Fighting cabin fever

We’re in the home stretch now, the holiday is behind us as we work our way through the remnants of winter. Just thinking about seeing those first crocuses poking through the ground warms the heart.

But chances are most of us aren’t thinking about spring right now. We’re locked in a bad case of cabin fever. There is a reason why February, only 28 days long unless Leap Year adds one, feels like it will never end.

Compounding things is the natural letdown that follows weeks of festivities. Is it any wonder we feel like crawling under a rock until the sun comes back out? There is even a name for it – seasonal affective disorder – for those hit the hardest.

Fortunately, as your doctor of chiropractic can tell you, there are ways to turn it around, though it will mean fighting the season’s natural inclinations. No more coming home from eight hours behind the desk to spend the next five wrapped in a blanket in front of the television. It will be well worth the effort!

Stay active

The outcome of a sedentary lifestyle is well-documented, affecting everything from mobility and balance to risk of depression. What many don’t realize is that it doesn’t take daily trips to the gym to change things around. Start by setting a timer at work and taking a few minutes each hour to walk around. In the morning or later in the day, look up the myriad of stretching routines online and get things moving. Soon, you may find yourself naturally taking the stairs, getting out more and maybe even heading for the gym. Bring on the endorphins!

Eat smart

Adding more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet – and removing inflammatory ones like sugar and processed foods – is good for easing the joint pain that normally comes with colder temperatures. But a recent study showed that it can also decrease your risk of depression by 30 percent. That Mediterranean spread is starting to look tastier, isn’t it?

Try a change of scenery

Cruising around the Bahamas right now would probably cheer anyone up. But any change in routine can freshen your day. Take a new route to work. Plan a weekend getaway, checking into a hotel with a pool, hot tub and complimentary breakfast. Take the kids to an escape room and spend an hour trying to break free. Maybe you’ll learn something in the process!

Visit your doctor of chiropractic

A body in balance equips you to make the most of your lifestyle changes. And staying active, eating better and getting a good night’s sleep helps your body stay in alignment, making it a win-win situation all around. An added bonus: Your doctor of chiropractic is trained in all of the above and can come up with a plan that works for you.

And consider this: You are going to be in great shape to enjoy spring when it finally gets here!