Winter is a time for cozy nights by the fire, enjoying quality time with family, and slowing down to enjoy the holidays. But, even if you live somewhere like Toronto, ON, or Detroit, MI where freezing temperatures are the norm – the long, cold, and dark winter months can erase all your motivation and leave you feeling just like the weather – gloomy. So, you may be wondering “what can I do to combat the winter blues?”
We’ve put together a list of mood-boosting activities to do at home and how to begin incorporating it into your routine. Your days will begin to look brighter even before the first signs of spring.
Mood-boosting activity #1: Find a pilates routine that works for you
Beat the winter blues with proper posture
Many people these days suffer from protracted shoulders and a hunched over posture due to long hours spent working on laptops or staring down at cell phones. By lengthening your posture and deliberately pulling your shoulders back, you’ll not only feel better – you’ll look better too. To help open across the chest, place one hand on either side of a door frame at about shoulder height and allow your body to lean forward into a gentle extension. Keep your gaze out straight ahead to protect your neck and keep it in line with your upper back. You can also hold either end of a dish towel, scarf, or belt in either hand lengthened out at shoulder height. Raise both hands simultaneously overhead and back as far as range allows. Try these movements before and after your workday to stretch, and in no time you will be BOOMing – Boom Pilates
Pilates is good for your mind and body
20 minutes of Pilates a few times a week on your bedroom or living room floor will certainly crush those winter blues. It’s like a workout, massage and meditation all at once. It’s never been easier to make Pilates part of your self-care routine. Fitstreams.club has 100’s of friendly, safe, and effective Pilates Mat workouts. Do a 20-minute or 50-minute class a few times a week and you’ll crush those winter blues. – Fitstreams
Start with just 10 minutes a day
In his books, Joseph Pilates says you MUST practice Contrology (Pilates) for 10 minutes a day. Start your Pilates practice there, with a goal you can accomplish. It’s the everyday commitment to something small that can lead to big results in the end (and hey, you might start to feel so good about it, you go for longer.) – Jessica Schultz Pilates
Make it a habit
Starting any new healthy habit is difficult. However, in two or three weeks, that’s exactly what it will be – a habit. Try to do 3 Pilates exercises every day when you get home (my favorites are the hundreds, bridges, and roll-ups – 10 reps each.) – Refresh Pilates & Wellness Studio
Pilates can be one of the most effective ways to combat the dreariness
I love the coziness of winter – blankets on the couch, hot drinks, soups, a fire in the fireplace, Christmas lights, and the exquisite beauty of the ground covered in snow. However, the shorter, darker days and the cold can make me feel sad and tired. I love to combine Pilates with the things I appreciate about winter – making it feel fun and seasonal. I like to grab my mat and do a session in front of the fireplace at home or next to the Christmas tree in my pajamas. As a Pilates instructor, I customize private sessions for my client’s specific needs. This winter I have added guided meditations with candles or essential oils and warm blankets or a hot cup of tea at the beginning of our session to warm our bodies. Book those time blocks in your calendar – taking care of yourself is going to help you be a better version of yourself in whatever other meetings or commitments you have. Wherever you find yourself this winter, know that you are important, and you deserve to feel good.- Niche Pilates Studio, aiming to be intentional, purposeful, and inclusive in all we do
Mood-boosting activity #2: Dedicate time to get lost in a book
Curl up with a good book
Visit a bookstore to find a book about anything from a thrilling mystery to a wondrous trip to Thailand. Best therapy during a snow day is to curl up by the fire with “Where the Crawdad Sings” or any of our LO READS great novel picks.- Booktique, a nonprofit bookstore that supports cultural activities of the library with books “recycled” and resold to the community
Try Lily King’s short stories
Lily King’s “Five Tuesdays in Winter” is an incredible collection of short stories, threaded together by characters who display tremendous vulnerabilities. Almost every story contains a somewhat shocking plot twist (my jaw came close to hitting the floor upon conclusion of the first one). I’ve been a huge fan of King’s since reading her amazing novel, Writers & Lovers, and cannot think of a better author to curl up with this winter. – Alissa Redmond, Owner of South Main Book Co
Mood-boosting activity #3: Practice yoga daily
Create space for yourself
Literally and figuratively—can be your saving grace during a busy Holiday season, giving you the sweet gift of time, breath, and connecting to your body. Carve out a nook that will be your practice spot: The spot between your bed and the wall, in front of your couch, even your kitchen floor or laundry room. It’s important to be consistent with the spot to minimize decision-making when you commit to showing up on your mat. Once you have a physical space, your next obstacle will be accountability. Fortunately, there are plenty of yoga classes being held virtually. Find a few you like and add them to your weekly calendar. Attending live will decrease the likelihood of distraction by the home obligations that surround you, and you’ll have the added benefit of feeling connected to the teacher and community you are joining. – 502 Power Yoga
