New York got a million inches of snow this week, and these long days can be a bummer. So! My friend Gemma Correll, who lives in London and is no stranger to dark winters, put together a handy list of ways to beat the winter blues...*****
1. Get your Vitamin D. Studies say this helps, so it’s worth a shot. There are high levels of Vitamin D in mushrooms, fish, cheese, milk cereals and eggs (mushroom, haddock and cornflake omelette, anyone?).2. Get a light box. A light box is, simply put, a super super bright lamp that you shine on your face in the morning. A lot of people credit their light box for elevated mood and a general lessening of grumpiness during the winter.
3. Get enough sleep. It’s important to get enough rest, but try to stick to your normal sleep schedule—oversleeping can make you feel groggy and grump(-ier).
4. Exercise. It can be hard to find the motivation to exercise when all you want to do is bundle up in a duvet (and/or a pile of fluffy animals) and weep quietly in a corner. But exercise really does help. Science says so, and science is always right. You don’t even have to leave the house. Do a little bit of living room yoga or dance around the house like no one’s watching to the Grease soundtrack. (Not that I do that. Ahem…)5. Treat yourself. Winter is a difficult time; it’s perfectly reasonable to be feeling rubbish. Cheer yourself up with trashy TV, hot drinks and pudding, if that’s what makes you feel good. Snuggle up and read a book (I recommend something by David Sedaris), look at pictures of puppies on the internet or eat cookie dough straight from the tube. Basically, if it makes you happy, do it, because it’s winter and all bets are off.
And just for fun...
6. Stay warm and cozy.
7. Go for a walk around town.
8. Knit a sweater.
9. Bake a cake (and eat it).10. Remember, seasons change. It won’t be winter forever. Soon it will be spring. Hayfever time, yay!
*****
Thank you, Gemma! Only 44 days left of winter, we can do it!!! Any tips to add? xoxo
P.S. How to eat dinner, and how to drink wine.
(Illustrations by Gemma Correll. Top photo by Jamie Beck)
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