Winter starts to wear on our psyche by February. The cold weather and being stuck indoors can give anybody “cabin fever”. Here are some more tips to help keep you from falling into a mid-winter funk.
Enjoy Nature
When I am starting to get into my funk I like to retreat into my cave. I stay in the house, I don’t open the curtains, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay in my sweatpants and t-shirt and vegetate. This only leads to a downward cycle of negative energy and feeds the funk.
Fresh air, Mother Nature; it has a calming energy and a peaceful effect on the psyche. Get outside and take a walk. I know it’s chilly (or downright frigid), but I grew up in Minnesota and my mom would force us outside no matter what the weather was doing. We could only come back inside when that strip of wrist between our mitten and our coat sleeve was sufficiently red and chappy.
Your kids want to play outdoors, and they want to spend time with you. Instead of bundling them up and shoving them out the door, get out there with them. If you have snow, take them sledding. Those of us without snow don’t have much of an excuse. Let the kids ride their bikes while you walk with them. These days are short, so put some of that sunshine to good use.
At least open your curtains. Baby steps…
Tip 4: Laugh
Laugh? But I’m depressed! Yeah, I know. So force it.
In the depths of a funk, I notice that I rarely smile, letalone laugh. My kids can be bouncing around me, laughing and playing and having a great time. I barely manage a grunt in response to an excited “Isn’t that funny Mama?”.
Get out of your head and back into the moment. By living in the moment I can find joy in the simplest things. This sounds like a cliche, but it is true. If you have children, they provide endless opportunities to laugh and enjoy life.
There is another benefit of this. As mothers, we set the tone and the energy in our homes. If we are depressed and feeling down, it affects our entire family. If we are upbeat and having fun with our kids, then everyone is happier.
This is going to be hard at first. I mean it when I say you might have to force it. But every time you do, you may just find that the positive feedback you get in return helps start a whole positive cycle flowing around you. Try it today and see what happens! Tomorrow, it might even be easier.
Laughter truly is the best medicine, and your kids will love to see you laugh with them. Lighten up and look for the joy. Celebrate Nature in all her glory, even if it is cold outside. This time of year does have its own beauty – embrace it!
Jodi Selander is the founder of PlacentaBenefits.info. She provides placenta encapsulation services to new mothers in southern Nevada and is building a global network of Placenta Encapsulation Specialists. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and two young daughters.
Article Source: Beat the Winter Blues: Article 2 of 5