Is it summer yet? Who else is totally over the snow and cold? Obviously, its beautiful but I’d like to admire it from a far, without having to scrape it off my car every morning. If you’re like me, the first months of the year can be depressing and hard. So today I’m sharing my best ways to beat the winter blues and get ready for the warmer months.
1. Dream Big
Setting goals for yourself is a great way to look forward to the fun things you want to do in 2016. Do you want to hit a health/fitness goal? Are you wanting a new car? Do you want to vacation in Cancun? I believe the reason most people don’t accomplish the things they want to, is because they don’t set goals and make a plan to accomplish those things. If you don’t have a plan and no direction to go, you’ll end up wasting time and money on things that are not getting you closer to your dreams. Set your intention, have a goal, make a plan, live your dreams.
2. Exercise
Physical activity gets your blood flowing and heart rate going. This winter has been so much easier than winters past because I know I’ll be working out everyday. The boost of endorphins is a nice bonus, so after a few weeks of starting you’ll actually look forward to going. Also, if you don’t have access to a gym or equipment, there are TONS of free workout videos that you could find on YouTube.
2. Eat Better
Eating a healthy balanced diet will not only help your waistline, but can boost your moods all together. While candy and processed/fast food may give temporary feelings of comfort, they ultimately increase fatigue and over all yuckiness. Add as many colors (from fruits and veggies) as you can, fresh or frozen.
3. Organize
The beginning of the year is a time for fresh starts and getting organized. I love the productive feeling of getting organized and creating systems to keep things that way (read my post about systems here). And what’s better than getting rid of unwanted junk and organizing your house? I guess paying someone else to clean and organize your house is, but think of the satisfaction you’ll feel doing it!?
4. Brighten it Up
The winter is especially hard because there is less daylight in the same 24 hour period. Who else hates eating dinner in the dark? Open the blinds during the day to let more light into the house, you’ll feel better from the extra rays. They also have special lights called “happy lights” that you can sit in front of for an artificial dose of the same thing. And yes, they actually work.
5. Make New Friends
The best thing about the holidays are all of the parties and social gatherings to keep you busy. Then January comes and there aren’t even crickets chirping because its so FREAKING cold. I digress. There are tons of ways to make new friends. You can host a neighborhood girls night, have the new couple in the neighborhood over for dinner, or just saying “hi” to a new face at the gym, school drop off or church. To make it official, find each other on Facebook, exchange numbers, and set a plan for a play or lunch date. Boom! New friends!
6. Music
If all else fails, play music. There is something so euphoric about rocking out to your favorite song. It can take you from a bad mood to an “every little ting, gonna be al-right” kind of mood. In a 2013 study, researchers showed that listening to upbeat or cheery music significantly improved participant’s mood in both the short and long term.
What are your tricks for beating the winter blues?