Many people get a feeling of depression and sadness during the winter months. This common occurrence is typically referred to as the Winter Blues or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Some common symptoms of SAD include irritability, lack of motivation, fatigue, weight gain, depression, and difficulty getting along with others. New studies have suggested that as many as 4% to 6% of Americans suffer from SAD each winter season.
Why the Winter Blues Occur
Many medical professionals believe that the response our body has to daylight is what causes the winter blues to occur. It doesn’t help that during the winter season comes the increase in common illnesses like the cold or the flu. The shorter days and colder temperatures in many parts of the country also add to a lack of motivation or desire to leave the house.
There Is Hope!
The good news is while the feelings you get with the winter blues can make it challenging to experience joy and excitement, there are ways to help your body and mind work through these periods of sadness. With a few simple lifestyle tweaks, the winter season won’t seem as long and drawn out for you.
Beat the Winter Blues with Games
One newly researched therapy is game participation. Devoting time to physical and mental activities can help reverse forms of mild depression. Taking part in physical activity and indoor games during the colder months is a natural and effective way to boost your health and your overall mood. Studies have shown that participating in regular physical activities can help to manage stress and increase your energy and your cognitive performance.
Types of Games
There are so many different games you and your family can play to help boost your mood and have a good of old fashioned fun. Here is a list of fun and exciting games that can be played indoors for the whole family.
Balloon Volleyball: This is just what it sounds like, and it is super simple to create. All you need to play is a string or ribbon, to set up your net, and a balloon. You can have a competition with the family by playing one on one and moving each winner to the next round or play as a team for a quick and fun way to laugh and get your body moving.
Indoor Hopscotch: You don’t have to go outdoors to play hopscotch. You can use masking or colored duct tape instead of a chalk outline. Tape your court to any floor or even carpeting to get started. Going over the rules ahead of time is great, especially if you have young kids who might not understand the game. Hopscotch is a fun way to get moving and have a good laugh.
Tape Maze: Using colored duct tape or masking tape, you can make a unique tape maze on the carpet or another type of floor. Each family member has to walk through to find their way to the end. To make it more of a challenge, you can even try kicking a small ball through the maze.
Indoor Bean Bag Toss: Invest in a bean bag toss game, such as Baggo, to keep for both indoor and outdoor activities. It makes a great game to bring out if you are experiencing some feelings of the winter blues and for fun gatherings with families and friends. No matter their age, everyone loves playing a good game of bean bag toss.
Paper Football: Do you remember the fun days of playing paper football in school with your friends? Why not recreate this feeling at home? All you need to have is a table and a piece of paper to create your triangle football. Each team is given four downs to score a touchdown. Use this opportunity to teach younger children math skills by helping them to learn how to keep track of the score.
Ice Cube Shuffleboard: This no muss, no fuss game is a lot of fun, especially for little kids. Create a bullseye of sorts in the center of one of your floors with masking or colored duct tape. The goal of the game is to get your ice cube as close to the bullseye by sliding it over the floor. While the ice cube may melt, a towel or napkin can clean this mess up easily.
Board Games: Pull out your favorite board game and get the whole family involved. Purchase classic games with new characters, such as The Big Bang Theory Monopoly or Star Wars Chess.
Why Games Boost Your Mood?
Games allow you the opportunity to stop worrying about everything around you and only focus on them. If you are a highly competitive person, this is most definitely true for you. You become hyper-focused on the goal of the game and forget about everything else. By acting silly and enjoying yourself, you will boost your mood, connect with others, and even get some physical activity in the process.
Exercise can decrease the levels of stress and anxiety, both of which are a symptom of the winter blues. If you can, try to play your games in rooms with bright lights. Because of the lack of sunlight we experience during the winter months, our brains have a reduction in the chemicals that are linked to our moods. Increasing the light can help increase these chemicals and, in turn, increase your overall mood and attitude.
Wrap-Up
Participating in fun-filled games can help get you in a better mood during the winter months. Most games are easy to store away when not in use and can be played indoors anytime you need a quick pick me up. They are suitable for all ages and make amazing party games if you are feeling down and in need of company.
Plan a small get-together with family and friends and play a variety of games like cornhole, Pictionary, or even charades. Include all ages to keep the elderly in shape and their minds sharp and to teach youngsters new skills. Before you know it, you’ll forget why you were not feeling quite yourself in the first place.
Jennifer is a mom of 2 and lover of all things outdoors. Her passion is helping children learn vital developmental skills through play.
