Say Goodbye to the Winter Blues

The holidays are over and now all there is to look forward to is ... winter, with its seemingly endless days of dark, dreary weather. Fortunately, there are ways to boost your mood, many of which you may not have thought of. Here are a few suggestions to help you beat the winter blues:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine which involves the insertion of tiny, hair-like needles into specific points along the body, is an ideal way to move your energy and lift your spirit, says Anne Mok, acupuncture supervisor at the Brownsville Multiservice Family Health Center, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Although acupuncture treatments are always tailored to the individual client, one specific point on top of the head -- known as G20 -- has a "lifting" effect, says Mok, which will leave you feeling "more alive, more awakened."

Aromatherapy

Different scents can bring about different moods, Mok explains. Lemon grass and peppermint, for example, lift your spirit, while lavender and chamomile have a soothing effect. Use scented bath salts, bath oils, or candles, or apply oils directly to your pulse points. A diffuser is also a good way to fill your room with your chosen scent.

Auto-Hypnosis

Also known as guided imagery or visualization, auto-hypnosis gives you the opportunity to "escape," says stress-reduction specialist Debbie Mandel, MA, a lecturer at Southampton College in Long Island, N.Y., and author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul. Begin breathing to your natural rhythm, says Mandel. Then close your eyes and visit a "happy place." "Give yourself a loving affirmation,'" says Mandel. "Say to yourself, for example, 'I am completely relaxed sitting on this beach.' In three minutes you will feel like you have been away on vacation," says Mandel.

Mandel has a few other suggestions to help lift your mood:

• Bring a new plant into the house to create a spring-like atmosphere.
• Look at the color orange, the color of cheerfulness. No need to repaint the house; just place an orange on your desk.
• Crank up the music. Whatever makes you feel happy and brings back memories of good times.
• Stay connected to other people. We tend to be more isolated in the winter. If you can't get out, rely on phone or email.

Change Your Routine

It's not necessarily the weather itself that brings on the blahs, but the fact that the weather can keep you indoors, says life coach Leslie Levine, MS, MBA. Instead of bemoaning cabin fever, focus on activities that lend themselves to being indoors -- journaling, organizing your office, cleaning out your closets, inviting friends over for dinner. If, on the other hand, you tend to favor more indoor pursuits anyway, change your routine and head outdoors. "Too often people assume that they won't like a certain activity just because they 'never have, never will,'" says Levine. Break out of your comfort zone and try something new -- cross-country skiing, perhaps, or a brisk walk with a friend.