After the excitement of the holidays, around comes January and February with their cold temperatures and gray skies. It’s no wonder why many people suffer from the Winter Blues. If you’re one of them, read on for six ways you can reset your attitude so you’re ready to take on the world instead of retreating from it.
1. Exercise
It can be as simple as just moving around more. You can make up your own indoor routines or download any of the free apps that can get your blood pumping and your mood elevated. A brisk walk or run outside works, too, preferably in the sunshine!
2. Meditate
Though hearing the word “meditation” often conjures images of sitting cross-legged by candlelight with incense burning and New Age music playing softly, that is just one path to achieving the ultimate goal of meditation: refocusing your thoughts so that you’re present in each moment. You’re not thinking about the laundry that needs to be done or the dread of an upcoming performance review. You’re just breathing in and out, focusing on where you are in the moment. New to this? Here are some great tips to get started with meditation from Psychology Today.
3. Rest Up
Your mood and outlook on life are greatly affected by the quality of your sleep. Sleep experts agree that for better rest, create the right environment in your bedroom. That means keeping the TV off and using soft lighting. For optimal sleep, crawl into bed only when you’re truly ready to get some shut eye.
Here are some other proven tips for getting better sleep:
-
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and/or nicotine within a few hours of bedtime.
-
Restrict what happens in your bedroom to bedroom activities, like sleep.
-
Can’t sleep? If you’re not asleep after 20 or so minutes, get up and go to another room. Try reading a little or maybe listen to some relaxing music. Avoid getting on your phone to check the news or social media! Blue light from electronics can stimulate your brain, making it harder to relax and fall asleep.
4. Eat Healthy
Have you noticed that you’re craving carbohydrates more in the winter? You’re not alone. Because carbohydrates release serotonin - aka the happy hormone – it tracks that during the bleak days of winter, we seek out the quick fix that carbs can provide. The trick is to swap out “simple” carbs like sweets and starches for “complex” carbs you’ll find in nuts and fibrous vegetables.
5. Learn Something New
Take up a hobby or tackle the challenge of learning a different language. Or consider taking advantage of free, short courses available on LinkedIn, Coursera, or Udemy.
6. Read More
Losing yourself in a good book is a great way to escape the winter doldrums. Why read instead of just watching a TV show or a movie? One big benefit is that reading requires your undivided attention, actively engaging your brain in ways that passively watching simply can’t.
These are just a few of the ways you can get through the year’s first two months without succumbing to the Winter Blues. If learning something new caught your eye, we offer podcasts and a ton of posts on our blog. Visit our resource center to see everything we offer.
