6 Ways to Relax and Shake the Winter Blues

I don’t know about you, but these dark and cold evenings have been getting me down recently.

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and I’ve just found myself in a bit of a funk – and I’m sure I’m not alone! Distracted and unproductive, I’m already longing for those beautiful Cornish beach days.

Well, it’s time to snap out of it and use the slow vibes of the cold season to relax and shake the Winter blues.

1. Read Your Favourite Book

Reading for pleasure reduces stress; whether it’s your favourite book from your childhood or a book you’ve read more recently that really struck a chord, read it again. Let it remind you of why you loved it the first (or second, or third) time round as you snuggle down and let yourself get lost in the pages. Bonus points for woolly socks and a cosy jumper. Oh, and a nice cup of tea.

Got any great book recommendations? Leave a comment below – I need to add to my ‘to-read’ list!

2. Try Meditation

Meditation is thought to be the art of finding happiness. Through clearing your mind and connecting with your inner emotions, you can start to focus on what’s really important in your everyday life and learn to block out distractions. Meditation takes practice, sometimes it’s difficult to learn to clear your mind completely. Discover how to meditate; give it a go, stick at it, and you may find yourself in a happier and calmer frame of mind this Winter. I’ll be giving it a go over the coming weeks too!

3. Treat Yourself to Your Favourite Meal

We all have a favourite dish – you know the one – it’s nearing dinner time and your stomach is starting to dream of that one meal. Enjoy making it, and enjoy eating it with your friends, family, or other-half.

Embrace the hygge during the colder months. In case you hadn’t heard of it, Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah apparently – you can thank me later for saving you that embarrassment!) is a largely untranslatable Danish concept. It’s centered around embracing moments that create happiness, sharing it with others, and often involves favourite meals and comfort foods.

4. Go on a Wintry Adventure

Dress up warm and get outside for some exploring! We have the motivation to do this most weekends because of the dog, but it really does help to clear your head and make you feel more positive.

Visit a new place or go on a beautiful country walk; and don’t let the weather put you off! Sometimes the most fun and crazy adventures are had in the wind and rain.

5. Write a List of All the Things You’re Grateful For

When the weather gets a little gloomy and our mood follows suit, it’s easy to forget how many great things we have going on in our lives. Take the time to make a list of all the things you’re grateful for. Your friends. Your family. Your four-legged friend. A good cuppa on a chilly evening. When you see these things written down on paper, it begins to lift the gloom.

I did this at the weekend after a couple of miserable days and it definitely helped me get some perspective!

6. Do Something Creative

It doesn’t matter whether you doodle on a scrap of paper, colour, write a poem, a blog post, a story, bake, cook, or brush the dust off your sewing machine; let your creativity flow. Creativity leads to relaxation and relaxation inspires more creativity. Sometimes, being productive while doing something you enjoy encourages efficiency for tasks that just need to get done. And what better way to brighten up the winter months than creating something colourful, something inspiring, or something beautiful?

 

So, stop lusting after the summer, it’ll be back soon enough. For now, embrace the cold and cosy, slow down, relax, and spend some time looking after yourself.

What are your best ways of beating the Winter blues?

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