Need some mood-boosting tips for beating those winter blues? It’s no mystery, the winter weather can have a profound impact on our mood. It’s grey and dreary outside, there’s a lack of vitamin D, and we’re often trapped indoors, falling prey to cabin fever.
If you’re feeling blue during these winter months, keep in mind that you’re not alone.
This is a common reaction and while you can’t change the weather, you can gift yourself with some extra self-care to enhance your mood. Just a few simple adjustments to your routine could create upward momentum for your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. So treat yourself to these mood-boosting tips for the winter blues and see which ones work for you!
Mood-Boosting Tips for the Winter Blues
Laugh
Laughter is powerful. It decreases stress hormones, triggers endorphins, and boosts your immune system. And most importantly… It’s fun! Find things that make you laugh – a TV comedy, a standup special, silly animal memes, those friends who leave you doubling over with laughter.
Surround yourself with reminders to not take life so seriously. Try these on for size:
- Lounge around the house in some sassy slippers
- Drink from a comical coffee mug
- Wear festive socks and reveal them to friends
- Download a silly ringtone like, “It’s Raining Men”
- Create a ‘humor only’ text thread with like-minded friends and giggle throughout your day
Find ways to laugh off things that would normally stress you out. This is not about tricking yourself into unnatural emotions, it’s about becoming a joy detective in life. It’s hard to feel down when you’re in between chuckles.
Reenergize Your Environment
Does your space inspire you? You’re probably spending more time at home during these months, so it’s extra important to feel well with your surroundings. Objects bring in energy, whether we’re conscious of it or not. Walk through your home with fresh eyes and ask yourself how you feel – in your bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, etc. You might be surprised by what you discover. Really listen to your body, what feels heavy, what feels light?
Eliminate any clutter that tends to weigh you down. Replace boring objects that have no purpose with things that spark joy – a family photo, a beautiful piece of art, or a motivational quote. Instead of thinking of your home as just a residence, view it as a sanctuary.
Hydrate
Don’t let the simplicity of this one fool you. Because our brains are made up of almost 75% water, dehydration not only impacts our body, but our mood.
Water your brain even though you don’t feel thirsty. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Leave them around the places you frequent as reminders, like in your car and by your bed. If creating this new habit is still a challenge, set a reminder on your phone to have some h2o every couple of hours.
Get Comfortable
Treat yourself like a baby – soft blankets, fuzzy socks, pillows that make you smile as you sink into them. And make sure you stay warm! If you’re frozen from the winter weather after battling outdoor elements, address that first and foremost.
Have a nice hot tea that’s warm and soothing. Enjoy a tranquil bath with lavender bath salt to relax your muscles and tell your brain it’s time to unwind. By warming your body, you’ll warm your soul.
Exercise
First of all, let’s acknowledge that it can be hard to exercise when we feel melancholy. We’re lacking energy, motivation, and it probably feels a little more challenging to get to the gym. But keep in mind that by exercising, you’ll boost your mood and your body will thank you. So do your very best to just get up and get moving.
Tell yourself all you have to do is get to the gym. Or pull on a yoga DVD and make a mini goal to just complete five minutes. If that’s all you do, it’s better than nothing! But more than likely when your body gets warmed up, you’ll want to keep going. And if you prefer to workout outdoors, don’t let mild weather conditions stop you. Hop over to this blog post and learn How to Workout in Cold Weather.
Get Quality Sleep
Being inactive and getting quality rest is completely different. Even if you’re a little down and haven’t moved much, you can still feel exhausted. Quality sleep will recharge you mentally and physically, giving you the energy and stamina to do these mood-boosting tips throughout your day.
If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try these things:
- Eliminate screens at night – no phone, TV, or tablets.
- Try a sound machine to eliminate any noises – inside or outside of your home.
- A sleep mask will keep your eyes protected from any light coming through your window.
- No sugar or caffeine after 4 pm.
- Try meditation to help you wind down.
We’re all about optimal sleep around here. Check out Better Sleep for All 5 Senses and 4 Ways to Improve Your Bedroom for Better Sleep.
Use Food as Fuel
How is your diet? Are you eating foods that support your body and brain health? Or are you binging on junk food, having high spikes of energy, then crashing down into a depressive state? Be hyper aware of what you’re feeding your body and how it makes you feel.
Avoid:
- Added sugar
- White bread – do you have any intolerances to wheat?
- Excessive caffeine
- Processed food
- Too many low-fat foods – your body needs good fat!
Add:
- Organic fruits
- Clean vegetables (don’t drench them in sauces)
- Good fats
- Lean protein
- Lots of water
You probably know ALL of this, but until the changes are made, we need to hear them over and over again until they stick. Don’t strive for perfection, aim for improvement.
The important thing to remember is that nothing will change if we keep doing the same thing over and over again – Einstein defined that as insanity! Do your best to change things up, little by little. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel and before you know it, these new habits will become the norm!
