Have monsoon blues? 4 mood-boosting activities to lift your spirits

After the sweltering heat of the summers, when the sky turns grey with silver dark clouds steadily enveloping the horizon and the first rain drops touch your stretched palm, you know monsoon is here to tranquilize your entire being. Once the rain starts lashing about, the trees sway too, dancing in joy and painting the town green. Indeed, monsoons bring a much-needed respite from the unbearable heat and sweat. However, once it sets in full swing, there are days of incessant rains that  turn the ecstasy into gloom for some of us. It becomes difficult to move out as well – water logged roads, dark skies and seasonal cough and cold compel us to stay indoors often.

With days of cloud cover hiding precious sunlight, a feeling of melancholy overwhelms a few of us. One might even say that sunlight brings with it bright rays of hope and upliftment. Physically, our body synthesizes Vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight. Apart from making bones, teeth and our immune system strong, it is also responsible for boosting our moods and keeping depression at bay. Researchers from Brigham Young University have published a study which shows the connection between weather conditions and emotional wellbeing. In fact, they have coined the term ‘monsoon blues’, a phenomenon of mood swings and disorders experienced by individuals on rainy days when sunlight is not in plenty.

An abundant spell of monsoon can stretch for 3 to 4 months at times. As the sun plays hide and seek, deficiency of sunlight can disrupt the human body’s internal clock, leading to sadness and even depressive tendencies in some of us. Monsoon depression or monsoon blues is a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) where reduced sunlight exposure affects the production of melatonin and serotonin, neurotransmitters that regulate our mood. Few of us are more prone to a fluctuation in our moods because of the change in weather.

Monsoon blues or depression can impact people in different ways. The most common symptoms include feelings of sadness, fatigue, lethargy, decline in motivation levels, irritability, changes in appetite, difficulty in concentrating and a general sense of low mood.

However, there are creative ways to beat the monsoon blues and embrace grey weather whole-heartedly. Join us as we explore 4 mood-boosting activities to lift your spirits in  the rainy season.

Curl up and read

“The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read,” said Benjamin Franklin, American author and scientist, famous for the invention of bifocal glasses. There is hardly anything that is better than reading at leisure while it is pouring outdoors. So stock up on some bestsellers and head to your reading corner with a steaming cup of your favourite beverage next time it rains.

If you do not have a reading corner yet, it might be the most appropriate time to set one up. Its simple; act according to your imagination and create a warm space where you read to your heart’s content. Not only will you find your knowledge and wisdom quotient going up this monsoon, books will open a new horizon for you. They will take you away from boredom or sadness and keep your mind constructively occupied in learning new ideas, having innovative thoughts and motivation to do more.

Rustle up monsoon delicacies

The rain lowers down temperatures but makes our appetites go a notch up. But it is also the time to protect ourselves from various ailments that a wet weather brings. While cooking and baking are said to be therapeutic and good for mental health especially when feeling low, monsoon is the perfect time to eat and relish warm soups and beverages.

So if you find yourself prone to weather-related mood swings, enter your in-house laboratory, that is your kitchen, and create a delight that complements the weather. You could go for the seasonal buttery corn-on-the-cob or fried fritters along with piping hot tea.

You could also be baking banana bread or healthy muffins that you have been yearning for so long. While it rains outside, the aromas wafting out of your kitchen will enhance your mood and give you an appetite for more. Eating healthy and the satisfaction of creating lip-smacking food for your loved ones will keep you full of love and warmth for a long time.

Get together with friends

Bonding happens over great food and conversations. But not only food, it could be a good idea to meet your circle of friends at a cozy home gathering while it is pouring outside. It could be over a common passion that you all share, like music, reading couplets or simply anything you love to indulge in. This could be one of the most rewarding ways to enhance your mood and beat the monsoon blues.

Having friends over is always a good idea but it becomes an even better proposition when one is looking for ways to keep upbeat while dealing with a SAD affliction. The time together and sharing of thoughts is a sure shot way to feel good.

Go out in the rain

Even if the blues are hitting you hard, try to simply move the drapes and look out of your window. The raindrops, the minty fresh leaves and the lush grass are sure to fascinate you.

We travel to locations far and wide in search of serenity and tranquillity. But if we could just take out our umbrella and walk to a nearby garden to soak in the beauty of nature, our moods would lift. One can even relive childhood memories by hopping on puddles or simply getting wet in the drizzle. The whole experience can destress and elate all at once.

Monsoons can turn out to be a time to rejuvenate and the rains can help you maximize on your creative pursuits. It can be the perfect time to stop and stare at freshly washed greens and absorb the emanating calm. Monsoon blues can be beaten surely, and in its place, one can experience and cherish the warmth that rains bring.