5 ways to break yourself out of a February Funk

5 ways to break yourself out of a February Funk5 ways to break yourself out of a February FunkThere are a few things I can always rely on in life death, taxes, my sister not returning the clothes she borrows,autumn anxiety, and a February funk in the middle of winter gloom.Even though a count of its days says differently, February feels like the longest month of the year every year. And if I dont do anything about it, Im expecting the same this year.Its not hard to understand why I feel this way. Living in Chicago, by February Ive already endured months of sub-freezing temperatures, snow, and a general greyness that wont go away. Everyone is sneezing and coughing, and Ive been wearing the same winter coat as my uniform for months. The holidays are over, spring is supposed to be coming, but its still dark outside when I leave the office at 5 p.m. unterstellung things combined leave me lackingmotivationand drive. If I let them sink in, Im left feeling disconnected and despondent.But ju st as Ive learned to not let the Sunday Scaries ruin the weekend, Ive decided not to let the February Funk get me down this year. Here are five ways experts say you can fight it.1. Exercise regularlyWe knowexercisehelps prevent and improve a number of health problems - high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis, for example. Butresearchon the link between wirtschaftskrise, anxiety, and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help improve mood and reduce anxiety.The key is making it a habit. Once exercise becomesa part of your life, you notice that you have a lot more energy than you used to and are by far less easily fatigued.2. Try new thingsDay-to-day, routines are good. They give us a sense of discipline, which allows us to commit to lengthy projects and finish them by deadline. They also give us a sense ofcalmand order.But routines can also make us feel stuck. Thats why breaking up your schedule with something new can have a greatimpact on your happiness. When you try new things, you put your brain into new situations that force it to think in unique ways. This stimulates creativity, which eventually rubs off in other areas of your life.3. Set small goalsSetting goals when youre down can feel nearly impossible - a far cry from feeling ambitious. But settingsmall, attainable goalsis critical to making sure you dont lose motivation.And make sure those goals have a timeline. Making a list of things you want to achieve is great, but if you dont put a timeframe around them then theyll be put off until tomorrow and will never get started. Think about using theSMART Goalsframework to break up tasks into manageable parts.4. Express gratitudeResearcher Robert Emmons has conducted a number of studies onthe link between gratitude and wellbeing. His research has found that gratitude reduces toxic emotions such as envy, frustration and regret, and increases positive emotions such ashappinessand contentment.5. Listen to musicY ou likely have a few tunes that you know lighten your spirits. Nows the time to crank them up. On theirmusic and mental health page, the American Music Therapy Association lists over a dozen studies supporting the benefits of music therapy for persons withdepressionandanxiety.Theres a science behind formal music therapy, but putting your headphones in and pressing play on your favorite Spotify playlist can help, too. The mix of melody, harmony, and rhythm stimulate the senses and promote calmness by slowing down breath, heart, rate and other bodily functions.If youre overwhelmed by a funk, help is availableThe February funk makes sense were coming down from our holiday highs, and summer, while the light at the end of the tunnel, cant even be seen yet. Everyone has their own perfect recipe for a February funk, but that doesnt mean you should let it mess with your mind, or leave you feeling lost or cloudy.Being more aware of your thoughts andbehaviorscan help prevent you from descendi ng into the funk and being swallowed by it. Even if you feel powerless right now, there are steps you can take and people that can help you move forward.If you need a little help or guidance along the way, its OK to ask for it. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to your overall health and wellbeing, and a therapist can help you process why youre feeling stuck or unhappy.This article first appeared on Talkspace.