Winter Blues and 5 Ways Combat the Blues this Winter

Winter Blues and 5 Ways Combat the Blues this Winter

It’s that time of year again, and no, I’m not talking about Christmas, but rather, that time of year where the winter blues start to rear its ugly head. Depending on where you live, and what the weather is like, the winter blues and their timing can vary, but if you spend the majority of your winter under a pile of blankets, hiding from the cold (and life in general), then, I’m sure you’re familiar with it’s presence.winter-blues-blue-sky-papers

At first you may not recognize what you’re feeling as the winter blues, but instead account it to just a few ‘off days’ or lazy nights in…however, the blues can creep up on you fast and become an isolating lifestyle, and even more serious- full blown depression.

If you find yourself sleeping more than normal, overly cranky, avoiding social events and people (more than usual) and feeling depressed/anxious, when you are otherwise generally happy, healthy and maintain an active lifestyle- you may have a case of the winter blues. I’m not a doctor or anything, so you should, of course- consult one if you think this is you, but I have personally found a few things that help me during my seasons of winter blues.

I try to take note of the signs and symptoms as they start to pop up, and then I push myself to-do these five things to help combat the winter blues. Nothing revolutionary, actually, rather ordinary, mundane tasks that helps keep my life simple, a running smoothly (as smooth as life allows). No magic tricks, just old-fashion daily self-care to keep yourself from going down the slippery slope of depression.

5 Ways to Combat the Winter Blues

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  1. Healthy Routines and diet

When the winter blues start to show up, it is now more than ever important for you to start being more mindful of your daily routines, what you’re putting in your body, and how you are taking care of yourself. Getting enough rest, drinking enough water, and getting plenty of nutrients is vital when your mental and immune systems are weak. And despite how hard it is in the winter, with all of it’s festivities, try to avoid the junk and sugar, it truly will make a difference.

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  1. Journaling

Journaling, I believe is the next best thing to a therapist. I have always enjoyed pouring out my emotions onto the pages of a journal, I find it very therapeutic. Unloading your frustrations into a journal, rather than other areas of your life is always a healthy idea, but a journal isn’t just meant for venting, but also, dreaming and scheming! When you’re feeling the winter blues, use your journal to focus on the good in your life, because when you focus on the good, the good gets better, promise!

(Shop our selection of handmade leather journals to find the perfect one for you!)

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  1. Help someone else

When you’re feeling down, the best and quickest way to turn that frown around is by helping someone else. Even in the smallest ways can be profound. It can be with someone you know, or a complete stranger. The thing is, EVERYONE is silently facing some sort of battle (or something) unseen in their life, so- a small gesture of kindness will make a bigger impact than you will ever truly know. Doing the ‘right’ thing and helping someone else will, if only for a moment, help you forget about your problems/sadness in your own life.

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  1. Soak up the sun when you can

Depending on where you live, this can be tough, but when you get the chance, chase that pocket of sunshine, feel the warmth of the sun on your cheeks and let your lungs breath in the harsh winter air! It will remind you of how alive you are, and that even in the coldest/darkest of days the sun always rises, and you will too! So take an extra loop around the block when you check the mail to get the blood pumping and your daily dose of vitamin D in.

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  1. Start something new.

Today is as good of a day as ever to try something new. I am one of those people that always has something I have been wanting to do, but if you aren’t, then force yourself to find something new to do, even if you’ll be bad at it. The point is to push yourself out of your comfort zone and out of your funk. Most people stick to what they know, and what is easiest (no wonder we end up bored and depressed scrolling Instagram for entertainment), so push yourself to do something different this winter. Maybe instead of Netflix and chill, you read and relax, or try a new restaurant, or go ice skating for the first time, something- anything, just something new/different for you!

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