After taking some basic steps to improve your regimen of exercise, eating, and sleeping, lets focus on waking up your mind, your activities as a whole person, and yourself as member of your community.

Mind

Do something to jump-start your mind. Read that book you skimmed in high school–or take an interest in the book your child is reading now. Raid the local used book store or library. Look for free classes offered in your community or take an Adult Education class. Attend an art class or learn a new skill you could use.

Activity

Inoculate yourself from winter isolation and blues by getting out and getting active now. Go to your local library or coffee shop and review their activity board. If you are in a rut with your hobbies and activities, you are not alone–we are all creatures of habit and trying new activities can be like pulling teeth. Loosen these habits with this simple exercise: Pick up a local newspaper, especially on the day of the week that they list their social and entertainment schedules (often on Thursdays). Find a pen or marker. Muzzle your inner critic and turn that censor off! Skim through the activities pages, freely circling ANY activity that is even a bit interesting to you. If you only circled one or two items, you did not turn off that inner critic–go back and try again! When you have reached the back page, go back through and cross off activities you absolutely cannot get to because of scheduling or cost. Look at what is left. Any surprises? Pick one or two activities and write them on your calendar immediately (be especially proud of yourself if you identified activities that are very out of the ordinary for you). Commit to attending one or two of them this week. Repeat next week.

Community

Humans are social animals and we thrive in groups. Re-connect with social activities that are meaningful to you, whether they are social groups, friends and family, or strangers and potential new friends. Attend church or some worship service that meets your spiritual needs. Go to a talk in the community or join a book club. Whatever your interests, someone else will have that interest too–go find them. Join a dog-walkers group. Host a pot luck. Volunteer. Do it THIS week. If you have anxiety about being with others–thats okay, take it with you (you wont be alone with that either).

Do you struggle with your mood? Visit my Online Resource Center for more information about managing your mood and coping with seasonal changes. You may also be interested in my href="http://www.mainepsychology.com/bookstore_front.htm">book reviews and recommendations.

Author: Joel Guarna, PhD is a licensed psychologist in the states of Maine and New Hampshire. Information about his private practice in Portland, Maine is available at http://www.whitepinepsych.com

Copyright 2006 Joel Guarna. Permission granted to reprint, but not alter, this article in its entirety in electronic or hard copy.