If you’re like me, you don’t quite enjoy Winter. My skin gets dry, my toes feel like icicles, everything is bare and grey, you have to wear layers upon layers, and so on. However, if you live in most areas of the world, it’s something you just have to deal with every year!
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing that affects many people. It’s important to try and keep those negative feelings at bay and stay positive and motivated year round! Try these things to boost your mood and to stay healthy during these cold months!
1. Take advantage of the sunny days
Winter is filled with grey skies, dead grass, and bare trees. It’s not very motivating, exciting, or welcoming which is why it’s my least favorite season. When the sun does decide to pop out, take the opportunity to open your blinds and maybe even get outside! Bundle up if you need to and simply take a 10-15 minute walk. It will help energize you and boost your mood.
2. Invest in a light box
A light box is exactly what it sounds like…a small box with a very bright light! The idea is to mimic sunlight. The bulbs of these boxes are very bright, and if you place them near you it can prevent seasonal depression, help boost your mood, sleep better, and increase your focus and energy. It’s compact and light weight so you can easily carry it with you to work if you work inside a windowless office. I place mine on my desk and I use it while I work early in the morning (while it’s still dark out) or if it’s a particularly gloomy day and I can feel my mood negatively affected by it.
3. Light candles and plug in twinkly lights
A lifestyle that’s been growing on me is Hygge. A Danish term that basically means ‘coziness.’ Hygge is big on burning candles and using string/twinkle lights, which is right up my alley. I have a curtain headboard with hanging strings lights behind it and it’s one of my favorite things ever. I plug them in even during the day, light some candles for a yummy fragrance, and turn on my Himalayan salt lamp. It’s very comforting and it’s a small thing that makes me happy. Hygge is just a feel good lifestyle and it’s actually perfect for the winter months! Check out this pin for some more info 🙂
4. Exercise and eat well
You should be exercising and eating well year round, but in the Winter months it’s even easier to slack off because of the cold weather and the holidays. As if you didn’t know already, exercising can improve your mood and help with depression and anxiety. Hello endorphins! So get to the gym AT LEAST 3 times per week or workout from home.
I meal prep year round, and I like to cook using foods in season to save money and for the best flavor. For example, in January sweet potatoes are thriving and you could make flavorful sweet potato “Buddha bowls.” Potatoes are also in season and you could make a nice bowl of comforting soup. For snacking, I love to buy fresh oranges and grape fruit…they taste phenomenal right now!
5. Enjoy the little things
I’m definitely not a huge fan of Winter, but I find the greatest joy in sipping on hot cocoa while snuggling under blankets with my boyfriend. There’s a lot of Winter activities that you can do! Go ice skating, find a local light display to walk through, turn on the fireplace and watch movies, enjoy sipping on hot chocolate or tea, roast vegan marshmallows, take cool outdoor photos, go sledding if it’s snowing, read a book under candle light and twinkle lights!
6. Take your vitamins
Taking daily vitamins is just good practice. They can prevent you from getting sick and also make up for any deficiencies you may have. Vitamin D deficiency is really common, especially during the Winter months due to lack of sun exposure. I know I am deficient in it which is why I take Ritual multi-vitamins every day (they contain 2000 IU of Vitamin D).
