5 Tips for Staying Happy in the Winter

Hi, friends! I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve written a post, although I don’t think that it’s actually been thaaaat long. I’m finally finished with exams! Yay! My first semester of my junior year of college is over with! I am SO happy about it. But y’all, if I’m being real with you, the fall semester is always really hard on me because once  winter hits I get sad like no other. I’ve slowly but surely  been finding ways to not let it get me so down.

1. I know when it’s so dang cold out, all you want to do is cuddle up and hole up in your house for the day (or for days and days and days) but it’s SO important to get outside and get some exercise. Now listen, I’m not saying to go outside in the middle of the blizzard or when it’s -20 out. What I’m saying is that when you’re inside for so long, you may get cabin fever without even noticing it. I grumble and groan at myself when I decide to go for a walk in the winter, but once I’m out there I feel so invigorated and happy. Bonus if your town puts pretty Christmas decorations downtown that you can admire.
2.  This is one that I’ve realized sort of recently. And boy, does it pain me. But here it is: comfort food only comforts you for so long. I’ve been eating like complete garbage lately, almost forgetting what fruits and vegetables are, and I really think it’s bringing my mood down. It’s making me feel all sorts of lethargic, which is already something that I’m dealing with come wintertime. I will keep you updated if I find any food that gives me some energy during these cold months.
3. This may just be me, but the kind of lighting a room has changes my mood so much, be it positive, or be it negative. I remember living in the dorms and feeling so sad because the lights in my room reminded me of a doctor’s office. We can’t always change the kind of overhead lights we have, but my favorite thing to do is to put Christmas lights all over the house and use those instead. Or lamps! When I was a kid, my mom used to call our overhead lights our “mean” lights, and our little lamps our “nice” lights, which I still find to be true to this day.
4. Now this one may be the hardest pill to swallow. It’s something that I never would have even thought of had my therapist told me it. It’s to not hang out in your bed unless you are actively trying to sleep. If you lie around in your bed all day your body gets used to it and it will make it harder for you to go to sleep.  Now who doesn’t love being snuggled up in their bed??? This one was super hard for me, but now I just make myself a little nest on the couch and it’s ALMOST just as good.
5. Last but not least, be easy on yourself! In the winter it’s so easy to get depressed and to get down on ourselves for not being as productive as we could be. That’s why it’s important for us to celebrate the tasks we are able to do. My last day of exams I was so exhausted that my goal for the night was to take a shower and to work on the scarf I was knitting. It’s important to remember that we are only human, and we can’t be performing 100% all the time. It’s just not realistic.

 

Do y’all have any tips? I would love to hear them! Have a great Saturday!

XOXO,

Mattie Mae