9 Simple Tips For Getting Through Winter

Photo: AS.

It’s amazing how a simple sunny day can brighten our whole mood.  If you live in a part of the world, where in the wintertime, lack of sunlight and cold temperatures can go on for days, it can have a significant effect on our mood.  Here are some simple tips and fun ideas to make your days brighter and happier during the winter months.

Tip # 1: Move your Body  

Exercise is not only good for the body, but it’s also extremely helpful to our mental and emotional health.  It relieves stress, floods our bodies with feel good endorphins, and has an overall relaxing yet energizing effect on the body, mind and spirit.

Tip # 2: Essential Oils

Essential oils are a good way to enhance our well being and take care of ourselves during the cold, dark days.  Think citrus, such as orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit notes…. Pick your favorite or make your own unique blend.  Orange essential oil has been noted to improve mood. Simply carry it with you for an instant pick me up…Or combine it with a little sunflower oil and massage it into your limbs and arms.  You can even add it to some sugar or salt and exfoliate  in the shower….A little self care is sometimes all we need....Ooo La La!

Tip # 3: Green Inspiration

Take a trip to your nearest botanical garden or greenhouse. It’s relaxing, uplifting and restorative to be surrounded by the beauty of exotic plants and the soft, balmy air of places like these.  During the winter, many botanical gardens host a flower show.  Here in Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens host their annual spring show.  The entire building smells like a bouquet of flowers.  It's one of my favorite places.  Or if you’d like to take a little bit of Spring home with you, many greenhouses and grocery stores begin selling spring flowers like paper whites, tulips, hyacinth and daffodils.  

Tip #4: Let There Be Light 

During the winter, we want to capitalize on all the sunshine we can find.  Why not make it a point while getting coffee or having lunch, to sit by a sunny window.   And so it goes for cloudy days as well.  It’s much brighter next to a window and the light has an accumulative effect.  Bring a friend along, savor each sip of coffee, take a few moments to read a book, or just be in the moment, but see how quickly the body relaxes and the mood lifts in the presence of warmth and light.

Tip #5: Stay In Touch

So that cabin fever doesn't take us over, it’s important to get out of the house and surround ourselves with new environments, friends, and a change of scenery…Hang out with friends, host a dinner party, visit a museum or go to a local coffee house....You never know who you’ll meet, what fun exchange you’ll have or what can happen. 

Tip #7: Stay Warm

It's sounds a little cliche " don't forget your hat and gloves" as we were reminded when we were little ones. But there's nothing like the right gear: warm gloves, a good pair of boots (with non - slip treads), and a cozy hat, to buffer against the elements!  

Tip #8: Plan Your Garden

One of my favorite things to do in winter is to start planning my garden.  I begin thinking of all the herbs in my garden and their fragrance that follows as I walk past.  It's a lot of fun going to the local store to pick out my seeds:  plum tomatoes, arugula, spring mix, cucumbers, green beans.  And the flowers: blue morning glories, shasta daisies, white and pink cosmos, giant zinnia, bright red poppies and mammoth sunflowers.

Tip #9: When in Rome 
As the saying goes " if you can't beat 'em, join them".  So, it might be helpful to go out and have a little fun in the cold and the snow!  There is something very empowering when we surrender to what is.  So go ahead.  Go outside.  Throw that snowball, build that snowman or just let yourself wander through a park or the nearest woods and take in the beauty that winter offers!

Wishing you Beautiful, Happy Days!

Copyright 2013