6 Steps to Beat S.A.D

In the year that celebrates the 60th anniversary of Marvel’s Avengers, it seems a good time to think about heroes. Whether you’re into Iron Man or more Team Cap, there are so many great characters to root for as they battle to beat the bad guys. As epic as Stan Lee’s creations are though, we honestly think that foster carers are the best superheroes of all. Day in, day out they strive for good, prove their strength and generally achieve the impossible. Often while smiling. Just like our comic book heroes though, we know they can have weaknesses – and one common threat is about to hit. Winter’s coming.

For 2 million in the UK including many foster carers, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a weakness that really sucks. A type of depression, SAD symptoms include feeling tearful, angry, guilty or anxious, sleeping too much, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, craving unhealthy foods and feeling antisocial.

So, with SAD being such a big beast, can anything be done to save our fostering community as the dark days arrive? We’ve got 6 top tips to help them and you this winter…

1. Get Moving – feeling down can make us want to do less, but a burst of exercise each day can reduce stress and help our bodies produce happy hormones called endorphins.
2. Go Outside – shorter, colder and wetter days can make it hard for us to feel like venturing out, which ends up depriving us of the daylight our bodies need. Aim to go for a short walk each day or take the kids to the park for a family boost. Remember the saying, ‘det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær’ – “there is no bad weather, only bad clothes”.
3. Look Into The Light – for even more valuable daylight, try sitting near a window if you are inside at work or communing on a train. If you have some spare £’s, Amazon and other retailers sell light boxes which can help with sleep, general mood and vitamin D levels.
4. Eat Well – we know comfort food is soooo appealing at this time of year, but don’t forget your 5-a-day to keep your energy levels and mood up.
5. Remember Yourself – give your brain something positive to focus on by taking up a new hobby or reviving an old one. Crochet, ParkRun, jigsaws and gingerbread houses all count. Try making a self-care box too – ready with things to treat or relax you whenever you need.
6. Keep Talking – we all remember how rubbish lockdown was for our mental health, so try to meet up regularly with friends and family, or at least chat with them on WhatsApp. Tell each other how you are doing, who has annoyed you at work and how that latest gingerbread house is going. If you feel you might need extra support, talk to your GP who will be able to recommend a range of treatments.

This winter, we’re loving the latest season of Loki and look forward to Echo, but most of all we’re hoping our tips help lots of you beat SAD. Does that make us sort-of heroes too? Don’t forget, if you want to talk through anything fostering or even share your own SAD-busting ideas, please contact us – we might even offer you some gingerbread.