeling down it can be easy to turn to comfort foods, chocolate and candy. Sugar is often craved when feeling stressed. However, the inevitable sugar crash does more harm than good in the long run.
Karst recommends incorporating more Omega-3 fatty acids into a balanced diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats, which reduce inflammation and boost the feel good brain chemical serotonin.
Karst recommended Sea-licious, which is an Omega-3 supplement with no fishy aftertaste.
KEEP CLUTTER-FREE
Our emotional state can often be reflected in our environment. Cleaning and organizing can help reduce stress and depression. It improves productivity and can even help with sleep.
EMBRACE THE OUTDOORS
The weather may be unpredictable during the winter months, but it is important to dress for the conditions and get outdoors. Karst shared that walking in nature can be a powerful antidepressant.
For even further benefits, Karst recommends doing workouts outdoors. Movement causes the body to release endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in the body.
LIGHTEN UP
The days may be short in the winter months, but it is important to get as much natural light as possible.
Karst shared that it is particularly beneficial between 6 and 8 a.m. as it encourages natural serotonin production.
Increasing natural light in the home can be as easy as opening the curtains and rolling up the shades.
Karst also recommended the use of a light box for about 30 minutes to two hours per day to help with the lack of sunlight.
Check out the full video from CTV Morning Live for more tips to beat the winter blues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.