How to Beat the Winter Blues to Be Happily Productive & Motivated

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“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet

Winters can be really fun and at the same time make life sometimes feel really bleak. Reduced outdoor time & even lesser sunlight can make you feel down in the dumps. But with a bit of creative thinking, it’s actually rather quite simple to beat the winter blues.

Awareness is the first step towards any solution. What are the things that can make you feel sluggish & moody in the winters?

• Does it feel dull after all the energy & excitement of the festive season?
• Is it the darker days, freezing weather, and life-on-hold vibe all around?
• Or, is it something else?

But the more important question is what can you do about it?

So, here are 19 practical ideas that will help you beat the winter blues. Choose the ones that work for you & use the rest to inspire more ideas better suited to your style and needs.

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Sections/Navigation

• What causes winter blues
• 19 ideas to beat the winter blues
• Motivational quotes to deal with the blues better
• Helpful tips for seniors

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What ‘beat the winter blues’ means:

Shorter days, less sunlight, fewer outdoor hours, & lull after the amped up festive vibe makes many of us feel down in the dumps. It becomes a struggle to function at our normal level, fatigue sets in, motivation runs low, and it becomes tough to maintain a positive mindset. That’s what is generally called the winter blues.

Though it generally clears up on its own in 3-4 months, the better option is to make little tweaks to our lifestyle & beat the winter blues.

It means, taking up the responsibility for our own happiness, getting to the root of what’s pulling your mood down, and doing something about it. Beat the winter blues means looking for solutions, committing to take action, and staying aware to appreciate every little win along the way.

Persistent action turns into a habit. And if you stick to your intention of seeing this through, maintaining the right perspective to appreciate life and being alive to the beauty around you will become an effortless attitude.

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19 how to beat the winter blues ideas:

1.         Add a goal to the day

Manage your mood by managing your time right. Instead of starting the day with checking your e-mails & social media feed, begin it by setting intentions for your day.

Starting the day right will generally set the tone for the rest of your day. Don’t let it be governed by what you receive in the mail…unpredictable at best!

A purposeful day with at least one intentional goal will help you get into a more positive mood by

• shifting your focus away from your mood to something productive outside, and
• reaching that mini-goal will bring you a sense of accomplishment brighten your mood. It’s something that our brain sees as a reward and so will motivate you to aim for more such meaningful days.

2.         Limit the layers

Warm & cozy is good. But if your clothes are making you feel bogged down physically, they most probably are pulling your mood down too. Limit the layers of clothing with either body warmers & fleece clothing or warm up from within.

Try out those dry nutty recipes. Use more ginger and garlic. Ginger & garlic have great healing powers. Replace sugar with honey to warm up & shift to a healthier diet. It will boost your health and immunity. Hot cocoa and dark chocolate after dinner for a good night’s sleep.

3.         Slow down to beat the winter blues

Take a cue from nature and slow down. Enjoy every hot meal, time spent around the crackling warm fireplace, hot cup of goodness held between your hands, and be mindful of what you feel, see, smell, taste, & hear. Notice how beautifully different the world looks around you in winter.

It will take your thoughts away from how everything seems so dull and focus it more on the good things you have in your life.

Slow down & pamper yourself. Lounge a bit longer in that hot bath. Enjoy a movie marathon or binge-watch your favorite show on Netflix with a big bowl of popcorn.

Go for a head-to-toe massage or enjoy a day with friends at the spa. Relax, stretch out, and become mindful of how much potential for life even the cold winter months have.

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4.         Get cozy inside & out

Wrap up those cold feet in knit blankets while lounging on the sofa. Sip on a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of hot mulled wine. Wrap a cozy shawl around your shoulders to feel warm & comforted.

Spend some time around your fireplace. The comforting sounds, warmth, & smoky aroma of crackling fire reduces blood pressure & relax our brain. This effect is scientifically backed by a study by Lynn CD from the Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama.

5.         Plan a vacation

Plan a vacation, every detail, even if you can’t have that luxury before summers. Research has shown that even the anticipation of a vacation can make us feel happier.

Else, strike something off of your bucket list. Wanted to start a new hobby or project? Plan how you would go about it. And if possible, get a head start on it.

Plan something or do something for yourself that you have been meaning to do ‘someday when I’ve more time’.

6.         Detox

We end up with unwanted chemical buildup in our body because of our lifestyle, the food we eat, the medicines we take, and even the cleaning products we use around the house.

