Winter can be rough. Especially in the PNW where daylight is limited, it’s cold and often wet. But you can overcome the “Winter Blues”! Here are 5 ideas to help get you started:
Make Your Home Happy
Clutter often makes people feel overwhelmed and anxious. Spend some time indoors de-cluttering your home and making it more enjoyable. Need some motivation? Check out Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. In fact, the show has been so inspirational that donations to thrift stores have increased drastically since the show debuted.
Talk a Walk on Your Lunch Break
Daylight can be hard to find during winter. Many people drive to work in the dark and come home in the dark. But sunlight is proven to improve your mood and thankfully it only takes about 10 to 20 minutes of mid-day sunlight to reap the benefits. So take a quick walk on your lunch break and soak up the sun. Even if it’s a little chilly out.
Update Your Playlist
Creating a playlist has never been so simple. Music is now easily accessible thanks to music services from Amazon, Spotify and Pandora. So take a few minutes to create a great, upbeat playlist to get you through winter. Studies have shown that listening to music actually causes your brain to release dopamine, which makes you happy!
Try Meditation
Meditating can you help you clear your mind and relax you. Even if you’ve never tried it before there are great apps and videos out there to help guide you through it. HEADSPACE for example is an app you can use on your phone. They explain their guided meditation as “the ability to develop a sense of acceptance and appreciation for whatever may arise in your experience.” Plans start at $7.99/month and go up to $19.99/month for a family plan.
Explore Hygge
Hygge is a way of life that residents of Denmark have used to survive cold, gloomy winters. Wikipedia defines it as a “word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.” There are many ways to create this feeling. Some examples: Lighting candles and reading a book, having a few friends over for an intimate dinner, slowing down and having a cup of tea in the evening. Take some time to look around the internet for more ideas and information on this lifestyle.