It’s just about that time of year again – the season of dark, dreary, cold weeks and months just after the holidays – where we’re often stuck in the house, binge watching TV and eating Oreos, and waiting for Mother Nature to come alive again.
It can kill your mood, make you feel tired and listless, and it often results in depression.
It’s during this time of year when many suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, “seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue on through the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.”
So, what can you do to stave off these winter blues? Plenty! Here on Cape Cod, there are literally hundreds of things you can do to get out of the house, cheer up, stay active and interact with other human beings on an ongoing basis. Here are a few suggestions:
Try your hand at community theater – If acting’s your thing, or even if you prefer to remain behind the scenes (or painting them), community theater can be just what the doctor ordered. There are many community theaters and playhouses on the Cape which are always on the lookout for volunteers. Take a look for yourself at capecodtheaters.com for a full listing.
Be a Big Brother/Big Sister – Become someone’s real-life hero. By becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can be a mentor, a friend, and give of yourself to encourage a young person to be their best self. It can truly be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. To get more information, visit bbbsmb.org/cape-cod/volunteer.
Check out Mass Audubon – Mass Audubon offers more classes, outings and events than you can count, on a year-round basis. Volunteer for an event or sign up for a class on bird-watching. Take part in a winter festival or try your hand at crafts. There is literally something for everyone. Take a look for yourself at massaudubon.org.
Keep yourself healthy – This doesn’t necessarily mean go to the gym, in the traditional sense. It means do something different. Take up indoor swimming, join an adult ice-hockey team, try deep-water aerobics, or check out adult karate classes! The Barnstable YMCA offers so many great options, you’ll find something that’s perfect for you. Visit ymcacapecod.org to see for yourself, or check out the Cape Adult Sports League at sports.capecodchatter.com/.
Add a little culture to your life – Get your creativity on with a workshop or two at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. The Center offers classes in everything from drawing and painting (even for beginners!) to pottery, photography, organizing photos, guitar lessons and Rumba dancing. You’ll never be bored with all of the activities that are available. Find your own bliss at cultural-center.org.
Continue your education – Continued learning never goes out of style, and there is always …ALWAYS… something new to learn. Learn about boating and seamanship, try your hand at the culinary arts, learn about horticulture, take a computer class – the list can go on and on, because there is so much knowledge available for the taking. Many organizations all over the Cape offer continuing education for adult. To get started, take a look at this list from Upper Cape Tech: www.uppercapetech.cc/.
By Ann Luongo, Lifestyle Reporter
About Ann Luongo
