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Develop healthy hobbies to minimize onset of seasonal depression
Develop healthy hobbies to minimize onset of seasonal depression
Over this past month, the depiction of Mount Vernon being surrounded by the winter months has become quite apparent. It seems that MVHS students have spent more of this month at home waiting out snowy and icy conditions than being seated in their usual classes. Along with an abundance of snow days, the winter months also resurface an even more negative factor, seasonal depression.
According to an article done by mayoclinic.org, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.” Many people experience this annual drop in serotonin levels due to gloomy weather and being stuck inside your home does not improve these happiness levels. This is why the idea of developing enjoyable hobbies in order to cope with seasonal sadness is so important for teens and young adults.
Tryshift.com says that “Hobbies are the best, and here’s why. Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphins, and Dopamine (your happy hormones) are released when engaging in hobbies.” Developing healthy hobbies to incorporate into your life can be essential to help with your happiness and mental well-being. Some of the most popular hobbies for teens include various sports, art, cooking, writing, photography, exercise, and even video gaming.
Simply put, any activity that makes you happy can be considered a healthy and harmless way of fighting back the sad, cold months. Teens developing hobbies is always important, but this idea is even more essential during the months where gloominess might be at an all time high. Don’t let snowy sadness overtake your winter months, find a recipe (such as the one included at the end of this article) or maybe even pick up a paintbrush and “hobby” your way into fighting back against annoying seasonal depression!
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As a token of a little extra love, here’s a yummy banana bread recipe to help bloom a potential baking hobby! Here's this video if needed as a visual step by step to help you while making it.
When starting hobbies to fight seasonal depression, baking yummy goods can be an instant boost of serotonin such as cooking up some delightful banana bread! Photo courtesy of foodtasia.org
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!
Ingredients Needed:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs beaten lightly
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups very ripe bananas soft, darkly speckled, mashed well (about 3 medium)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
6-8 ounces milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the rack in the middle of the oven.
Prepare a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan by buttering and flouring the base only if it is nonstick. Butter the sides if it is not nonstick. Nonstick baking spray can be used instead of butter and flour.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk to combine. Reserve 1/2 tablespoon flour and mix with 6-8 ounces chocolate chips.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Add mashed bananas, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together, just until the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter should be thick and chunky, but without any streaks of unincorporated flour.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips that have been tossed with flour.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth. Sprinkle on additional chocolate chips if desired.
Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 5 minutes. Remove loaf from pan and let cool on rack. (If you didn’t butter and flour the sides of the pan, you may need to run a sharp knife in between the sides of the pan and the loaf.)
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe courtesy of foodtasia.com.
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