Move for your mood challenge!

Jan 10, 2023

As the winter days get shorter, darker and colder, many of us have less energy and a lower mood. In fact, the third Monday in January, also known as “Blue Monday”, is commonly thought of as the saddest day of the year due to stressors like post-holiday blues, weight gain, chilly and dark days, failure to stick to New Year’s resolutions and the arrival of holiday bills. Although there might not be much science behind Blue Monday, “the winter blues” are all too real for many of us.

There’s a key difference between being in a bit of a funk during the winter (“the winter blues”) and living with a clinical condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD impacts a small percentage of Canada’s population: about 2-3% of people living in Canada may be affected by serious depression symptoms characterized as SAD, showing clinical depression associated with the season. The winter blues, on the other hand, affects more people: about 15% of people living in Canada experience milder symptoms of sadness or unhappiness related to the dark, cold weather. read more

Move for your mood today!

Want to combat the winter blues but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! We’ve partnered with the YMCA to bring you the perfect videos to get you moving for your mood, no matter where you are in your physical activity journey. Download the free ParticipACTION app to join the team as they lead you through safe, effective and fun low-intensity exercises with variations for all abilities. The app also has a range of other videos, exercise tips and challenges to make getting active as easy and fun as possible!

*Lifestyle changes aren’t always enough to beat the winter blues or SAD, and you can always reach out for supports and services:

Crisis Services Canada (24/7)
Call 1-833-456-4566 (QC: 1-866-277-3553)
Visit www.crisisservicescanada.ca

BounceBack
Visit www.cmha.ca/bounceback
Call 1-855-873-0013

Wellness Together Canada
Visit ca.portal.gs/ 

Text WELLNESS (adults) or FRONTLINE to 741741