Over the Christmas holidays and into New Years, the fresh snow and cooler air can be exhilarating…and then January kicks in, followed by February and March. In some parts of Northern Canada, winter lingers into late May and early June. Cold days and long nights. It can all be a bit overwhelming.
So! We put together a list of 10 things you can do to fight the winter blues!
10 Ways to fight the winter blues
- Eat foods with warm spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, cumin. All great spices that can be used in a variety of recipes, like roasted butternut squash with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg….mmmm!
- Try something new: Always wanted to try indoor climbing? Do it! What have you always wanted to try but haven’t? Now’s the time!
- Get frisky! Grab your spouse or partner and get cozy under the sheets! It’s called the afterglow from sex for a reason and it can do wonders to boost your happiness levels!
- Connect with an old friend: Ring her up, find where she is and if you can, grab a hot coffee or tea and try to re-connected. Such socializing is very helpful in winter.
- Take in the arts and live theatre: We often tend to want to hibernate during the cold months, but seeing performing arts like ballet or a play can stimulate the brain in good ways!
- Get outdoors: Whether it’s cross-country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing or a nice winter hike. Cold air is great to clear the sinuses and find some winter wonder!
- Try a diet change: Maybe not a drastic one, but maybe plant-based for a week or a month. Two great meat substitutes are tofu and jack fruit. You might find you have more energy too!
- Find some you time: After the holidays and with the hustle bustle of life, carve out a little time for you to chill out and reconnect with yourself.
- Game night! Find some friends and have a game night. Get everyone to bring over some snacks and maybe some wine? Have a good night of socializing. It’s very good for your mental health.
- Read a book or more: Go to the library or maybe Chapters or an independent local store (that’s best!) and find a book or two. Snuggle up on the couch with a good hot cup of tea or cocoa and relax…
The most important thing is to do something. Planning activities and spending time with people can help stave off SAD(Seasonally Affective Disorder) and depression during the dark winter months.
Have some other ideas? Share them with us on Twitter or Facebook and maybe we’ll re-share them too!
More Inspiration: Check out this cool article on how this man came back from paralysis.
Author: Alex Hurst is a writer for Optimyz and Silver Magazine for digital content and is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