This toxic buildup affects our mood too.

Go for a gentle body detox during the winters to feel rejuvenated & calm. Relax with an apple cider vinegar foot bath or replace a few cups of coffee with different blends of green tea to detoxify & stay warm.

Wash away unwanted toxins & stay hydrated with a variety of detox waters that you can put together in a couple of minutes.

Go for a digital detox to control how much & what kind of emotions you expose yourself to while online. Mute or unfollow those that make you feel lagging behind somehow no matter what you do, jealous, or too emotionally charged up.

Assign time for screen time & stick to it. Because long screen times adversely affect our mood & energy level. If you ever felt tired after browsing too long on your phone, you’ll know this is true.

7.         Get your party on

Plan a pajama party and watch back-to-back movies cuddled up in your cozy comforter. Take your pick from rom-com, sci-fi, horror, or whatever does the trick for you.

If you feel up for it, invite a couple of your best buddies over for a beat-the-winter-blues party & go crazy. Peppy music, delicious food, & crazy fun games have a way of lifting the mood like no other.

8.         Comfort food to beat the winter blues

Make mealtimes work for your mood. Instead of ordering your standard takeaway, opt for filling comfort food. Hot nourishing meals are good for your health & mood too. Swipe your usual drink with red wine.

Get a few simple recipes of your favorite comfort food & try them out. They are mostly easier to make than they sound. Spending some unhurried time in the kitchen can help you relax too.

Plus, the feeling of accomplishment when you are at the table later with your dish is rewarding & really good for your mood. If you aren’t a very good cook, just go gentle on yourself & appreciate the effort.

9.         The aroma of happiness

Smell is very closely connected with our memories.

Ever had that experience when some random smell took you back to a memory you didn’t even realize you remembered and all of a sudden it feels so real as if it happened just yesterday? That’s how powerful the connection of smell is to memories & feelings.

Mix up a blend of mood-enhancing room sprays with essential oils or buy the ready-made ones. You can always search online & find the ones that suit your budget. If it’s safe to keep lighted candles in your home, you can get some scented ones too for a double mood-boosting effect.

10.       Add some music to your life

Give a hint to your brain how bleak things feel, and it will follow your command showing you the negative side of everything that happens with you.

Turn on your favorite happy song or just some peppy music to focus on the good that never leaves bad alone.

A study by Yuna Ferguson published in The Journal of Positive Psychology shows that peppy, positive music can boost up our mood significantly.

11.       Catch up

Catch up with people who bring out the best in you, motivate you, and are there with a compassionate ear. Surround yourself with people who value & appreciate you.

Take care not to stretch your emotional vulnerability spending time with toxic people who can send your mood down a negative spiral. Step away from those who get under your skin or irritate you. It’s better to keep your life uncomplicated.

It might sound selfish especially if they ‘need’ your company, but you would be able to help them far better when more emotionally stable.

12.       Volunteer

Volunteer at the local soup kitchen, church, old age home, pet shelter, or whatever brings a sense of purpose for you. It will keep you engaged & shift your focus from feeling down in the dumps to something active & pleasurable.

Not only will you be helping others feel better but would also be doing a lot of good to your emotional wellbeing.

13.       Go out to beat the winter blues

Just being around people outside can shift your focus away from your thoughts & clear your mind.

Go for a relaxed stroll in the neighborhood park or nearby trail. The fresh air and serenity will calm your mind, energize your body, & soothe your soul.

Layer up and go ice skating or for a snow fight. Make a snowman or snow angels. It’s not silly if it makes you feel better. Go to winter festivals or visit nearby museums.

Why not check out some of the city walk tours? You can explore food, art, heritage, or any other thing to strike off your bucket list.

14.       Stretch & breathe

Exercise can make you feel good emotionally.

According to Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “In people who are depressed, neuroscientists have noticed that the hippocampus in the brain—the region that helps regulate mood—is smaller. Exercise supports nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, improving nerve cell connections, which helps relieve depression.”

If you aren’t in the habit of exercising daily, it can seem like a chore. Start with a few lazy day exercises and gradually build up on that. The winter blues can make it tough to get out of your pajamas & into your gym gear. So instead, do some basic stretching & modulated breathing exercises at home.

Doing chores around the house, organizing, de-cluttering and redecorating can keep you active in the winter without actually having to exercise.

