5 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
When temperatures drop, and the ground becomes snow-covered, it’s easy to feel the effects of what many call the winter blues. For many, mood shifts and energy levels change when the vibrancy of summer comes to an end. Winter can feel like a dreaded season when it doesn’t feel that there are as many social activities to participate in. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be!
The leaves may have changed, and there may be snow on the ground, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find joy and comfort this season. Finding activities and self-care practices can help pull you out of that groove.
Each one of us is unique, so the idea of relaxation and self-care may look different than the next reader. The critical thing to remember is that winter is the perfect time to experiment with various activities, so you can find which ones bring a sense of calm to your seasonal routine.
If you’re looking for ways to beat those winter blues, we’ve got you covered. We put together a list of accessible options that appeal to a wide variety of readers — so you can find the one that fits your lifestyle.
Learn How to Cook with CBD
Experimenting in the kitchen is a great way to spend the winter season. You have ample time to try new recipes and experiment with new ideas — like adding CBD into your recipes.
When it comes to cooking with cannabis, it’s about choosing superior cannabis-infused products that are designed with quality ingredients. The brand you choose should have detailed information on their website about their practices and a way to contact their team with any questions.
Cooking with CBD can be particular — you should avoid extreme heat and instead use oils to drizzle over already-cooked meals. CBD works well in no-bake foods like sauces, smoothies, and whipping cream. Start with a small dosage and learn if your body responds well to CBD — and see where your winter recipes take you.
Beat the Winter Blues: Create a Brand New Skincare Routine
Winter weather can significantly impact the quality of our skin if we don’t take proper care of it. Extreme dryness can occur without the proper moisture — so finding the right skincare routine is essential.
Gentle cleansers, especially in the form of cream, can help cleanse the skin without stripping moisture barriers. Adding a very gentle exfoliator can also help remove dead skin cells, which allows any serums and moisturizers to better absorb into the skin of the face.
Toners and serums should be an essential part of any skincare routine. They provide condensed ingredients that help build strong barriers against external weather and pollutants. Ingredients like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are key ingredients to look out for.
The final piece to the puzzle is a quality moisturizer. Look for one that matches your skin type and is designed to provide extra protection against dryness. When your skin looks and feels its best, you’ll notice how refreshed you feel even when the weather isn’t sunny and warm.
Find a New Favorite Exercise
Sometimes all you need to boost your mood is to kick those endorphins into high gear, and exercise is the easiest way to do that. In a study from Harvard University, walking at a fast pace for approximately 30 minutes a day between Monday and Friday improved symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression.
When it comes to exercise, many of us have conflicting opinions or preferences, which is why you don’t have to choose intense HIIT workouts or run five miles every day to get the benefits of exercise. It’s about finding what works for you.
Winter is the perfect time to try different at-home workouts, whether you think you’ll enjoy a fun dance class or prefer strengthening yoga. Make a point to not focus on calorie burning or how much you sweat, but instead, how that exercise makes you feel.
Beat the Winter Blues: Learn a New Instrument
When the weather is less than ideal, and you don’t have as much motivation to go outside, why not learn something new, like a new instrument? This can be an expensive hobby, so you may start with something small, like a keyboard or a basic acoustic guitar. There are plenty of resources online where you can learn basic chords and notes, and you can play around with your chosen instrument without the pressure of sitting in a formal lesson space.
Make a Reading List
Setting goals can help you focus your energy on a new hobby and help channel any restlessness. Reading is the perfect combination of attentiveness and relaxation — and the best part is that there is a genre to suit everyone, from science fiction to romance and everything in between.
Create a list of books you’ve always wanted to read or titles that you’ve sworn you’d get around to eventually. Create a goal to read a certain amount of books each month, and find a spot in your home where you can unplug your electronics and immerse yourself in a story.
