Life
'Tis the season for eggnog and carols, tinsel and menorahs, candle light and warmly lit fireplaces. It’s also the season for blizzards that knock your socks off, digging your car out from underneath a mountain of snow, and becoming a total hermit because the idea of putting enough layers on to survive to trip from your front door to your car is seriously exhausting. That’s right, it’s time to emotionally prepare yourself for winter.
If you haven’t already been treated to a lovely dose of the winter chills, or have yet to wake up to snow in your backyard - it’s only a matter of time. Winter is coming. And with it, a daunting amount of time spent inside, and an even more daunting amount of time spent in the dark. The days are already short, and getting shorter. Waking up in the dark, going to work, and leaving work in the dark? It can be tough! The winter blues are no joke. Rather than letting the season sneak up on you and finding yourself in the middle of February, wondering when 2016 happened and why you haven’t left the house in four days, take some time to prepare yourself for the season at hand. With a little planning and a few treats, winter could very well turn into your favorite time of year.
1Organize Your Closet
Take the time to go through your closet and weed out any clothes you won’t be using during the winter months. That means tucking away all of your sockless shoes and linen dresses. Make room in your closet for key pieces you reach for during the chillier months, and it’ll make getting out bed in the morning much less of a drag.
2Get Festive
With winter comes a slew of holidays. Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day - they all deserve to be celebrated with a little extra sparkle, don’t they? Decorate for the holidays to make your space feel a little less drab, and don’t forget to put on the appropriate tunes while you do it.
3Treat Yo Self (And Body)
By January, my lips are crying for extra medicated lip balm. Winter can take it’s toll on you physically, just as much as it can mentally. Stock up on bubble baths, bath salts, delicious smelling candles, and your favorite lotions. Make sure to give your body a little extra loving this winter, because a well moisturized body is a happy body.
4Plan A Trip
Whether it’s a week-long adventure to somewhere sunny or just a weekend away, having a trip to look forward to will help you get through the darkest and most dismal days of the winter season. Ideally, we’d all plan a month long tropical trip for February, but if you can’t make time for fun in the sun, try a nearby bed and breakfast, or staying with a friend in a nearby city.
5Make A Winter To Do List
Sit down with pen and paper and make a to-do list of all the winter activities you want to do. Ice skating, cross-country skiing, baking cookies, learning to knit, making cocoa from scratch, and sledding are just a few from my personal list.
6Keep Moving
Don’t let the winter months slow you down. But can be hard to keep to your gym schedule when you wake up in the darkness. So try something new! Check out a new yoga series, set up a space where you can keep a set of free weights and an exercise band. Keeping yourself moving when you least feel like it will help you get through the winter blahs.
7Get Outside
Some days, this is just not an option. But on days where the sun is shining, get out there. Convince a friend to bundle up with you and go for a snowy winter hike, take your furry friend to the park, or even gather supplies for a snowman and help the neighborhood kids with their masterpiece. Even when it’s frigid, fresh air does you good.
