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Patty Craig; A Slice Of Times

The approach of cold-weather months – just like seasonal change – routinely brings healthy living to mind. I believe this is because caring for one’s health is harder when getting outside is more challenging. Nonetheless, some of the reading I’ve been doing includes preventative measures we can take to feel better about ourselves. Taking care of our health may involve (1) combating seasonal depression, (2) using 10-minute tasks to accomplishing more, and (3) acknowledging that some things are out of our control.

 

First, seasonal depression can become a serious condition. Approximately 5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression in any given year, and 80% with seasonal depression are women. Some of the symptoms of this depression include: feelings of sadness, a tendency to oversleep, a drop in energy level or fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder). According to a Renew magazine article (UnitedHealthcare, Fall 2020, p. 8), some ways to combat seasonal depression include light therapy to replace the loss of natural sunlight, getting outdoors, making healthy lifestyle choices (regular physical activity, good diet, and regularly getting 7-9 hours of sleep), and behavioral therapy and/or medication. I believe the healthy lifestyle choices could prevent as well as manage this kind of depression.

 

Second, accomplishing small goals is beneficial. In a Psychology Today article, “The Science of Accomplishing Your Goals” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-truisms-wellness/201610/the-...), Ralph Ryback, M.D., explained:

 

“When we get something we want…our brain releases dopamine. This chemical is often known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter because it does just that—it makes us feel good. It’s possible to manipulate your dopamine levels by setting small goals and then accomplishing them. For instance, your brain may receive a spike in dopamine if you promise yourself that you’ll clean out the refrigerator, and then you do. This is one reason people benefit from to-do lists: The satisfaction of ticking off a small task is linked with a flood of dopamine.”

 

Additionally, an article, “Tasks Worth 10 Minutes of Your Time” (The Modern Woodmen magazine, Summer 2020, p. 18-19), suggested that even the completion of a small task can provide a sense of accomplishment. The article recommended setting a timer for 10 minutes and then working for that 10-minute period on one task. Some of the suggested tasks were: tidying up one area of your home, computer or phone, working on a budget, checking in on a friend or family member, and going for a walk or stretching. I can think of several 10-minute tasks around my house and yard.

 

Third, acknowledging that some things are out of our control may help to reduce stress. In 2020, feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed are too common. According to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey report, Stress in AmericaTM 2020, 83% of Americans said the future of our nation is a significant source of stress, and68% said the election was a significant source of stress (https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/10/stress-mental-health-cri... https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-october; https://www.kptv.com/news/american-psychological-association-almost-70-o...). Yet, everything is not within our control. One of my friends provided a reminder: Romans 13:1 (NASB) says, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” God is not surprised by what happens. So, after doing whatever we can to make our world better, we can acknowledge to ourselves that other things are out of our control and release those stressors. Hard, but healthy.

I am not sure why the approach of the cold-weather months routinely brings healthy living to the forefront of my mind. However, I do believe that combating seasonal depression, 10-minute tasks for accomplishing more, and acknowledging that some things are out of our control may help us to be healthier. And I plan to give those things a try.

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