Stay Happy and Healthy in Winter

About the authors: This month’s column is a collaborative effort from the South Dakota Human Services Center Social Workers covering the Geriatric Program. Sierra Olson, BSW and Cloe Droegmiller, BSW both obtained their bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of South Dakota and have been employed at the South Dakota Human Services Center as HS Social Workers since the summer of 2022. 

Winter weather can be discouraging to anyone, young or old, as it could limit their ability to be connected, travel, and spend time in the outdoors. Social isolation and a decrease in physical activity may lead to symptoms of depression. These symptoms may include lack of energy, lack of motivation, or feelings of sadness. Promoting strong social and physical wellness is important during these potentially isolating and hard to navigate months. When the temperature drops and the wind is blowing and the snow is drifting there are still ways to promote strong social and physical wellness. Let’s discuss a few ways to do this.     

Since social wellness activities promote better mental health, being part of a community and having positive interactions with other people makes a person feel good! As we age, it’s especially important to find opportunities to be part of a community and be socially active. Being active in a community can be as simple as joining a book club or connecting with friends and family through phone calls and letters. On those extremely cold winter days when you would rather stay tucked into bed challenging yourself to get up and write a letter to a friend or family member, or to call and check-in on those you care about can make a big difference in your personal wellness.

Physical wellness activities promote a healthy wellbeing. There are many benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle including improved mental health, longer lifespan, and possibly improving thinking abilities. Challenge yourself to be more active. If you are not able to do more strenuous exercises you can try chair yoga, utilize an indoor pool in your community, do some simple stretching, or when the weather permits go for a walk in the neighborhood.

It is important to find a hobby that speaks to you, even if that means a few failed attempts at finding something you enjoy. A few common hobbies are indoor gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, puzzles, games, or exercise. Other things to do in the community could include visiting the library or having a meal at your favorite restaurant with your favorite people.

At the South Dakota Human Services Center, we offer an array of activities to promote physical and mental wellness. Some of those activities include open swim in our indoor pool, a weight room to workout in, card and board games, and outside entertainment coming to our facility to perform. In the Geriatric Program we offer aquatic therapy, coffee socials, a walking program, Movie Monday, and music therapy. Incorporating these types of social activities into your routine can promote better mental and physical wellness through not only the winter months, but the entire year.

For a virtual tour of the Human Services Center, visit: https://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealth/hsc/virtual_tour.aspx

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The mission of the Human Services Center is to provide individuals with a mental health or substance use disorder or both with effective, individualized professional treatment, enabling them to achieve their highest level of personal independence in the most therapeutic environment.

The mission of the Division of Behavioral Health is to support quality clinical treatment, recovery supports, prevention and crisis services with integrity to obtain positive outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs.

To read previous editions of the Mental Health Memo visit https://dss.sd.gov/keyresources/news.aspx#mhmemo