Surviving winter is what all of us are doing come February. It starts out all find when we don the puffy in as early as September. It’s cute and cozy and a nice change from all of our summer gear. But by February, we are done with the puffy, the cold weather, and the gray days that go with it. March and April seem so far away. We have entered winter survival mode.

If you are struggling with old man winter, I’ve got 5 tips on how to lighten your mood and hopefully make the days more bearable.

Surviving Winter Depends On Vitamin D

Everyone may be familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), where the lack of sunlight and vitamin D causes symptoms to mimic depression. This can sneak up on us, but it’s important to recognize that if you are feeling down in winter, think about taking a D supplement or some other way.

I recommend that when it’s a sunny day, choose a spot to sit in the sun for 20 minutes. Take those few minutes to soak in that sunlight while you are reading a book or answering email. Or you could invest in a mood disorder lamp that mimics the sun. Put it on your desk at work and turn it on for a few minutes while you are working.

Focus On Your Health In Winter

Winter is the perfect time to start focusing on your health. Recognize what your body needs and start building good habits in the winter. I think February is a great time to do some self-care in this area.

Make sure to hydrate your skin with good lotions. Drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated. Go for long walks while you are bundled up and get fresh air. Develop a great stretching routine and incorporate it while you are binge watching whatever.

Remember that colder air burns more energy, so get outside whenever possible. Burning that energy will help you sleep better. Make sure to create a kicking playlist just for this time of year to get you moving.

Why Hobby Is Important To Surviving Winter

If you think that the days are long and dark, then fill up that time with something you ENJOY doing or create a goal you want to reach before the warmer temperatures come. Winter is a perfect time to enjoy a hobby. Do you like to read, or sew, or make things like homemade valentines? This is a perfect time to jump in just a little more and see what you can do.

Or set some sort of goal of a thing you want to complete during this winter. Want to redo your bathroom, paint the hallway, or some other sort of DIY project? This is your time. You won’t want to do it when it gets warmer outside.

Speed Up Winter By Slowing Down

A lot of times we just want winter to hurry up and be over by this time of year. But February is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy life before all of the opportunities and running around that spring, summer, and fall bring. Take baths. Explore cooking new recipes. Read a book for fun.

This is the time to get your stress level down so that you can handle the rest of the year. Take advantage of it. Think of all of the things you are grateful for. It is hard to be down when you have gratitude for what you have.

Treat Yourself To Something Fun

It is post-Christmas and the perfect time to find ways to treat yourself to something fun or something you’ve been wanting. It could be big or it could be small. Just something to help raise your winter spirits. A little reminder of how special you are.

Try your hardest not to wish the rest of winter away. It can be a very special time that will set up the rest of your year for success. Good luck!

If you are looking for a way to kickstart your fitness and nutrition this winter to lose a few pounds before the sun comes into play, make sure to check out my MIDLIFE IN MOTION 30-day program!

Check out this blog on the podcast – Redesigning Midlife: Click HERE