Top 5 Ways to Beat the November Blues

This November has been a depressing month in Kingston. We missed the requisite sunny, leaf dropping Fall and went straight to a rainy, dark slough of pre-Winter misery. It only gets colder from here.

My only suggestion is to take heed from the immortal King of Pop. Just beat it. How? Read on.

1) Get a banana smoothie at Ben & Jerry’s. For some strange reason or another I totally dig their smoothies. I’m pretty sure it’s because they are loaded with lots of cream and sugar. However, most are jam packed with bananas. And bananas are jam packed with serotonin and tryptophan, aka: feel good, mood lifting substances.

2) Get a tan. Tanning is a huge mood booster. It’s helps your body produce and absorb Vitamin D which in turn lifts your mood. Don’t make tanning a habit or you severly increase your risk of skin cancer, but a tan here or there can really help lift your soggy November spirits. The Beach usually has a bed free, so it’s great if you hate having to make appointments.

3) Book a massage. There are lots of great spots in and around Kingston for a good, old fashioned massage. Diva offer’s up some fabulous massage treatmens such as the blissful Thai massage. You’ll feel brand new. The Spa at the Mill is also a high quality option.

4) Drink. Sorry, not booze. Staying hydrated helps flush the toxins out of your body, helping you feel better all round. A great way to suck back some liquid is by drinking tea. You skip the sugar that most juices are packed with, and get the added antioxidants. The Tea Room, on the Queen’s Campus, boasts some of the most incredible tea offerings around. Their vanilla Earl Grey is revolutionary.

5) Bust a move. If it’s too chilly outside to keep up with your usual exercise routine, then why not start a class indoors? Treadmills get old fast, so try something that keeps your mind as well as your body active. There are some amazing classes offered at Path Yoga downtown, and their intro package starts at only $20 for a week. You’ll moan.