Okay, it’s February …. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel of winter. The days are starting to get longer, but many of these winter days have been so dark, dreary and rainy! I think many people struggle with the darkness of the shorter days and the clouds and and freezing cold … bleh. On top of that, there is general anxiety of the flu, pneumonia, and the much talked about coronavirus! The “winter blues” is a real thing, something that many people battle. So what can we do around our house and in general to help us get through these last days of winter before going bonkers!?
Find the light. In your home, open up those windows, and when the sun is actually shining, go stand in it! Soak in the vitamin D, because your body is craving it. Something to consider to soak in more vitamin D, which may be a touchy topic, lay off the sunscreen once in a while. This was brought to my attention when we discovered my daughter had a vitamin D deficiency. I had slathered her up since birth because of her pale skin and pale blue eyes, in fear of sunburn. After repeat issues with a broken L5 and then a broken hand, we had a blood test that revealed the deficiency. Her doctor’s prescription? Go soak up the sun for at least 20-30 minutes a day, with zero sunscreen. That was an aha moment for me. You can also look into a vitamin D supplement if you think this may be part of your struggle.
Get your heart pumping. I got sick awhile back and totally fell off the wagon. It’s really hard, and even harder to get motivated to get back into the routine. But this is all a mental challenge. Anyone on the planet can make the decision to get up and move. Once you do, it really is an energy and mood enhancer. You feel better emotionally and physically. I’m a big fan of investing in at least one or two winter friendly outfits that withstand the cold, as it really does boost your mood to get outside and exercise. If that’s not possible, head to a gym and get into a routine. Don’t have a gym nearby? Hop on the world wide web, or download an app, and see the numerous exercises that you can do right in your living room that will produce the same results at home.
Get organized and purge. Take the extra hours of darkness to get your house in order. Clean out that closet, purge drawers and toys, and donate it or give it away to family members that can use it. When spring arrives, you’ll be happy to be dealing with less clutter. Less clutter in your home equates to functioning more at ease in your home.
I really enjoy diffusing oils, especially in the winter for some reason. Many candles are too strong and give me a headache, so this is a good alternative for me. There are some oils that are recommended for battling the blues, such as bergamot, ylang ylang, jasmine, and patchouli.
Figure out what works for you to rise above the lull of the dreary winter. Another thing that many people like to do in this downtime is start exploring homes and plans for the spring, when they’re thinking of moving or building. Use this downtime to get your game plan together and get some ideas rolling. Browse our site and blog for lots of inspirational photos that can get your creative juices flowing, and reach out to Emily or Lisa if you have any questions at all! A great place to start with all of this is to fill out our Customer Worksheet and we can start moving forward from there.