I've posted in the past about my battle with Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This seasonal depression typically begins in late fall to early winter and can be debilitating. If you think you may have SAD, your doctor can help!

In addition to prescription medication, there's lots of things that I do to get through the winter and maintain a happy mood most of the time. Throughout December, I'm hosting a month long Instagram challenge to beat the winter blues! Join me at #beatdecemberblues @vavoomvintage





               WEEK 1
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December 1 - Taste of Summer: In the winter, I keep a stash of my favorite summery flavors on hand for rough days. Iced tea, lemons, strawberries and watermelons are my favorite.

December 2- Soak up the Sun: sunshine is scientifically proven to improve ones mood. Find a sunny window to set up a reading nook or bundle up and step outside when the sun is shining. Even a few minutes makes a big difference!

December 3- Busy Hands: Winter is a hard time for many because its hard to do your favorite hobbies when its so cold. Take a class either in person or online and try a new hobby to keep your hands busy and mind off of things for a while. In the past I've taken calligraphy classes, watercolor classes and graphic design classes on Skillshare. Check out Craftsy for things like sewing, knitting, crochet, soap making and baking.

December 4- Soft and Cozy: The best part of winter for me is fluffy socks and over sized sweaters. Treat yourself to something soft and cozy to keep you warm this winter. Bonus points for pretty colors and patterns!

December 6- On the Move: For physical and mental health, get your body moving. Exercise is a tried and true mood booster and even better to get in shape for those cute summer clothes! Lately, I've been loving the Bettie Page Fitness DVD and the 30 day Yoga challenge on You Tube

December 7- Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with depression for a long time. An over the counter daily multi vitamin does the trick for me but you can also talk to your doctor about more vitamin supplements to help balance everything out.