What Winter Doldrums? Spring into Sunny Feelings Now!
Posted on 19. Mar, 2008 by Susan in Motivation
(This article was written and reprinted from my column in the Evansville Courier and Press.)
If the house is a wreck, Tivo is a favorite sport and the kids are arranging a coup, it’s time to peel away from the couch, put away the slippers, and take small steps to get out of that cabin fever rut.
The cold, gray gap between the glitz of the holidays and the sunny clarity of spring can throw some of us into winter doldrums. Sports fans are anxiously awaiting March Madness, gardeners are dreaming of getting their hands in the earth, and kids are thinking of sand boxes and sprinklers. How can we effectively change our routine now, when it’s still ice covered, cold and dreary outside? It takes some planning and effort, but the steps below can turn up the heat despite the weather.
De-clutter
Increased time indoors over the winter months can result in more clutter, like stacks of papers and magazines, and scattered gloves and toys. Tolerating clutter can create negative living patterns that make it difficult to live your best life. De-cluttering increases your energy level by eliminating procrastination guilt and mental energy drain.
According to organizational giant Peter Walsh, “a clutter-free, organized life is about living in a way that helps create your best possible life – happy, stress-free, creative, motivated and enriching.”
Grab a pen and note pad and evaluate your home, office and car. Write down anything that is even slightly off from the way that you want it. Select the top three areas that need improvement, or are the least satisfying to you, and create a plan to better them. Start small, such as cleaning out your magazine rack, the pantry or one drawer. You will build momentum as you feel the affects of clearing out things that are burdening.
Get Moving!
According to
Duke University
Pick something that you know you can do easily, like brisk walking, biking, or playing basketball with your kids. If the weather is not conducive, visit Lloyd Pool for an indoor swim, ice skate at Swonder Ice Rink, exercise at a gym, or pop in an exercise DVD. Light to moderate exercise can boost your mood for up to four hours.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
Do little things that feel like spring time, now. Defy the weather and get outside anyway, especially during brief pockets of winter sunshine and soak up some Vitamin D. Treat the senses to a bouquet of flowers in your kitchen. Nurture your indoor plants. Retire the comfort food cookbooks and rev up with warmer weather cuisine. Listen to your summer music picks. Jimmy Buffet, anyone? Start planning outdoor activities and projects now, so that you are ready to go at the first sign of tee-shirt weather.
By simply adopting a few of these tips, you’ll create a sunny attitude no matter what the temperature. After all, it isn’t so much the season that dictates our mood, but our expectations.
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