Let’s face it. Winter time, especially in the colder states can really suck. I don’t mean to be a debby-downer, but once the holiday season is over and we’re just left with cold temperatures, little daylight and a lot of time inside it’s hard to not get just a little sad. You definitely have to take a little more effort to find the joy, so here are some of my top tips to fight the winter blues and find a little happy this time of year.
From enhancing the space in my home, to spending intentional time outside (yes, even when it’s negative degrees out), I’ve found these hacks help me feel just a little bit better throughout the seemingly never ending winter. I hope they help you too, bestie.
30 Minutes of Outside Time
I know this can be challenging for people depending on their job and personal schedules, but it’s so important to get some fresh air on your face. I try to get my 30 minutes in during the daytime in the off-chance there’s some sunlight so I can get some added vitamin d, but regardless I’m trying to spend this much time outside. Even if it’s horribly cold out (looking at you negative temperatures), you can still bundle up and head outside. Fresh air helps clear up the mental clutter and gets you out of your house.
Finding New Hobbies
If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have seen that I’ve been dabbling in sourdough bread making this winter. I got a sourdough starter kit for Christmas this year and I was so excited to try. My first bread was terrible, but I’m slowly understanding the science behind sourdough and successfully made a good loaf the other night. But, finding a new hobby to focus on that’s unrelated to business or work has been super helpful with my winter blues.
It gives me something low-pressure to focus on and is something fun for me to do while still staying in my house. I’m learning something new and spending focused time. Now, you don’t need to make sourdough, but I recommend finding a hobby to try. Maybe it’s baking, painting or making DIY crafts. Find something you’ll enjoy.
Organizing my Home
This has been on my to-do list since our final roommate moved out and I’m finally tackling it. Winter is the perfect time to do updates around your house and make it feel more comfy cozy, because 1) you’re inside so you might as well do something to make you more cozy and 2) let’s be real, you’re not going to want to spend time inside working on projects when it finally warms up outside. This has included going through my closet, finishing redecorating our guest bedroom and still on the list – organizing the kitchen, making me a fitness room in the basement and finishing our dining room. I highly recommend taking time this winter to reset your home and make it into the space you want to be in.
Reading
I have made it a goal of mine to read more this year, and the winter is a great time to get ahead on your reading list. One thing that I like to try and do is have something that’s entertaining to do, but also gets me off looking at a screen. I feel like we are constantly in front of screens, whether it’s computers at work, our phones or TVs, so reading helps me stay off those.
I recommend reading as a way to immerse yourself into something new, find entertainment and have something that gets you away from screens.
Books I’ve read so far this winter include: All the Bright Places, The Home Edit, Dreamland and We Are Not Like Them.
planning Fun Activities
There’s no shock there that I like to do fun activities, but here’s the kicker. Sometimes it can be really hard to get yourself to get out and do things when it’s -10 degrees out!! However, I have found that days I have things planned for that evening, or weeks where I have things planned for the weekend pass by so much faster. Having something to look forward to really helps get you in the mood to GSD and then get out and have fun!!
For example, last weekend Avery was gone and I had absolutely zero plans. The week leading up to it druuuug on. I was miserable! Weeks that I have stuff planned I swear Friday gets here way faster than it actually should.
So, go out and plan things. Give yourself something to look forward to. Make time to go enjoy stuff!
Other suggestions:
This is not an entirely comprehensive list of every single thing I’ve been doing to find joy, so here are a few other suggestions: plan a staycation (or vacation if you’re lucky), take your vitamin d supplements, go to a got yoga class (the heat will help you too) and much more.
Summer will be here before we know it, besties. Hang in there.
