Today is the first day of winter which means it’s that time of the year when the sun is late to rise and disappears again all too early. I get the winter blues baaaad. I don’t mind cooler weather, and most of the time I enjoy the snow but the lack of sunlight really gets to me. Already I’m seeing a slight shift it my overall mood. Before it gets too late in the season, and I’m completely stuck in a rut I thought it might be helpful to compile a list of ways to combat the winter blues.
15 Ways To Fight The Winter Blues.
▴ Buy some plants. Indoor gardening is super satisfying, and bringing the outdoors inside is a great way to boost your mood. There’s always room for one more cactus, I promise! 😉
▴ Light your house up! Burning candles always feel so cozy to me, and I swear I love my living room 100x more after hanging Christmas lights from my ceiling. They’re definitely staying up all year long.
▴ Wake up as early as possible. The cold weather makes me want to sleep in. My bed is just so cozy, especially when Jeff sleeps over but when it comes right down to it I feel so much better getting up early. Since the sun is so limited this time of the year soaking it up every second you get is way better than staying curled up in bed.
▴ Embrace the season! Ice skating is a blast, and what could be more fun than sledding with friends? Last year we talked about making a snow fort but it never happened. Maybe this will be the year!?
▴ Catch up on reading. I recommend Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs. I’m currently dragging my feet through the third book. I just don’t want it to end!
▴ Visit the beach! The beach in the winter can be pretty amazing – see here + here. Make sure to bundle up though, being near the water is always drastically colder.
▴ Visit your local greenhouse or botanical garden. If you’re near Cleveland, you need to go Rockefeller Park Greenhouse!
▴ Clean. Am I the only one who thinks cleaning is really relaxing?
Yes? Well, it’s a great way to de-stress. Take the time to clean out
your closets, and donate anything you no longer need or use.
▴ Explore your neighborhood. Bundle up, and take a walk. I did this right after moving to my new apartment (see here) and it’s still one of my favorite walks I’ve ever taken.
▴ Take a bubble bath. You can find a list of my favorite bath products here.
▴ Bake something! The smell of something cooking will make your home feel super cozy, and you’ll have something to snack on. It’s a win/win. Nutella swirled banana bread is always great. It’s not baking but this brandy fudge is certainly delicious.
▴ Throw a party. It’s an excuse to decorate, have friends over, and eat – what could be better?! May I suggest a breakfast for dinner party?
▴ Write letters or postcards to your friends. Snail mail is the best ,and it will brighten someone else’s day as well!
▴ Try night photography! Use the fact it gets dark insanely early to your advantage, you get to practice a new hobby and still be in bed by 9pm.
▴ Buy yourself some flowers! So maybe you’re not the indoor gardening type, but flowers are always nice. If you’re allergic, there are still paper flowers!
What are some of your favorite ways to fight the winter blues?
xoxo