Self-Care vs. The Winter Blues

HOW TO PRACTICE SELF LOVE IN THE WINTER MONTHS

If you live somewhere cold like me, then you probably relate to the winter blues. In Chicago, from late October to pretty much the end of March it is nothing but cloudy days, snow, rain, and cold aka a recipe for disaster. It's very hard to not fall into the trap of laying in your bed and letting yourself be sad all day, especially when the weather outside is so yucky. Winter also means holidays which for some people become a very stressful time. For me I have found that it is extremely difficult to practice the same methods of self-love and being kind to myself that I do in the summer once winter comes. So below I have included some of my favorite methods of taking care of myself mentally/physically/and emotionally throughout the winter months. 

Give yourself alone time to be mindful

I really cannot stress this one enough, whether it is 30 minutes or 2 hours it is so important to sit down and allow yourself to be reminded of what matters the most. Find a quiet space, light some candles, hit the lights and take time to yourself to truly reflect. Remember self-care is not selfish.

Start the day with a wholesome meal

In the winter it's so easy to have all motivation come to a halt when it's so gloomy outside. I find that making sure I start each day with a wholesome meal (especially in the winter) that it gives me that boost of energy to push through the day. In the winter I try to get a lot of fruit and veggie servings in at the beginning of my day since I usually find that the winter blues also have a way of suppressing my appetite. 

Make time to be active 

With it being so cold, I know the struggle of leaving the house and bracing the cold just to get to the gym. However, there are so many videos available online that you can easily do in your house that fit what you enjoy doing like dancing for example. By staying active you are releasing endorphins into your brain. These little guys help reduce stress, anxiety, and sadness. This also allows your immune cells to flourish, which helps fight against the many colds and sinus infections that winter brings. 

Do not allow yourself to become isolated

When you become sad, many times it's very difficult to discuss because we do not want to burden others and to be honest it is very hard to openly admit that you are struggling. What is important to remember though is that we cannot do this (life) on our own. Everyone experiences high points and low points, and during those low points we have to remember that there are people out there who care and want the best for us. Whether that means seeing someone professionally or just reaching out to a friend to let them know your struggling, we cannot allow ourselves to become engulfed by our own issues.