15 Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

If you’re anything like me, you may find yourself fighting off the wonderful winter blues this time of year. Freezing temperatures and longer nights have a way of imposing their cold, dark moods upon us. Mild seasonal depression is actually fairly common, and it can leave us feeling sluggish, bored, and gazing out the window dreaming of warmer days ahead. If this is you, I challenge you to a simple shift in perspective.

I mean, what a gift! Winter gives us a built-in opportunity to slow down (so rare!), get some much-needed rest, and feel refreshed – if we only take advantage of it. We’ve come up with 15 tips to not only survive the winter months, but to maximize them to their fullest potential. If we use this time wisely, we’ll be prepared to take on spring feeling truly rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle the year.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

1. Bundle up & get out of the house.

   • We tend to hunch up and cozy in, and there’s definitely time for that! While the outdoors can look intimidating, its amazing what a little fresh air and movement can do for our souls. You’ll never regret the extra effort.

2. Use that habit tracker.

   • Instead of wondering where the day went and feeling like you accomplished nothing, write down your goals for the day and check them off. This simple discipline offers such a sense of satisfaction, spurring you on to do more.

3. Check off the honey-do list.

   • Have a long-forgotten dresser you’ve been wanting to paint? Now is a great time to tackle that!

4. Experiment in the kitchen.

   • Take those extra hours and try something new. Who knows, you might even discover a favorite go-to!

5. Invest in relationships.

   • Laugh with a friend over coffee. Walk with your neighbor once a week. Call your grandma for a chat. These simple measures will leave a smile on your heart.

6. Get a lot of rest.

   • The nights are longer, the days are slower, so take advantage of it! Wake up each day feeling rested and revived, ready to embrace your agenda.

7. Schedule time to be creative.

   • Let’s be honest, this tends to be the first to go. Something always feels more pressing than allowing a few moments of fun. But take this season and allow yourself a few hours to just experiment. Have you always wanted to improve your watercolor skills? Master hymns on the piano? Or make homemade play-dough? Go for it!

8. Pull out the board games.

   • There’s something so nostalgic about gathering good friends around a board game. In our increasingly-digital world, allow yourself to just soak up the conversation, laughter, and good old-fashioned competition.

9. Reach out to others.

   • Write a card, and drop it in the mail. Cook a meal for someone lonely. Involve the kids if possible!

10. Host a brunch.

    • There are few things more revitalizing than friendship and laughter. Reach out and invite some friends to a fancy tea party or brunch. Make your favorite mocktail and pull out the fun napkins. To ease the stress, have everyone bring a dish. You’ll make memories to last years!

11. Deep clean & purge.

    • You may not be able to wash windows right now, but you can sweep vent covers, clean behind the stove, and dive into other areas that tend to get forgotten. Make your spring cleaning that much lighter! This is also a great time to purge: think of your closet, your storage room, or your “everything” drawer (hey- we all have them!).

12. Embrace nostalgia.

    • Celebrate those traditions. Make a gingerbread house. Build a snowman. Go sledding. Cut out paper snowflakes. Create valentines cards. Experiment with snow ice cream. Put together a puzzle. Sip hot chocolate. These are the things that truly make the season sparkle.

13. Limit the screen time.

    • While screen time and social media seem like a great way to wile away the hours, it has a way of making you feel restless, anxious, and glossy-eyed. Turn off that screen & involve yourself in something more life-giving!

14. Take a bubble bath.

    • Ahh, what a small yet beautiful way to treat yourself. When an evening feels especially cold and dark, disappear for a half hour and soak in bubbles while reading a favorite book. It’s so good for the soul.

15. Scrapbook.

    • “I’m all caught up on scrapbooking!” (Says no mom, ever). Take this season to review and organize photos, and get caught up on scrapbooking. If you’re so behind that you’re overwhelmed, just start with the present and work your way back. It will be so much more motivating than trying to play catch-up!

We hope you can find some of these tips useful, and implement them into your every day! There truly is beauty in the slow, cold days, if we choose to see it.

XOXO,
Larissa