10 Ways To Beat the Winter Blues
Once the celebration of the New Year comes to a close, we often find ourselves feeling a little blue (let’s be honest: that post-NYE hangover probably doesn’t help). Baby it’s cold, snowy, and gray outside, and with the sparkle and shine of the holidays gone, January feels like the gloomiest of months—we just want to curl up on the couch and count down the days until spring arrives. So in an attempt to turn our frowns upside down, we compiled 10 ways to help beat those winter blues.
1. EMBRACE THE SEASON
We know, we know—you hate the cold and you hate the snow. But the next time those white flakes starts to fall outside your frosted window, take a moment to pause and appreciate how beautiful the delicate dance of each unique snowflake really is. While we tend to want to hide out in the colder months, there’s no better way to embrace the season than to face it head on: put on your puffy, grab some gloves, slip into those shearling-lined boots, and head out into the great (white) outdoors. A day of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snow-shoeing, ice skating, or even a stroll through your neighborhood on a snowy day will help you appreciate all that winter has to offer.
2. GET YOUR HYGGE ON
We can all learn a thing or two from the Danish and the Norwegians: when it comes to Hygge they don’t mess around. Employ the Scandinavian concept of coziness in your own home by lighting candles and dimming overhead lights to create a soft glow, stoking your fireplace to warm up your abode, accessorizing with plush blankets and pillows for a comfy setting, and create a soothing atmosphere with a dose of aromatherapy. We love the sleek, modern diffusers and essential oils from Vitruvi. Place a diffuser in your office, living room, or kitchen, or in your bedroom to help you sleep at night.
3. BREAK A SWEAT
Even though exercising may sound like the last thing you actually want to do, research shows that moving your body and raising your heart level is one of the quickest ways to elevate your mood. Whether you hit the slopes or head to the gym, an hour or more of activity will get your blood and endorphins pumping. Check out these 5 boutique fitness studios where you can get your sweat on this winter. When you’re feeling super low energy, consider a restorative yoga class or gentle stretching to help ease your body into movement and release tension.
4. GET LOST IN A BOOK
Winter is the perfect time of year to curl up on the couch or get cozy in bed with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and a good page-turner. Need something to read? Check out our list of books we read in 2019 and the books we cant’t wait to read in 2020.
5. SAY SPAAAAAH
There’s no better way to spend a snowy day than inside the calming confines of your favorite spa. Book an appointment for a self-care massage, facial, manicure, or pedicure, and prepare to be pampered. We love the CBD-infused massages and Ofuro soaking tubs at The Kura Door, and the eucalyptus salt scrub and heavenly Glow facial at Basalt Day Spa. Be sure to hit up your spa’s sauna or steam room (if available) to help combat winter congestion, too.
If a day at the spa isn’t exactly in your post-holiday budget, create your own spa day at home with a steamy shower, an exfoliating body scrub, a full-body rub down with a luxe body oil or lotion, and a face mask to finish it all off. We’re currently coveting Nècessaire body wash, scrub, and serum, Ouai rose body oil, and Soon Skincare’s various sheet masks.
6. SOAK IT UP
Employ the healing power of water with a long soak in a hot tub. Toss in some Dr. Teal’s epsom salts or a Lush bath bomb to help you detox and relax. We also love the calming rose bath salts by French Girl Organics. Or, take things one step further—er, a few miles, further—with a soak in a larger body of water: check out our guide to the best local hot springs.
7. GIVE THANKS
Gratitude isn’t just for Thanksgiving. A daily gratitude practice is a sure-fire way to lift your spirits and shift your perspective. Jot down a few things you’re grateful for each day, either when you rise in the morning or before you go to bed. We love the prompted Gratitude Journals from Promptly Journals—the pages feature thoughtful prompts to help you recognize all that you have to be thankful for.
8. GET COOKING
When you’re in a rut, it’s good to mix up your daily routine. And one of the easiest ways to do that is by switching up your diet. Why not heat things up in the kitchen and try a new recipe? We love the cookbook/memoir Midnight Chicken: & Other Memories Worth Living For, the perfect inspiration for a dreary winter day. In this beautifully written and illustrated book, author Ella Risbridger documents her crippling depression and the subsequent hope and relief she found in the kitchen. Her recipes are warm, comforting, and delicious—we especially love the book’s namesake, Midnight Chicken, a classic roast chicken that will fill your belly and warm your heart.
9. HIT THE ROAD
Sometimes the only option is to get out of dodge. If a beach vacation isn’t in your cards, hit the road and head to new territory for a change of pace and scenery. For some travel inspiration, check out our roundup of 5 weekend road trips out west, from Lake Tahoe to Jackson Hole to Sun Valley.
10. DRINK UP
When all else fails, there’s always champagne.