Beat the winter blues
The darker days can cause our moods to swing to a darker place as well. You might notice your energy starting to go down and might not feel like doing much at all. How do you beat this? Luckily there is no need to just wait it out until summer starts again. Try and beat the winter blues with these tips!
1. Go out for a walk
It helps a great deal to simply go outside for a walk every day. There is less light in winter and chances are you spend most of the day inside an office. Shortage of light is one of the main causes of a winter depression. So, try and take a short walk out in the daylight every day to brighten your mood. Your lunch break could be the ideal time to do this. As you have more time on the weekends, try to spend a bit more time on your walk as well. Maybe go to a local forest! It doesn’t even have to be sunny. Being out in the fresh air and daylight has a big effect on your mood.
2. Get your exercise in
While it might be hard to gather the energy and will to go for a workout, it is important to try. You will already feel an effect on your mood after just 10 minutes of exercise a day. Not too keen on the idea of daily exercise? Try to start with a short workout once or twice a week and build from there.
3. Stay in touch with friends
In summer we tend to socialize and hang out with friends a lot. It’s a shame that winter causes us to retreat into our homes. While outdoor activities can simply be more inviting in summer, there is no need to isolate ourselves in winter. Try cooking together with friends for example. This so-called ‘culinary therapy’ is a recognized method to improve mental health, so why not combine it with seeing your friends over the phone or in real life.
4. Try and learn something new
Trying something new or learning a new skill can help to improve your mental state. You don’t have to be good at it, just the effort of trying will leave you with a positive feeling. Moreover, learning is linked to optimism. It’s proven that challenging your brain, with things like learning a new language or learning how to play a new instrument, will help you to feel happier and less stressed.
5. Plan something to look forward to
If all you want is for the cold days to disappear, try and plan something fun. Having something to look forward to will help to keep your spirits up. Plan for a few weeks ahead and you will have weeks to enjoy the positive experience of looking forward to the event.
TEA TOWELS
US$26.60
These Weltevree Tea Towels can also serve as a game board for Ludo or checkers. Create your own tokens and challenge your opponent(s) to a game. Any snack bowls, wine glasses or other dishes can wait until after the game, because whoever loses has to do the dishes and dry them off. Rather use a clean towel? They come in a set of two, so you’ll always have a clean tea towel at hand. Our Tea Towels are produced in Portugal and made from 100% organic cotton.