Fight off your mental obstacles
Recognize that there will always be distractions—reasons within and outside of yourself to not go forward. Don’t insist upon perfection, either within yourself or in the environment around you. Create as clean and quiet an environment as you can, either by visiting a local yoga studio or by arranging your space at home as best you can with the time and resources you have. If you are connecting to a live stream yoga class, arrange your space so that you can see and be seen, and so that you can hear the teacher. The benefits of a regular yoga practice include greater flexibility, balance, strength, self-awareness, focus, resilience, and inner peace. A grand promise and realized imperfectly by all—the recognition that we are on a journey of growth together offers us hope and light. – Yoga Revelation
Feel balanced with just a few minutes of yoga
Yoga is one of the best ways to release stress while improving strength and mobility. Just a few minutes a day can help improve insomnia, lower back pain, neck discomfort, and anxiety. Dedicating a small portion of your day to taking an online yoga or meditation class is a powerful way to stay healthy, feeling good, and mentally balanced. – Your Buddhi
Create a sacred space for your yoga practice
Then practice consistently, with intention and without expectation. And if you ever feel like you need some guidance back to your yoga practice, remember to just breathe. – The Studio Cleveland
Mood-boosting activity #4: Spend time preparing delicious meals
Homemade gnocchi can cure winter blues
From Florence, Italy, Gloria’s #1 gnocchi cooking tip. To make the best gnocchi of your life, do not peel or cut the potatoes before you boil them. Why? Because the potatoes will soak up the water like a sponge and not hold together later when boiled a second time as gnocchi. Learn from Gloria yourself in our virtual cooking classes from chefs around the world. At The Table Less Traveled, we cultivate the cultural connection, global friendships, and delicious local food you find during our boutique group trips to Italy, Peru, and beyond and transform them into hands-on virtual cooking classes. – The Table Less Traveled
Lean into your creativity with baking
Studies have shown that there are great emotional benefits to baking, such as stress reduction, improved concentration, and mindfulness, increased happiness, as well as being a great self-confidence booster. It also allows the baker a form of creative expression, which has been shown to improve overall well-being. So, what better way to beat the winter blues than to hop into the kitchen and create something scrumptious? Precious memories are waiting to be had in the kitchen, regardless of whether you’re baking alone or with a loved one. Our main rule? Have fun! – Itty Bitty Bakers
Mood-boosting activity #5: Take up quilting
Quilts add stunning color and beauty to your home
Whether you are a modern or traditional quilter, there are many ways to present your quilted works of art. Try displaying your quilts folded and stacked on a bookshelf or hang them on a quilt ladder placed against a wall. Another option is to have your quilt framed and then mount it on a focus wall, in a foyer, or use the framed quilt as a stylish & striking headboard for a bed. – Quilting with Lori
Quilting is an activity for every age
There’s no better way to make your home truly yours than by making custom quilts in your own style. Colors, sizes, and designs can be customized for everyone in your home, by everyone in your home. Young children up to adults can join in the creative process and make quilts for beds, walls, and tabletops. – Suzn Quilts
Mood-boosting activity #6: Create handmade holiday decor
Use fabric scraps to make ornaments and garlands
I am always thinking about how to bring art and the handmade into home decor. The holidays are the most festive time for playing with ideas and creating a gorgeous and unique home. Since I work with fabric and paper in my artwork, it’s no surprise that patterned fabric and papers find their way into my holiday decorations too. The great thing is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money. I use fabric scraps to make trees for a table, ornaments, and garlands. Get some paint pens and personalize store-bought stockings, ornaments, and table decor. Start a tradition of putting the year on all new creations and before you know it, every decorating season becomes a time capsule to explore. Repurpose furniture to become a stage for your creations and have fun with it. See more ideas at christinepeloquinartandhomes.com.
Enhance your space with embroidery
One of the easiest ways to make your home a cozier place is to create personalized embroideries for your personal spaces. Cross stitching is the most effortless and calming needlework technique, and is perfect for beginners. Search online for free cross-stitch patterns such as those found at DMC.com and CrossStitch4Free.com to get you inspired. Further enhance your embroideries as decorations by theming it based on celebrations or seasons, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and so on. – Cross Stitch 4 Free
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