When Jack Frost comes knocking and your mood falls faster than the temperature, these small alternations to your lifestyle can lift those spirits again.
1. Brighten your environment.
Open the blinds, sit close to the window, trim back to the tree branches, or purchase yourself an artificial light. When your body is craving sunlight, (not to mention its daily dose of vitamin D!), 30 minutes per day next to an artificial light can be as effective as antidepressant medication.
Alternatively, try buying a dawn simulator. This device gradually brightens the light in your bedroom over time, and can make it a heck of a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning.
2. Stay Active
I know, I know. This is easier said than done.
When it comes to physical activity, it's important to start small. Instead of resolving to go to the gym four times a week, opt for the stairs instead of the elevator, choose to walk instead of drive for short distances, or sign up for a weekly class that involves physical activity.
Exercise releases endorphins, which can be an amazing stress-buster.
3. Jam out to some happy music
Several studies have shown the benefits of listening to cheery music. It can significantly improve your mood, both in the short and long term. If you're stuck for a place to start, check out this list on 8tracks...
4. Be generous
Nothing beats the feeling of contributing to the happiness of others. Scientists agree! "There is what's called dopamine, which is a hormone and a neurotransmitter, that is released in your brain if you do help," says Alisha Sabourin, an Edmonton-based therapist.
Help someone else that seems a little down, by making a thoughtful gift for them.
Volunteer at a community center or charity that does work you are passionate about.
Bake cookies for your neighbor.
Get involved in a way that is meaningful to you.
5. Eat a healthy diet
Make a point of choosing healthy options for every meal. Filling up on refined and processed foods can suck your energy away and cause for a lack of concentration. So avoid too much white bread, rice, and sugar. Instead, opt for whole wheat breads, brown rice, and lots of veggies and fruit. Don't forget H2O! Your body will have an easier time operating at its best when you give it premium fuel.
6. Find elements of the season to embrace
This is tricky, and not for everyone. Winter can feel so blah! Creating ways to celebrate the season through ritual, ceremony, and highlighting the good things in your life can lift your spirits. Don't know where to start? Here are some suggestions that may work for you.
1. Do you have a least favorite day of the week? Pick something special to do for yourself on this day. Buy yourself a coffee on the way to work. Have a bath after dinner. Creating routine with small, pleasant rituals, can make a big difference.
2. Plan a fun outdoor adventure to engage in. Snowball fight with friends. Skating and hot chocolate. Tubing. Skiing. Snowboarding.
3. If you're not an outdoor person, try hosting fun activities to do inside. Have your friends over for a coloring night. Invite everyone to bring one ingredient to a soup and make a large batch for a simple, cozy dinner party. Find a TV show that everyone would be interested in getting together to watch every week.
7. Be self compassionate
I will never forget the time someone said to me, "People think they're cool when they can survive on two, three, four hours of sleep. To me, that's not cool. That's a profound lack of self respect."
This can apply to many areas in our lives that we skip out on. Treating yourself with compassion is important. Not only because it will help you to feel happier, but it will also allow you to give your best to the world every day.
Thanks to Globalnews.ca and Sparkpeople for providing some helpful resources for this article.
these tips.
America the beautiful.
So much to see. So much to experience.
Just because we don't have exotic oceans and ancient history doesn't mean there isn't majesty to take in.
There are many vacations to put together.
And now we don't have to use a paper map to plan.
Our apps and GPS have it all planned out.
Redditor driedkitten wanted to compare notes about the greatest ways to see the USA, so they asked:
"Where is the most beautiful place in the United States?"
So far the cliffs of California is my favorite part of the US.
The Falls
niagara falls GIFGiphy"Subjective of course, but Crater Lake is certainly a sight to behold."
KaboodleMoon
"My home state of Oregon is full of beautiful places, South Umpqua falls, Illinois River, and Multnomah falls. Are some favorites."
jlp120145
Oh Hoh...
"A tie for Acadia, Hoh rainforest, and Rainier in the fall."
ParkLaineNext
"I was going to say Acadia. It's very underrated for some reason. My mom's friend by coincidence ended up being my English professor in college and we went on a trip to see family in ME. We stopped at Acadia for a day and she said it reminded her a lot of her visit to Greece."
NunChuckNorris007
"Hoh rainforest is absolutely devastatingly beautiful. Hiked the whole Hoh river trail when I was 17 and it's still near the top of the list for my favorite things I've ever done."
Hal9000_Red_Eye
In Awe
"Glacier national park. I was continuously in awe that the place was real life."
StrebLab
"The vistas of this road, on a motorcycle, were beyond breathtaking to experience. Would 100% do it again. Being on a bike allowed for stops at the waterfalls where there was no room for vehicles to pull over, and the views from the tunnels under the road were supernatural."
tastygrrrl
The Road Ahead
"There is a stretch of the Navajo reservation where there is no cell service, AM or FM radio reception. The road stretches before you for miles surrounded by red rocks touching blue sky. The buzzing undercurrent of modern connectivity fades away and your brain can be truly still."
tulleandtiaras42
"We did a little unscheduled off-roading in that area when we came to a road closed barrier. A Navajo couple pulled up alongside us while we pondered the dirt road heading roughly in the direction we wanted to go and assured us it was passable. Really lonely place... but wonderful."
KaleidoscopeWeird310
On a Clear Day
Mountain GIF by Sunshine VillageGiphy"Mount Rainier."
WWDB
"If I stand right at the doorjamb of my front door on a clear day, I have a beautiful view. I owned this house for 15 years before I figured that out. You can't see it from any other position in the doorway, or if you're outside."
Wise_Ad_4816
Mountains are hot. That is all.
See the Country
Happy Dance GIF by PLAYMOBILGiphy"Depends on what you’re looking for. The United States is a big place."
"For me - Hawaii is hard to beat."
Own-Willingness-3935
Beautiful scenery...
"Zion National Park is the most well-known place in Utah. But my entire state is an outdoorsman's paradise. LOTs of beautiful scenery in both the northern and southern parts of the state."
nekor18670
"Totally!!! And it’s very different. I personally prefer Southern Utah because the red rocks make me feel like I’m on Mars. But I grew up in the salt lake valley, so the mountains lost a lot of their majesty. But if I’m being honest, I miss them terribly."
Bye-sexual-band-n3rd
Smell the old growth
"I’m incredibly biased, but the most beautiful place is the California redwoods. Drive up 101, and then detour towards Petrolia. There is absolutely nothing like it. Roll down your windows and drive 35mph. Smell the old growth. Stop at the pull out. Take a small hike. It’s worth it."
Altril2010
"Yes, 100%. My brother lives in McKinleyville and I am going to see him the end of April. Can't wait. It's my happy place. They are like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls... you have to see them to believe them. Those redwoods are something else!"
strongy78
Utopia
"Yosemite! You drive thru the tunnel and come out the other side. Looks like heaven/Utopia."
Socalrdb
"Did a hike in Yosemite on January 1 last year. A spectacular way to start the year. I had seen photos of it, seen it in movies, watched countless videos on Youtube about it but -nothing- prepares you for the sight of El Cap as you turn that corner. I was very nearly moved to tears."
ThrustersToFull
Amazing
Episode 1 Boat GIF by The SimpsonsGiphy"The Shenandoah Valley. Its an amazing place if you're an outdoorsman. Hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, camping."
homoco4396
All the wonders of the world. I may have to check all of these out.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.