Winter is rolling in fast. Keeping your spirits up is a big part of surviving winter. After the holidays come and go we have months of grey days ahead. Every year I get a bad case of seasonal depression and I know I am not alone.
Besides the requisite sun lamp, here are a few things I do to stay positive and in a good mood.
♥ Exercise. I know you aren’t trying to hear that…but it’s true. If you do nothing else. Exercise.
♥ Nice smelling candles, lip balm and hand lotion. This is my mood-lifting trifecta. If I have these three things nearby, I feel instantly better.
♥ Oxytocin laced pet cuddles. Got kitties?
♥ Naps. Even a quick weekend 10 minute nap helps.
♥ Yummy herbal tea. Peppermint, chamomile, and rooibos chai are my faves.
♥ Colbie Caillat. I don’t know why but this gal’s music makes me feel happy!
♥ Journaling. Set the timer for ten minutes a day and stream of conscious write your thoughts. It is awesome! Try it for 30 days!
♥ Stay away from refined sugar, and processed food. I know you know, but if you struggle with depression of any kind, these foods are the worst.
♥ Two minute daily meditation. Little short bursts of calm breathing can alter your mood like nothing else.
♥ Resist drama. Serious. Nothing sends me into emotional upheaval like other people’s drama. Gah. No!
♥ Read some old favorites. My top three: Jane Eyre, Gone with the Wind, and the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
♥ Two words…Bubble. Bath.
I hope some of these help keep your mood uplifted and ready for a long and lovely winter!
