The winter blues hit hard in January and it is easy to get into a funk that’s tough to get out of. The weather is cold a dreary, the holidays are over, and there doesn’t seem to be much going on. Make January and February about you! Here are my top 10 ways to give yourself a boost and get your spirits up in the middle of winter!
1. Zen Out
This first one is a simple one. Light a candle, read a book, take a moment to yourself. It always seems hard to make time just for “you”, but this one is easy to do because it only takes 5 minutes. That might mean that you sit in your car an extra 5 minutes listening to music after you’ve run an errand, or you shut the bedroom door and surf Pinterest for 5 minutes after dinner. Whatever it is, make it peaceful, and don’t let yourself think about anything stressful or schedule-related. Sip a warm cup of coffee. Listen to the birds outside. Relax, take a few deep breaths, and take in the moment. Doing this every day does amazing things for your mood, I promise!
2. Get Outside
Though the weather outside is frightful, a good dose of vitamin D and some fresh air does wonders for improving your mood and energy levels. This doesn’t have to be torture! Bundle up and get out for a short walk around the block. Take the dog and the kids out and watch them run around. Play in the snow! For me, even a short early morning walk to and from the gym puts a little pep into my step. The winter air is so fresh – take it in!
3. Eat Something Healthy
This might seem self-explanatory. It also might seem like the last thing you want to do in these dreary winter months (bring on the comfort food, right?) – BUT try just for a day to eat the best you can and you’ll see how good it makes you feel. Start small: replace your breakfast cereal with a smoothie. The next day, replace your lunch time burger with a hearty salad. Everyone who has tried making a healthy change in the kitchen will say that although it might have been difficult, they always “felt great” when they did it. Check out my top smoothie favourites here!
4. Exercise
Yes, another “sounds great but I don’t feel like doing it” suggestion. The first workout is the hardest. Before you go to bed, set out your gym clothes, update your playlist, and fill up your favourite water bottle with lemon mint water in the fridge so its ready to go. Put your runners by the door. Give yourself some idea of what you’d like to accomplish (go for a run, complete a core workout, climb stairs for 20 minutes). If you need a boost, go buy yourself a new workout top or runners to get yourself motivated. It doesn’t matter what your fitness level is, do something easy that you are comfortable with and you won’t feel overwhelmed. You’ll feel energized, proud of yourself, and ready for a tougher workout the next time. The first one is the biggest hurdle but if you give yourself the tools you need, you’ll feel SO good for accomplishing it!
5. Take a Bath
Nobody has time for a bath, especially Moms, right? We barely get to shower! Give yourself a break and just do it. Wait until the kids are in bed. Let your partner do the dishes or worry about packing lunches, just this once. Run a hot bath, put in all of the fluffy stuff you never get to use (bath bomb, oils, whatever you like), and pour yourself a glass of wine. Bring a book. Light a candle … whatever you need to help you relax after a long day. This one is a lot like “zen out”, but it takes a little more than 5 minutes. I like to put on a face mask and even a hair mask while I soak. Don’t make it about the utility of it all – you can shower again in the morning if you need it – just lay back and take a load off. A hot bath also helps ease any muscle soreness from the workout, or back soreness from…well, life.
6. Have a Restful Sleep
I’m at the one I struggle with the most. Being a full-time, at-home Mom of two and running a business with a lot of moving parts means that I don’t sleep enough. I’m up late editing, writing posts, making goodies for the etsy shop. Anything I have to do gets done when the kids are in bed. This makes for an exhausting week and I’m a better Mom when I’ve had some rest. At least once a week I recommend resetting yourself. If there are things on your to-do list that need doing but not TODAY, put them off. Go to bed SUPER early. You can read if you’re not tired (it will help you get sleepy). Spray your pillows with some nice sleep spray (I love this one and this one from Saje), and get a good 8-10 hours to reset your clock and recharge your batteries. Look at it this way: if you get a great night’s sleep you may even wake up naturally before your kids do and have time for a peaceful cup of tea before the day gets started!
7. Treat Yourself
This list is full of ideas that don’t cost a cent and this one doesn’t have to be expensive either. Sure, you can go out for a little retail therapy, but there are lots of ways you can treat yourself without breaking the bank. Buy yourself some fresh flowers (Costco has great prices on cut flowers, and sometimes even the grocery store has great ones for under $10). Have a piece of chocolate (no, not the whole bar). Do your nails or style your hair or… go ahead and shop! A little thing that’s special and just for you is sure to brighten your mood.
8. Connect with a Friend
Again, this one doesn’t require a full day of your time. It can be anything from having lunch, meeting for coffee, or even a quick phone call to check in on someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Your friend will be happy to hear from you, and you may even find you need to vent. Either way, its a win-win for you both. As a Mom, connecting with other adults gives you a bit of a break from the kid-run world we live in 90% of the time and makes you feel normal again. I have a group of girlfriends that I get together with for an evening out about once every two months, or a few of us meet up for a yoga class once a week. Getting out of the house and spending time over a glass of wine (or a yoga mat) with other women I can relate to is a really nice break from my regular day-to-day.
9. Write it Down
Writing things down will help you “unpack” them from taking up space in your brain. I find when I can’t sleep its usually because I’m thinking of all the things I have to do, things I’ve been meaning to do, people I haven’t called in a while, or what the schedule is for the week. Keep a notepad beside the bed to jot down anything you need to so that you know you won’t forget it in the morning and can sleep peacefully. Lists will keep you organized, help you de-clutter, stay focused, and de-stress.
10. Do Something Nice
Doing something nice for someone else will not only benefit them, but I guarantee it will make you feel good as a byproduct! Once again, this doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. You could pay for the coffee of the person behind you in the drive through, for example. Acts of kindness are possibly even more fun when they’re anonymous – think of how you feel if anyone has ever done that for you! It is even more of a shock when you’re not expecting it. Other ideas are to bake a loaf of bread for a neighbour, help a stranger unload groceries into their car, surprise a friend with a nice candle or movie tickets, or take your kids out for a fun lunch date or trip to the zoo. Giving love and being selfless is always a nice thing to do and I promise this one is bound to be the one that makes the biggest impact on your mood.
Let me know if you try any of these tips and if they helped get you out of the mid-winter funk! Comment below or on my Instagram feed and let me know what you are going to try!