15.       Light matters

One of the big reasons behind winter mood is the lack of light. Sunlight is scarce & daylight hours are shorter. As we spend more time indoors because of the cold outside, bring in as much natural light into your living space as possible.

Let maximum light possible flow in through the windows by using sheer floaty fabrics for window curtains and removing everything from window sills or in front of it. Add heavy blinds that you can pull down at night to retain heat.

Amplify the light streaming in by placing a mirror or something with a shiny reflective surface opposite your window. Try to choose your fixtures & decor items with glossy surfaces to maximize the light reflected.

Light up the fireplace, add fairy lights or candles if safe to add a warm yellow glow when the sun goes down.

16.       Make your home work

Home should be a place where you feel relaxed, safe, & comforted. Since we spend more time here in the winters, so it makes sense to mindfully create a home environment that brings in joy & comfort.

To create a warm & inviting atmosphere add bright colored elements like a fiery orange showpiece, warm yellow cushions, brightly colored throws & rugs. If possible, add wooden features to add more warmth to an otherwise minimalistic setting.

Light up candles in tealight houses (safer option) or put up fairy lights in corners. How about bulbs on a string in your yard or front porch that you can see through the windows?

Add some floor cushions & a knit throw on the couch. Get creative & add touches to your home that brings in the essence of hygge, an environment that feels like a warm hug.

“Love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.”

– Maya Angelou

17.       Let the outdoors flow in

Nature, especially greenery, has a way of lifting the mood, relaxing our nerves, and add a touch of positivity. Add flowers, berries, leaves, & branches to your decor to let the outdoors flow in. Wooden accents add a touch of a cozy feel.

Get some indoor plants or bring in those from your garden or porch that won’t survive the harsh winter outdoors.

Plants not only clean indoor air but the splashes of green & life will boost your mood too. If you are not much of a plant person, choose the ones that are hard to kill & will survive a lot of neglect like the snake plant.

18.       Indoor air quality

We usually tend to keep the doors and windows tightly shut to keep the draft out. But after a while, the air indoors becomes stale and starts affecting mood and our general feeling of wellbeing. You get an uncomfortable feeling without being able to put a finger on what it really is.

Keep an option of ventilation at least in your bedroom and the room where you spend most of your time.

If not possible, then open up the windows a bit and let fresh air flow in even if only for 5 minutes at a  time.

It will make you feel a lot better immediately. You can also put in an air purifier or indoor plants that clean air but nothing works like fresh air.

19.       Hydrate to beat the winter blues

Even if not feeling thirsty, it’s important to stay properly hydrated to keep functioning normally. Lack of proper hydration can make us irritable, snappy, get a headache, & generally feel miserable.

Winters might make you feel less thirsty, but since the human body is 60% water, drinking enough water is really important to keep looking & feeling good.

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Quotes to beat the winter blues

Here are some nuggets of wisdom & motivation to give you a more positive view of life when winter starts to pull the mood down.

1.         “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” –Edith Sitwell

2.         “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – JK Rowling

“The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.”

– Oliver Wendell Holmes

4.         “Love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.” – Maya Angelou

5.         “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”  – John Steinbeck

Related:

Inspirational quotes for success: How to keep your goals on track

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How to beat the winter blues for seniors

A bit different approach may be needed to beat the winter blues for seniors because of other added health concerns for some of them.

Getting out of the house & being around people helps, as does exercise even if it is simple stretching & breathing routines. Mood-boosting room sprays, a crackling fireplace, hot drinks, knit blankets, and favorite cheerful music can help a lot.

If waking up properly in the dark cold mornings is a problem, you can try getting a dawn simulator for around $50 that gradually brightens the lights in a room. It will make waking up & getting out of bed easier in the morning.

Pick up a new hobby or restart an old one to shift the focus away from those depressing thoughts. If possible, volunteer where you can. It will benefit someone and make you feel good too.

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Slow down. Bring back the focus on a healthier lifestyle, calmer mind, supportive family, friends worth keeping, good things in your life, and the beauty around you.

It’s really simple to beat the winter blues when you pause, analyze, & try to get to the root of things pulling your mojo down.

We may not always be in control of the situations we find ourselves in life, but we always have the power to choose how to respond to it.

Important:

These ideas are not meant as a treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Please seek specialized advice from your medical practitioner in case you have serious issues.

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Which of these did you find most helpful? Let’s talk about it in the comments below…meet you over there 😊

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