Dec 07, 2016 12:49 PM EST By Audri Taylors, UniversityHerald Reporter

Winter blues or feeling a little less energetic and happy in times like these when there's colder temperatures and decreased light exposure is normal. There are certain brain chemistry changes in your brain that naturally makes you feel down during these months but that does not mean you have no control over it.

According to Dr. Michael Dansinger, MD, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, there are actually scientific ways by which you can fend off winter blues this holiday season.

Think positive

It all begins with having positive thoughts. "You can affect your own happiness with the attitude that you choose," Dansinger told INSIDER.

"A positive attitude improves these brain chemicals. So my number one recommendation is to treat positive attitude as a skill set and work on it." Positive thinking is not a skill or a talent. It is something that you choose to do.

Don't isolate yourself

One of the worst mistakes you can do during these times is to isolate yourself and avoid human contact. "When you're in the cold, it's easy just to get into a habit of isolating yourself, and that exacerbates the winter blues," Dansinger said.

"We know that engaging with other people makes a very big difference, so go out of your way to avoid isolation."

Eat healthy

There's no food that's guaranteed to cure winter blues, but when you eat the right types of food, it will definitely make a difference when it comes to boosting your mood.

"There are individual foods that might be especially favorable for brain chemicals - foods with antioxidants like blueberries and kale and pomegranates," Dansigner said. "But I would really emphasize an overall healthy eating plan rather than the idea of using individual foods."

Exercise

To release endorphins that's responsible for making you feel good and happy, you must break a sweat. Workouts can also help you manage your weight, in this way you will feel less lazy and depressed.

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