Winter can be wonderful – cozy, romantic, festive… However, for some of us it can be a bit of a dark time and the winter blues may hit hard. Unfortunately, I don’t have the perfect answer to it yet, but I have found some things that help me and make this ‘gloomy’ season a little easier and sometimes even enjoyable. I hope they can make it a little easier for you too.

Make your home cozy and comfortable

In my opinion, everything starts with this step. Our surroundings affect our mental state and the quality of our lives a great deal. The people around us, our workplace, and also our home. I tend to be less organized if my mental health is down, but then I feel even worse because everything is a mess. Making sure my apartment is tidy helps a lot.
But it’s not just about organizing. Especially in winter, when it’s too cold to go outside, the weather is bad and it gets dark early, it’s important to make your space even more comfortable and welcoming. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
These are, in my opinion, the two most important decorations for winter:

• light: string lights, (fake) candles, small lamps… (the type of light matters as well; warm, yellowish light feels cozier than cold, white light).
• cozy/cuddly stuff: soft blankets, some extra pillows, maybe stuffed animals…

I have a string light by the entrance with a timer, that turns on shortly before I arrive home from work. Seeing them when I come home and it’s already dark outside, makes me very happy. Additionally, my whole house is filled with soft, cuddly blankets, that make me feel like I’m sleeping on a cloud.
**If you don’t have the energy or have limited space, try to create a small corner for yourself, where you can retreat.

Keep yourself busy

Having things to do and places to go keeps you from sitting home alone all day and overthink things. Surround yourself with people, do things you enjoy, teach yourself a new skill… I have a lot of ideas for things to do on my page, like a winter bucket list or things to do at home, if you don’t feel like going outside. With a tidy and cozy decorated home, you now have the perfect space to try out new things.

Find a way to move your body

This is something you read in every feel-better-article and after the third one it becomes annoying, but then you try it out and have to admit that they are right. At least that’s what it was like for me, and I realized the thing that actually helps, isn’t necessarily the moving itself, but being consistent with it.
I recommend you find ANY way to move your body a little bit, no matter what it is or how „small“, and then regularly do it, even when don’t feel like it. It can be as short as 10 minutes, it’s still effective.

Take your supplements/vitamins

It doesn’t seem like it would really do anything and we usually don’t care about it or forget it, but it makes such a difference. The sun isn’t as strong in winter and we tend to neglect our health a bit. It’s very important to eat meals of sustenance and take our needed supplements consistently.
Make sure to take extra care of yourself during the cold season. <3

Bring yourself to go outside regularly

Not a very cozy thought, I know, but it can be, with warm, cozy clothes and a hot coffee or tea. It also doesn’t have to be long – 10 minutes are enough. Sitting on your balcony or front porch, walking around a little bit – whatever your energy level is.
Getting some air really does help, but sometimes, on the weekends I couldn’t be bothered to take one single step out of my apartment. If you don’t feel like going outside, just sit by an open window for a little bit. You can wrap yourself in a blanket and watch a movie or something.

Find or create things to look forward to

This is kind of the same concept as keeping yourself busy, having things to look forward to makes every bad time go by faster. It can be anything, like setting up friend-dates regularily, a weekly ritual just for yourself, a show that releases a new episode every week, planning something more big/luxurious for every month… Whatever fits your interests, energy level and budget.
It doesn’t matter if its small or big, alone or with people, going out or staying at home, there are endless things to do, that can make this time more bearable and even enjoyable.

I really hope these tips help you in some way and you get through the season safe and happy. If you’re not doing good and need help, never hesitate to call someone! There is no shame in it.
Sending you all much love💜