Anyone else feeling a bit over winter? One too many weekends spent in with Netflix and it seems our cabin fever is starting to get the best of us. Seasonal affective disorder AKA SAD is a thing for a reason, so many find it a bit rough to stay inspired and motivated in the cold, dark, winter months. But fear, not the winter can also be a great time for adventure and fun, you just have to shake up your mindset a little. Here are some tricks we use to beat the winter blues.
7 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
Let The Light In
It’s easy to find yourself shutting away the world in winter months. Shutting the blinds and hiding under the covers seems to become part of your daily routine. Help to reset your circadian rhythm naturally by letting the light in, and get your morning started the right way. Your house seriously takes on a whole new aurora when it’s filled with natural light, and your mood will too.
Make Something
The cold is keeping you in, but you’re so tired of just sitting around. Make something! The sense of accomplishment and purpose you get from a little DIY project is seriously addicting. Plus, you can make something that is also super useful.
We suggest making some home scents, aromatherapy can also help get rid of those winter blues too. Win, win, and another win, sounds like an amazing cold afternoon.
Get Moving
Everything about winter seems to cause me to tense up. As soon as I step out in cold, I catch my breath, my hands clench up, and basically my entire body tenses up. It’s not long till this body tension becomes mental tension, and that is just simply no fun. The best way I’ve found to get rid of tension of any kind is to get moving.
Favorite Ways to Get Moving:
- Yoga (bend the stress away)
- Go dancing! (or just have an at home dance party with yourself, sound silly but it instantly lifts your mood)
- Sign up for a spin or HIT class. (Gets you out of the house and the endorphins you experience are addicting. Signing up in advance keeps you accountable and you may even make a new friend.)
- Bundle up and take a walk. (Grab the dog and take in nature and that light, you won’t regret it.)
Call Your Long Distance Bestie
It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day grind and feel disconnected from friends and family.When was the last time you actually called a friend on the phone just to catch up? We all have those long distance friends that no matter how much time goes by you always pick up right where you left off. CALL THEM, seriously call them up and lose track of time in a nice long talk. Have a good cry or a good laugh, either way, you’ll be surprised how much just hearing their voice makes you feel better.
Plan Your Next Adventure
The power of reward is a magical thing. Workdays can seem endless in the long winter months, so having something to go forward to is a necessity.
Start planning your next adventure now, right now.
Let yourself get lost in making plans. Find the activities, book the hotel, look at all the beautiful photos and get excited. We have some great travel itineraries if you are unsure of where you want to go or where to begin.
You can even plan on playing tourist for a weekend in your own city. Make a must-do buck list you would give to a friend coming for a visit and instead go out and do it yourself. There’s something so refreshing about a good staycation that breaths profound positivity to your everyday surroundings.
Eat Seasonally
Eat your way to a better mood, and no we don’t mean stuffing your face with ice cream. It’s easy to stuff yourself carbs during the winter and forget about the abundance of amazing and delicious seasonal produce that is fresh this season. It’s great for the environment and your belly. Adding a splash of color to your cooking is always uplifting and fun, too.
Seasonal Produce for The Winter Months
- Beets
- Brussels Sprouts
- Butternut Squash
- Grapefruit
- Kale
- Oranges
- Pomegranate
- Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
Plus did you know there are literally certain foods that have the power to help boost your mood instantly? You can check out G’s recommendation for magical, mood-boosting foods HERE.
It is also a good idea to take in as much Vitamin D as possible. So take those vitamins.
You can also eat and drink your way to some more Vitamin D.
Vitamin D rich foods include:
- Fatty fish (like salmon and tuna)
- Egg yolks
- Portobello mushrooms
- Tofu
Drinks Rich In Vitamin D:
- Dairy milk
- Soy milk
- Fortified orange juice
Print Your Photos and Decorate Your Home with Them
You know all those thousands of photos you’re constantly scrolling through on your phone? PRINT THEM OUT. Seriously, there’s nothing quite like seeing something in print. We even love this printer that lets you print pictures directly from your phone. Revamp your home with some fresh picture frames. You can even get creative with how you display them. When you print them all out, you start to reminisce filling yourself with positivity. Seeing pictures of the places, faces and memories you love each day is a total mood booster, too.
1 Comment
Thad
I’ve been consciously getting out into the cold. Walks, Ice skating, hunting, ice fishing and looking to get on the cross country skies. Tendency is to avoid the cold and hibernate so setting a goal to get out is crucial. Went Ice fishing in below zero cold and planned to add a bunch of layers but with little wind I found I didn’t need to put all the layers on.