How To Avoid The Winter Blues In Montana

Speaking as somebody who used to only leave the house by force, I know about the winter doldrums. Even if you've already seen a few Treasure State winters already, the chills in the air aren't the only thing plaguing Montanans in the colder months. Long nights, high energy bills, and even the impact of the holidays can leave you feeling a bit blue.

RELATED: 6 Signs You Know It's Too Cold In Montana

While "feeling blue" can take the wind right out of your sails, what can be dangerous is ignoring the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, which your doctor can help you with. I can't recommend talking to your doctor enough.

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Here's ways you can side-step the winter blues, with relatively low- or no-cost options so you can save a happy buck.

Get Exercise

I know all about the desire to stay in bed all day on a cold Saturday morning. But the lack of exercise definitely contributed to my seasonal depressions in years past. Even if the weather's lousy, you can try to throw on that winter jacket and just take a walk around the block.

Exercise isn't a competition, and not everyone's good at it right away. Exercise might help your mood and lower stress levels.

Embrace The Holidays

We understand that the holidays may invoke negative memories for some, but we're hoping the holiday cheer will inject some happiness into your life. The lights, wreaths, and prospect of being together with family and friends who love and respect you can be a wonderful way to cheer you up.

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Call Someone

This one is harder for me, since I fancy myself an independent soul. Sometimes even making the decision to call someone is difficult. But making the effort to check up on your friends and family not only shows you care about them, but that conversation doesn't have to wait.

Again, if you're experiencing abnormal levels of depression it's recommended that you speak to your doctor or you can call the National Crisis Hotline by dialing 988 from your phone.