Beat the Winter Blues

The cold weather got you down? It can be tough to stay motivated in the winter months when it’s not only cold out but dark and cloudy as well. Here are a few tips to avoid going into hibernation during winter.

1. Stick To Your Routine: When you’re dealing with seasonal blues, it’s easy to feel a lack of motivation. A routine can help you feel in control even if the motivation isn’t there. Getting up at the same time every morning, even if it requires an alarm, can set the stage for a productive day. Keep it simple to allow for the unexpected.
2. Stay Active: Movement is a great way to keep your energy up and avoid just sitting on the couch day after day. If you’re not into outdoor activities this time of year, try taking a yoga class or get to the gym to break a sweat a few times a week. You’d be surprised how positive of an impact this can have on your mood.
3. Get some sunshine: This time of year many of us are low on vitamin D due to all the time spent indoors - besides supplementing, spending just 20 min in the sun can help raise those levels. Again, if you don’t want to sit outside, find a spot in your home that gets some great sun exposure and sit in a chair soaking it up for a bit. The warmth from the sun can feel rejuvenating and lift your mood.
4. Treat yourself to some Self-Care: This can look like many different things for each of us - maybe a monthly massage, a trip to the salon, a spa day, some time in a sauna. Whatever you choose, treating yourself to something nice is a great mood booster.

The Groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter, but let’s not let it get us down. Take care, and before you know it, Spring will be here!