Ladies don't be SAD

These days ladies...many of us have the "blues" or what's clinically referred to as "SAD" Seasonal Affective Disorder - a condition where a person may become fatigued, depressed, have insomnia, irritability, headaches, muscle aches and lack of sex drive. These symptoms tend to occur during the time when the sunlight decreases between October - April. The pituitary gland is regulated by the sun which produces melatonin creating a feeling of well-being. SAD affects four times more women than men. SAD can be worsened with stress and PMS.

Just because the groundhog saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter you don't have follow it! Go ahead and start on that Springtime mood!

Here are some ideas to lift your spirits. They worked for me.

1. Look in your closet and choose to wear that red sweater or brightly colored outfit...it will make you smile and put a 'spring' in your step.

2. Take a lunchtime walk around the block appreciating the surroundings, coming back to the office refreshed ready to attack that pile of paperwork.

3. Sign up for some dance classes- pleasant form of exercise and socializing while learning something new. You might surprise yourself!

4. Cook one heart healthy recipe a week; try womansday.com/heart. I use this website often!

5. Treat yourself to a new hairstyle at the local beauty parlour; you deserve it!

6. Take some time to organize your files for the new year- it took me about 2 days for what I promised myself to do months ago - to clear and prepare a new set of hanging files; recycle, relabel and reorganize! Now I can locate important paperwork much quicker now! Remember to file right away keeping the mess to a minimum.

7. Try a new Art project or craft - I started water colouring; flowers are a great subject- rediscover sketching - it's calming; start off simple to more detailed design! Check out "The watercolour artist's flower handbook" by Patricia Seligman

8. Buy some fresh-cut flowers at your local grocer's and dress up your dinner table.

9. Promise yourself to toss out that old lipstick! Buy and Try a new shade; Reds are the shades now the fashion of the season!

10. Replace that old 'drabby' purse you've been carrying all winter with a new purse- keeping in mind a fresh spring colour and new design. I have 4 different colours and types of purses that I interchange each season; including 3 small evening purses - 2 black, 1 beige with sequins.

Ladies select 1 or 2 of these ideas a week and soon you'll find yourself in a happier mood!

Definition of SAD excerpt from http://www.nsnet.org/idacan/sad.html

(Invisible Disabilities Association of Canada)