Ideas to beat the 'winter blues'

Wintertime can be a time of struggle and depression for many of us, but it doesn't have to be. With that said, it is OK to be sad and it is totally normal. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, millions of people get seasonal depression every winter. Many of us get the "winter blues," especially here in Ohio when the animals become scarcer and the lake recedes and freezes at times. The cold weather coupled with the stress of the holidays leave many of us dealing with awkward feelings of sadness. Sometimes we feel like we are not doing enough. Sometimes we miss the ones we love. Sometimes our health isn't good, or we don't have enough resources to do the things we want to do. Regardless of why you may feel sad, there are many free options to help better our moods. Some things that may help include exercising more, increasing the amount of light at home, meditation, and other stress management techniques such as spending more time outside. As an employee of Erie MetroParks, I see a lot of these mood-enhancing benefits right here within the park district. We recently built the Roger Johnson Nature Center, which is home to numerous animals and equipped with huge windows for nature viewing. They also let in a ton of natural light. No matter how cold it is outside, it is warm and bright inside the nature center. There are bird feeders and binoculars set up at the windows, there is also an indoor play tree, a turtle pond, a puppet station, a small library and plenty of other fun educational resources for kids and adults alike. If you are prepared to brave the cold, then there are plenty of trails within Erie County. When I am feeling sad, I tend to like exercising and being outside at the same time. I always put on a couple of layers of clothes and traverse the local trails. Some of my favorite parks with nice trail systems around the area are Edison Woods MetroPark, Osborn MetroPark, Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve, Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve or Pipe Creek Wildlife Area. The cool thing about being outside is that you are able to see wildlife such as birds and waterfowl. I see people running, walking and holding hands, and that also makes me happy. Being outside is one of my favorites. All the different sights and smells leave me reminiscing about days of old and make me happy to be alive. With Christmas right around the corner, our downtown areas are glowing with color and warmth. It's also nice to get out and support local businesses and exchange smiles with strangers. Sometimes they need us as much as we need them. Hobbies are also a good thing to partake in during the winter months, many of them you can do alone. Try your hand at guitar or birding or painting or even journaling. Journaling gets your thoughts on a page and out of your head. It is a great form of therapy. This winter I have started to focus on the positive things and embrace holiday traditions. The holidays are supposed to be a time of cheer and celebration. Celebration for a year well-lived. Celebration of what is to come. In most cases, life is what you make it. So why not make it better? I say we take in as much sunlight as possible; get outside; exercise; take up a hobby; decorate your home; go downtown or the Erie County Fairgrounds and various neighborhoods to see the lights; and turn up the Christmas classics and sing along. We can always use some holiday cheer to help us through these cold Ohio winters. Happy Holidays everyone. We got this. If you or someone you love is battling depression, please call 800-950-6264, or text "helpline" to 62640.