February funk got you down? 5 tips to get happy fast!
Plus: What's the most depressing day of the year? • How to beat hot flashes during yoga • Inspiration from Blondie's Debbie Harry
BeWell | The Midst beauty, style & wellness newsletter
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Friday — which, by Groundhog Day tradition, means an early spring. In our younger years, this superstition predicted whether we’d experience six more weeks of winter. Yet, as an adult, it simply reminds us of this unpleasant time of year after the holiday hoorah wears away, when we long for the newness of springtime — when we find ourselves in a February funk.
January sucks
We’re coming off the most miserable month of the year — January. And this isn’t just opinion; U.K. psychologist, Dr. Cliff Arnall, renowned for this buzz-kill research, actually dug deeper to create a formula that determines “the most depressing day of the year.”
The model is: [W + (D-d)] x TQ
M x NA
W = weather, which is gloomy in most areas, even those that are typically sun-filled
D = debt, obviously from coming off commercialized holidays
d = monthly salary, where many folks are broke from gift-giving and don’t get paid till the end of January
T = time lapsed since Christmas
Q = time since reality set in on a New Year resolution
M = low motivational levels
NA = the need to act
What did he conclude? The third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. If you’re also feeling the effects of what only math can conclude to be a funk, girlfriend, I got you.
5 easy ways to get out of a funk — fast!
So, how do we get out of this funkadelic FUBAR? Here are some quick and easy pick-me-ups to get you back in your glorious groove:
1. Eat dark chocolate.
Oh, shucks — a reason to eat chocolate! Keep a stash of high-quality chocolate with at least 70% cacao (not just knock-off crap that say “dark chocolate” on its label) to enjoy the antioxidant-rich, mood-enhancing benefits of this treat. Or reach for cacao nibs to add to your yogurt, smoothies, and more.
2. Sing to your favorite songs.
Grab your spatula! Singing along to tunes — as well as creating and playing music — positively affects your dopamine and serotonin levels, improving your mood. Singing also synchronizes your breathing to reduce the nasty stress-induced hormone, cortisol.
Tip: Figure out your go-to so that when the funk comes in strong, you can play it without thinking. (My go-to that never fails? “Into the Groove” by Madonna.)
3. Snuggle a pet.
Pets have incredible powers to heal us. If you’re fortunate to have a dog or cat in your home, snuggle, play, walk, and love them up. Interacting with animals can decrease cortisol, lower blood pressure, reduce loneliness, and boost your mood from blah to blissful.
No pet? No problem. Research says that simply scrolling through adorable pics of animals can make you feel happier in minutes.
4. Drink water.
Sometimes your funky funk is simply the result of dehydration. Scientists have proven that water intake has a direct correlation to our feelings of calmness, satisfaction, and positivity. Be sure to drink 500 mL (about 17 oz.) of H2O each day to boost happiness.
5. Go outside.
Walking out your front door is easier said than done when you’re feeling like a pile of poo. Still, if you can make yourself do it, a simple five minutes of fresh air and (even cloudy) sunlight can drastically improve your mood. Studies show that getting outside can decrease anxiety, stress, and anger; reduce cortisol levels and muscle tension; help you sleep better; and relax your mind for easier thinking and reasoning — making getting out of a funk a walk in the park.
Did you know?
Yoga can help to improve self-esteem — along with hot flashes, night sweats, memory, concentration, and feelings of stress — in perimenopausal and menopausal women.
Hot yoga with hot flashes?!
5 products that can help you not die
By Emily Ornberg
Sweating during workouts is natural and good for your health. But between hot flashes and the increased body heat from exercising, hot yoga can turn you into the ultimate sweaty Betty. However, yoga has been researched to aid symptoms of menopause as a form of movement and therapeutic stress relief. And hot yoga — where the room is humid and as hot as 105 degrees — can be especially helpful if you have stiff or painful joints.
So how do you beat the heat? Here are 5 tried and true items to help you keep your cool…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Midst to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.