Winter Blues? New Year Slump? Lack of sunshine?
Call it whatever you want, but this time of year always gets me feeling meh. All the cozy, warm holidays are behind us….yet, the warmth of Summer nights and beach trips aren’t quite close enough.
Just a few weeks ago, I was making big New Year goals full of excitement and positivity. But here I find myself at the end of March fighting the slump.
I HATE feeling blah. So, I am sharing some of the ways I fight the slump and try to stay motivated, happy, and feeling my best.
- Mindset. When I wake up thinking, “I am so tired” or “I am so not feeling this day,” it results in have a terrible day. So, I literally wrote this quote
on a sticky note and read it to myself every. single. morning. “I radiate confidence and positivity!” Let your mind tell your body how it feels, not the other way around. I have pinned some of my favorite positive quotes, here! - Personal Development. It sounds super, cheesy…or maybe super, obvious if you’re into PD. While I was pregnant, I fell in love with personal development books. There are some really great, life changing books out there. Yes, that sounds cliché, but it’s true. If you’re rolling your eyes, it’s okay. I get it. I used to do the same thing, I don’t know if I thought I was above personal development books or if I thought they were a scam. But as I write that I cringe, because now I am the biggest fan. If you’re a novice–personal-development-reader (yes, I just made that a thing), start small. I have a board on Pinterest of some of my favorite quotes from some of my favorite authors, you can find here. If you are like me and don’t have a lot of extra time to actually read, I highly recommend Audible. You can listen to audio books before bed, in the car, or while you workout. It’s like itunes for books, you can try for free here! OR there are a ton of free podcasts that focus on personal development, as well.
- Move your body. Go for a walk. Go to the gym. Find a home workout you like. Just move. Elle Woods knew what she was talking about when she said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” It doesn’t have to be super intense, you don’t even have to know what you’re doing. Turn on some music and dance around your house, seriously..it’s the cheapest therapy you’ll find. Even better, bundle up and get outside and go for a walk…cold sunshine is better than no sunshine.
- DETOX. Detox from the tv, junk food, sitting on the couch. When I feel myself getting in a slump, it’s normally after a weekend of eating junk, not drinking enough water, and lack of sleep. I know what to do to make myself feel better, but sometimes in that slump making the first move is hard. So, I start with baby steps. I’ll drink more water. Seriously, water is the cure to everything…just ask any mom. I force myself to turn the TV off at 10pm. Late night Netflix’ing results in late night snacking and exhaustion. Binge watching Netflix is awesome, once in awhile…but if I let myself do it every single night, I am tired, lazy, grouchy, basically I am not the best version of myself, not even a little bit. When I go off the rails with junk food, I always do a simple, gentle Detox. I’ve talked about it plenty of times so I won’t rant again, but if you’re interested in the deets check here. This DETOX helps me get back on track focused on my health, boosts my natural energy, and clears my digestive tract of the junk. Your “detox” may look different, maybe you go into an online shopping spree or an endless candy crush tournament. So my advice is find the things that weight you down in a slump, and detox!
- Change it up. Change your routine. I can’t get out of my slumps when I stick in the same routine. Sometimes that means getting out of the house and doing something fun with Benjamin. Sometimes just changing my normal radio station or podcast can work. If we don’t like where we are at (insert middle of a slump), change it!
- Treat Yourself. What would make you feel good? For me, a new pair of leggings, a walk around Target with a vanilla latte or a pedicure. Yep, any of those
would do the trick. I’m not saying to go drown your sorrows with retail therapy. But sometimes a latte and a little you time are all it takes. Check out some of my Amazon Favorites here, including my fave leggings that feel Lululemon soft without the steep price! I am also obsessed with this brand, Rad Vibes Only, that offers apparel with positive, fun sayings! You gotta check them out! You can use the discount count ColdCoffeeGrind for 10% off your order! You’re welcome!
7. Talk about free therapy. As cheesy as it may sound, journaling is therapeutic. There’s so many types of journaling, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sit down as your 10 year old self and document the dramatics of your day. I mean you totally can, and I know a lot of people who thrive for that. For me, I love bible journaling, it’s like coloring for adults. I also found a morning affirmation journal to be helpful, each day I list 5 things I am thankful for and 5 affirmations. I’ll share with you my example for today’s entry, it doesn’t have to be super serious, but I think it’s a positive way to start the morning.
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- THANKFUL
- I am thankful for the sunshine.
- I am thankful for a warm car to get Benjamin to and from school.
- I am thankful for coffee.
- I am thankful for Benjamin’s 3429382 different laughs
- I am thankful for audiobooks.
- AFFIRMATIONS
- I am strong.
- I am calm, happy, and at peace.
- I am a great mom.
- I choose to not criticize myself or others around me.
- I am doing my best and that is enough.
- THANKFUL
These are the ways I work myself out of slump. I would love to hear what helps you fight the Winter blues and stay happy! Comment below with what works for you a#nd remember, sunshine is coming! #allthepraisehands
It always sounds easier than the effort it actually takes, but the first step for me is making the decision the feel better!
Until next time!
xoxo,
Brittany