You haven’t seen the sun in days, it’s cold and you’d rather hibernate until March – welcome to winter. This time of year can be challenging for the strongest of us and it may be hard to get through the week, leave alone enjoy these dark months (hello, seasonal depression).
But while winter may never become your favourite season of the year, there are ways to make it more enjoyable. Here are some tips and tricks to survive this winter:
Make your home cosy
Until further notice, you are going to spend the majority of your time inside. Thus, you should make your home enjoyable as possible: Put out blankets, light candles and play great music. Decorate, keep it as tidy as you need it to be and generally dedicate some time to making your home a place that you love. It’s going to make all that indoor time so much better.
Use a light alarm clock
Waking up hours before the first ray of sunlight can be hard. Our bodies are used to reacting to light and get rid of the sleep hormones with the help of light. That is a bitter fact to remind yourself of in winter, but you can use this knowledge to your advantage.
Light alarm clocks can be a real gamechanger. Rather than being brutally woken up by your phone’s ringtone, the light will slowly illuminate your room. This way, you wake up gently, slowly and will probably feel a lot more ready to start your morning.
You don’t necessarily have to invest in a new light alarm clock, though. You can simply switch on a dimmable lamp when your first alarm goes off and slowly increase the brightness. Just try it out, it can work wonders!
Have a project
The dark season feels like it will last forever? You’re wondering how to use all that indoor time? The best way to pass the time and actually enjoy it is by picking a project that will fill your winter.
It can be something that you haven’t gotten around in the more lively time of the year or something entirely new: small home renovations, creating a photo book or learning a new skill. You can even make it your mission to test every single coffee shop in your town!
Whatever it is, it should be something you look forward to when you wake up to this cold, grey weather.
Lots of hot beverages
Theres nothing quite like hot beverages to keep you warm in winter. So pick up some of your favourite tea, coffee or matcha, and get cosy on the sofa!
Try consciously taking a daily break: prepare your beverage in a pretty mug and enjoy it in the most comfortable spot in your home. Bonus point for grabbing a book or people watching while sipping away.
Try new hobbies
In line with having a new project for the season, try some new indoor hobbies! Whether you’re learning something entirely new or restarting one you’ve already loved as a teenager, it’s a great way to pass the time.
Here are some ideas for cosy hobbies to try this winter.
Leave the house and get daylight
No matter the weather, try to leave the house at least once per day. I know, that sounds like the bare minimum, but can be hard for some of us. Especially if you work from home, it can easily happens that Wednesday rolls around and you realise that you haven’t been outdoors since the weekend.
So do your best to get out there and try to do so during daylight. Even if it’s just a five minute walk to the supermarket during your lunch break. It is going to make a difference in your day.
Rest more
Nature slows down during winter to then be back in full bloom once the days become warmer. So why should we be any different?
You probably feel a little more tired and less motivated these days. Instead of expecting yourself to do the same amount of stuff that you do in summer, embrace the fact that your body is seeking rest. Allow yourself a lie-in on the weekend, get enough sleep and be gentle with yourself. This way, you’ll actually have the energy once it’s time to bloom again!
If you constantly feel overly exhausted, though, make sure to visit the doctor. It’s not uncommon to experience deficiencies like vitamin D, and you certainly don’t want that to make winter even harder.
May this winter be a endurable and fun as possible for you and don’t forget: spring is only a few weeks away!
Love, Carola
