Before the winter months hit, it’s easy to fool yourself into thinking they’ll be filled with endless snowball fights, the smell of gingerbread cookies, and warm and fuzzy feelings. While winter can be a special time of year, it will undoubtedly bring days when the sun doesn’t shine and everyone will want to stay in bed and watch Netflix in a vitamin D-deprived state, not frolick in the snow. It’s important to know what can boost your mood when you’re feeling low in the winter to keep you happy and healthy. Here are ten things you can do to feel a little better when it feels like the winter couldn’t get any worse.
- Make a Christmas List. It’s almost impossible to be unhappy when thinking about the gifts you may soon be receiving or finding the perfect gifts for the people you love.
- Invest in something that gets you excited about winter. Whether it be a pine scented candle or a matching set of warm gloves and a scarf, buy something that you can enjoy using when it’s cold.
- Curl up with a mug of hot chocolate. It’s scientifically proven that chocolate can improve your mood, so feel free to indulge all you want.
- Exercise. This is kind of an obvious one, but the release of endorphins really does do wonders for your mood. It’s a great way to relieve stress, too, which is key during finals week.
- Grab a friend and go into town for coffee or brunch. There are so many local places to try, so make an effort to hit the town at least once a week. You’ll experience more of what Saratoga Springs has to offer, and a change of scenery is always great when you feel as though you’ve been trapped in the same room for days.
- Plan a spa day. If you don’t want to spend the money on massages and manicures, just grab a few friends, light some aromatherapy candles, and treat yourselves for free.
- Host a Wine and Cheese Party (if you’re of age, of course). We all know we’re less likely to make the effort to go out when temperatures drop below freezing, so turn an uneventful night into a classy get-together. Sometimes staying in can be more fun than the party scene.
- Embrace the morning sun. Catching rays when you first wake up has shown to be beneficial to your mood. Take a peaceful morning walk to soak in the sun before it disappears at 3:30 p.m.
- Create something. Whether it be baking cookies or writing in your journal, distract yourself from the cold outside by doing something productive and fun.
- Rearrange/redecorate your room. During the winter, your room will become your refuge from the cold, unforgiving tundra, so decorate it with colors and pictures that make you feel good. Rearranging your furniture will give you something to do, and can make a room feel brand new if you’re starting to get sick of it.
Winter is just getting started, so keep up your good energy by using these tips to beat the winter blues! Have any other ideas? Tell us in the comments below!