Beating the Winter Blues

This is truly my favorite time of year!

Listen. January, February and March were always the worst for me. Nothing but feelings of being cold, stuck and dead. It’s hard, especially living up north and knowing that spring was still so far away. This is so common for people during these next few months. And I finally decided no more. I’m a huge advocate that your home can be anything you want it to be. If you want it to be spring but its snowing outside, good news — it can’t snow inside your house. So why not brighten up the space you live your whole day in? Make it scream spring or summer or desert or cabin or whatever else you want it to be.

Every year at this time, I tend to follow the same steps to combat any unwanted feelings of sadness and winter blues. And now when I look back at my years of photos, the brightest happiest ones are typically in this time of year.

Here’s my late winter gameplan each year:

1. Get Christmas stuff down rather soon. We usually take the week between Christmas and NYE off, so it’s the perfect time to get decor down and organized nicely.

2. DEEP clean the house. This is so important. I plan for one room a day and clear out closests and drawers, ruthlessly donating things. Wipe down baseboards, walls, ceiling fans.

3. In addition, I fully unclutter the house. Getting rid of furniture even. Whatever I impulsively bought the past year that I don’t actually love. I’ve been learning to live with less things while I wait for the perfect item rather than grabbing a thrifted piece to fill a void. No more of that. Knock it off. Live with an empty corner, it won’t kill you.

4. Add more color!!!!! I can’t stress this enough. If you’re scared of color, just start easy and get things like pillow covers or sheets that you can easily swap out but seriously, add more color during this season! I really lean into soft blues, yellows and pinks and it instantly makes my house feel like a slice of heaven. Even when its rainy out.

5. Get fresh flowers. Having a vase of fresh flowers in the central room does wonders. I keep just one simple vase with one kind of flower on the coffee table and it makes me subconsciously smile every day.

This time of year doesn’t have to suck the life out of you. To be blunt; that’s just your choice to let your circumstance determine your emotions. But you have the control!

In addition to making your house peaceful, pay attention to your dopamine inputs each day!

1. Try cutting your tv time shorter and add 10 minutes of yoga instead.

2. Rather than a slow morning in bed, make it a slow morning with a long shower, exfoliation, etc.

3. Instead of focusing on the past, start dreaming of the spring — plan out a patio herb garden, or make a bucketlist of spring activities you want to try.

Here’s to a bright and uplifting start to your year! I pray you find the silver linings and these fresh starts and learn to let go of ideals you thought you had to keep.