Every January, I get the doldrums.
That is what I call the dragging, heavy, blah feeling that I struggle through when the excitement of the holidays is over, the daylight ends too quickly, the wind blows, my ears are cold, my kids are bored and bouncing off the walls. I am a “Negative Nelly,” and everything seems overwhelming and dumb. And then, I get sick, and my pants do not fit.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines the “doldrums” as a popular nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters. Which is a perfect definition for how I navigate through winter: stuck. Although, in Artesia, “windless” is not exactly what comes to mind.
It is like clockwork, an annual affliction I have come to anticipate and implement tools to avoid. Dr. Google and I have produced an “official” self-diagnosis: SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. This type of depression is related to changes in seasons and begins and ends about the same time every year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “millions of American adults may suffer from SAD, although many may not know they have the condition. SAD occurs much more often in women than in men, and it is more common in those living farther north, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter.”
If you are a SAD sufferer or get the “winter blues,” you are not doomed to mope around feeling melancholy and eating all the carbs you can find. I have found actionable items that have significantly reduced the doldrums for me.
Get Outside
The sun shines in Artesia an annual average of 279 days a year! While the temperatures can be extreme, and the wind is likely to blow, we desert dwellers are lucky to have abundant opportunities for Vitamin D exposure. Vitamin D production is one of the most well-known health benefits activated by exposure to sunlight. For our skeletal, cardiovascular, neurological, and immune systems, maintaining proper vitamin D levels protects against disease, optimizes physical performance, and improves mental health.
Solius, a community dedicated to vitamin D therapy states, “The benefits of sunlight are well documented throughout history. Nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale observed during the Victorian era that sick patients in rooms with ample sunlight recovered more quickly compared to those in rooms with no windows.”
Take a walk along Eagle Draw in the daylight hours, head out to Jaycee Park for some pickleball or BRAND-NEW dog park action; take a Sunday cruise and hike the Ocotillo Trail in Carlsbad. Pump up those bike tires and go for a spin, grab your skateboard, and hit the ramps at MLK skate park. Walk Artesia’s mural trail or shoot some clays at the Eddy County Shooting Range. You are only limited by your imagination.
Read a Delightful Book in the Sunshine
My favorite way to read a book is laying on the floor in a warm strip of sunlight like a lizard on a sunny rock in the desert. Artesia’s Public Library is a treasure in our town. It is beautiful, filled with great reads, and staffed with knowledgeable and community-oriented librarians. Need a book recommendation, just ask! Or join a book discussion group: Crafty Kitch Lit Read and Feed or Lunchtime Book Discussion Group. The library also offers programming such as Magic: The Gathering Free Play or Yarn United! a knitting and crochet club.
If you are finding it difficult to make time to get to the library to browse, or you prefer an e-reader, Artesia Public Library offers amazing e-book options. I use the Libby app daily, but the library also offers Abdo Digital Bookshelf, Ebsco eBooks, eSebco, Hoopla, New Mexico Reads, and Tumble Book Library.
Engaging your mind is a terrific way to ward off the doldrums while also fighting cognitive decline. Reading strengthens the brain, reduces stress, and can aid sleep. While it would be a deep stretch to call reading a physical activity, it does improve physical and mental health.
Move Your Body
Artesia has many workout options to match anyone’s preferences. If you like lifting weights (which has been proven to increase mood, health, and longevity) head to one of our area’s gyms. Group classes more your style? Try Women’s World or MMA classes at Varsity Academy or Spin Class at Limitless Fitness. The Aquatic Center is more than just lap swimming; they host yoga, MixxedFit, and water aerobics as well. If you are a runner, join Pecos Running Club. You will be hard pressed to find a more supportive and encouraging group of fitness fans.
Help Someone Else
When my great grandma’s son was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident, she was devastated. Way, way beyond the listlessness of SAD, her grief was bone deep. Many years later when my mom asked her how she made it through the dark tunnel of despair, she said it was hard to feel sorry for yourself when you spend your time helping other people. She volunteered through church and community and found a light in the spirit of generosity.
Artesia has many volunteer opportunities: PTO through the schools, Meals on Wheels, Artesia Literacy Council, Artesia MainStreet, Altrusa, Lion’s Club, United Way of Eddy County, and many others! There is even a Facebook group: Artesia Volunteers.
Retail Therapy
Do not click on that Amazon app when you are down. Head to Main Street and shop local! While Artesia has the reputation for being a place with “nowhere to shop,” that belief is inaccurate. Artesia is full of fun, interesting, and local entrepreneurs who have lots to offer customers. Retail therapy works better when it is instantaneous. Waiting for the delivery truck is not going to provide the cure! Get that dopamine hit when you leave Martha’s with an amazing velvet shirt, or you find a treasure at Butterfield Trail Mercantile.
Ask For Help
Sometimes, you can try on your own, but you may need a little help to improve your mental health. Artesia has mental health services.
Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance offers hope and healing to the rural Permian Basin communities. All Artesia Public School students and employees can receive services from PBCG at the Bulldog Wellness Center.
Artesia General Hospital can also address community members’ mental health needs. AGH recently showcased their new behavioral health wing. As reported by Mike Smith for Carlsbad Current – Argus, “AGH estimated around four hundred people a month from Carlsbad and Artesia seek treatment for behavioral health services. The new wing provides privacy and allows AGH to offer services previously unavailable, such as telehealth visits.”
Whether the doldrums get you down, or the last few years have left you winded, or you just have goals to improve your mental and physical health, do not feel limited by your location. Artesia is a wonderful place to be well!
