Here in the beautiful Triad region of North Carolina, we’re blessed to have winter days with bright blue skies and fluffy clouds, at least some of the time. But that doesn’t mean we don’t’ have more darkness in winter than in the summer months.

The natural rotation of the Earth around the sun means during December and January, sun set falls between 5:00 and 6:00 each night. And on the days when heavy clouds hang overhead, it can feel as dark as night as early as 4:00. The lack of sunlight directly affect people’s moods, leading to what many people will call the ”winter blues.” Not an official medical diagnosis, it’s common to feel a little down or depressed through the winter.

Maybe the folks who created the Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park were on to something. Bringing light into this dark time of year is a great way to combat the winter blues. But you don’t have to get out of the warm comfort of your home to experience the joy of a little more light. If your loved ones are homebound, we’ve got a few easy ideas to help brighten up their living space and lighten the mood a little.

· Change out the lightbulbs. If you haven’t yet, now is the perfect time to switch to cool LED light bulbs. The whiter light of these bulbs changes the entire atmosphere, with one click of a switch.

· Bring in bright pillows. You don’t have to spend a fortune, do some bargain shopping or get a few pillow covers in hot pinks, bright oranges and sunny yellows.

· Take advantage of natural light. Open up the blinds and curtains during the day. Consider hanging a mirror on the wall across for a window to reflect even more light in the room.

· Set out candles. Once the sun goes down, use candles to supplement the room lights. Avoid any risk of fire by getting battery powered candles, which look just as pretty and are much safer.

Make Time to Socialize

In addition to adding light to the season, keeping up with friends and family also goes a long way toward combatting any sad or lonely feelings that might creep in during the winter. Make sure to visit your loved ones often, especially if they’re reluctant to drive after dark. If you can’t get there in person, video calls are great fun.

Our services at Piedmont Home Care are also a vital part of keeping human interaction a top priority. If you haven’t already, consider in-home care for a loved one who might be living alone and unable to get out as much in the winter as they used to. We provide much more than assistance with medical care. Our caregivers spend time one on one building great relationships with their clients, whether visiting at home or serving as the means to get out to appointments or social activities.

If you’re worried about a loved one becoming isolated and lonely this time of year, call Piedmont Home Care to learn more about our services and how they can fit your family’s needs.