Winter Blues Battle Plan: Fusing Together The Cold With Our Souls
Raise your hand if you are tired of wearing layers of clothes! Raise your other hand if you’re so over being stuck inside and not being able to enjoy the sunshine and your shorts! I don’t know about you but here in the Midwest it’s been into the single digits and I, for one, am SICK OF IT. I love winter for about a day, right after the first snowfall, and then I’m done with all the frosty merriment and am anxiously awaiting spring’s arrival. I’m an outdoors person and by that I mean I love it when it’s warm and I can get outside to enjoy working on my tan and sitting on the mower, being productive. Fall is another season that I love because I can get out into the woods to find my favorite hunting spot and sit in a tree for hours on end, watching the wonders of wildlife all around me.
Regardless though, staying cooped up inside can affect not only your physical condition but also your emotional and mental states as well. I have a few favorite remedies for the winter blues that I would like to share with you. Although they aren’t for everyone, you might just find something here that you can use to snap you out of the “cold snap” that we all fall into from season to season.
Take A Hike
I stumbled upon this awesome state park when we were in Wisconsin last year. It was a two mile trek back to the most amazingly HUGE waterfall ever.
One sure fire way for me to feel better mentally is to get outside and breathe in some fresh air. The number one way I do that is to either find a new hiking trail that I’ve never been on before or just head out into the woods behind the house. If I am staying close to home, I’ll trek on familiar terrain so I don’t really have to think about where I’m going or how to get back. For me, there’s just something about being out in nature that is not only peaceful but also brings me back to that childlike innocence of adventure and exploration where real life chaos has no place. Either way, being in tune with the sounds of nature, as well as the crisp clean smell of untouched air, is not only calming to the spirit but also invigorating to the soul. Nothing wakes you up inside like being in the middle of God’s brilliance.
Read A Book
Now anyone that knows me knows that I HATE to read. It’s not that I hate to really but it’s the sitting still for very long that I can’t seem to do. Occasionally, I will see a book that I really have a desire to take the time to read and I’ll either go online or make a trip to my favorite bookstore, Barnes and Noble, and pick it up. It definitely has to be something that I’ve been dying to read but on those days that I don’t feel like getting out and about, snuggling in a warm bed with my pj’s on, with a cup of coffee and a good book is just a perfect solution to spending time in a productive way. At least you are gaining more knowledge, right?
Schedule Yourself a Pedicure or Manicure
I am not one to spend money frivolously but from time to time it just feels good to have pretty feet and hands. In saying that I just realized that I implied that such luxuries are frivolous which I absolutely take back. For ME, it’s hard to spend money on myself with things that I don’t normally keep up with. When it comes to makeup, hair, and nails you can count me out when it comes to upkeep. That being said, I love to occasionally treat myself to a full on pedicure where my feet get dipped in hot wax and my callouses buffed out. Nothing compares to smooth skin and perfectly painted toenails. I am one of THOSE people that never take my polish off. I just continue to add layers of polish until you need a stick of dynamite to remove it. My daughter will testify to the fact that when it comes to Nail Polishing 101, I am a “fashion don’t” and desperately need to go back to class on that.
Hot Yoga
Yoga is fun to try but HOT YOGA is just flat out amazing and if you’re looking for a way to uplift your mood, this is a definite must. Now I will warn you ahead of time that the room is over 100 degrees so if you aren’t able to handle temps like that hot yoga might not be for you.
Along with the temperature another thing that might cause you hesitation is that you are not allowed to take cell phones in the actual yoga room. Obviously the classes are for meditation and clearing your mind in order to focus and channel your thoughts to your flow. If you’re constantly interrupted by phone notifications then you will not only distract yourself and hinder the purpose you are in class for but also distract others whose time is just as valuable as yours. For me, I love the separation because I am tied to my phone WAAAAAY too much and this FORCES me to cut the cord for 80 minutes.
I’ve been to several studios but Sumits Hot Yoga Studio in Springfield, Missouri is my all-time favorite. If you have never tried hot yoga and you think you’re up for it my recommendation is that it’s something everyone should try at least once.
Create Something
Sometimes when I want to lift my spirits or get out of the doldrums of seasonal depression, I will go into my creative place and make something for someone else. For me, that might mean sewing a quilt for someone’s birthday or special holiday. It might also mean beginning a completely new craft that I’ve never done before. I am famous for starting a hobby and not knowing a thing about it and spend hours on Youtube just trying to figure it out.
Last summer I started canvas painting and believe me when I say I knew next to nothing about it when I started. Although I’ve purchased every paintbrush under the sun or at least every one that Hobby Lobby sells, I still have a long way to go on being fluent at it. In fact I’ll go further to say that I’m not really that good at all but I keep pressing on in hopes that one day I will be. I am certain that my husband would be thrilled if I just set my sights on something I AM good at because it would save our money in the long run. For now, however, I won’t stop until I’m at least good at it.
I love to make stuff and give it away and when there is nothing else to do except stay inside, giving a little piece of yourself away, through your talents, is the perfect way to spend your time.
Go To Your Favorite Coffee Shop
There are times when you don’t necessarily want to be around people yet you want to be around people and a cup of latte at your favorite coffee shop can be just what the doctor ordered. I’ve got a couple of favorites for sure, Mudhouse Coffee and The Press Coffee and Juice Bar. I have no problems at all sitting alone, sipping on a hot cup of Joe, just people watching or doing nothing at all.
Many times my daughter, Kirsten, and my daughter in law, Ali, will agree upon a Bible study that we are interested in doing as a group and once a week we will meet at one of these coffee shops. We study throughout the week and then on our designated, agreed upon day, we will meet for a little coffee, a little conversation, and a whole lotta God. We can catch up with each other on the latest happenings as well as learn God’s Word together as a family. It’s actually a lot of fun for all of us. If you’ve never done a Bible study like that you might want to suggest it to a few of your closest friends and give it a try. It makes the goal of learning the Bible fun and it allows you to experience other points of view and opens your mind to other ideas.
No matter what season you’re in or whatever way you choose make sure that you take care of yourself and keep out of the ditch of seasonal depression or as I like to call it the “winter funk.” I’ll be the first one to tell you that I’m miserable to be around when I can’t get outside or feel stuck when cold weather comes on. But we all have options and ways to beat the blues when we’re trapped in the house and can’t get away from the freezing temperatures and cloudy skies. Brighter days and warmer weather is right around the corner. Spring will be here before we know it but in the meantime we’ve got to keep pressing forward with good attitudes and positive outlets.
Start with showing some love today 🙂
Kelly
