10 Dazzling Ideas to DEFEAT the Dreaded Down in the Dumps Depressing Time of Year

The decorations are down, the cookies have all been eaten, the presents have all been played with and put away, the scale is registering a number that seems impossible, the wind and snow are blowing and the credit cards bills are higher than we’d like.  Yes, Folks, it’s January.  We spend considerable time with the anticipation of the holidays.  It ends up taking on a life of its own, giving us something to look forward to when the leaves have fallen off the trees and the snow starts coming down.  For most of us, it’s a joyful time of year a time for family, friends, gift giving, indulgence and first-rate parties.  But as soon as January 2^nd comes around the weather outside becomes bitter, we are closed in the house and there are no whopping celebrations to look forward to, so NOW WHAT?

I must admit the subsequent months ahead are always roughest for me.  Cheerfulness, which is already not as natural for me as most of you might think, is even harder for me to come by, in these frigid winter months.  When January rolls around I constantly feel like my light bulb of happiness is a little dimmer than it should be. I’m not certain if it is the absence of vitamin D, the lethargic nights when it gets dark early and there is nothing to do other than watch TV, the scarcity of colors outdoors, the letdown after all the festivities of the holidays or the fact that I know that it will be MONTHS before we will be able to go outside without bundling up.  It’s most likely all of the above but no matter the reason, as soon as my New Year’s hang over is gone; I start to feel a little despondent.  It is a funk that I just can’t seem to shake, year in and year out.  I’m breaking that cycle and this year is going to be different for me.  I’m challenging myself starting RIGHT NOW.  I will not go down that rabbit hole again this year.  So, how am I’m going to pull this off?

After perusing a few professional websites on what I should do to beat the blues, I now know that I should sit by a light box, take vitamin D supplements, keep a set sleep schedule, eat healthy – no caffeine or alcohol, and exercise.  Oh GREAT!   I’m sure all of these tips work but frankly those things sound more depressing to me than the arctic winter weather.  So I’ve given this some thought and here is what I’m endorsing for myself for the remainder of this winter to make sure I don’t slip into my winter blahs.  If you too experience the winter blues, please feel free to challenge yourself along with me and make the most of this winter.

Consider this Deanna’s 10 Dazzling Ideas to DEFEAT the Dreaded Down in the Dumps Depressing time of year (I know, too many D’s….deal with it.).

1.       Get outside EVERYDAY -
No matter rain or shine, wind or snow, bundle up and let the cold crisp air enter your lungs, allow the red hue to shine on your cheeks and embrace the outdoors.  Even if the couch and blankets are calling your name.  Make sure it’s more than that quick trip you make to and from your car.  Really embrace the elements.

“I know that our bodies were made to thrive only in pure air, and the scenes in which pure air is found.” – John Muir

2.      Don’t isolate yourself -
This one is a big one for me, the part I love about the winter is that my inner homebody can come out.  I love to just be home; with myself, my thoughts, my rules, just me!  The warmer months seem to be filled with making plans, plans, plans.   Which can be good but I fancy being home.   I guess it’s a double edged sword because it’s one of the things I loathe about the winter too.  After a while, being isolated can do a number on your psyche.  This is an easy fix; get together with people once in a while!  Plan a beat the winter blues party or just gather with neighbors, family or friends to have dinner, to play games or just watch a movie.  

"Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster."
- Theodore Roosevelt

3.       Dress to impress – Ditch the cozy clothes and make sure you dress up for the day.  Maybe not like you’re attending a ball, but enough to feel good about yourself.  With all the bundling we have to do in the winter season, I don’t know about you, but I go for COMFY and WARM, when I get dressed.  Fashion tends to take a back seat.  Since I don’t have to punch a clock, I can stay in my fleece PJs and ripped sweatshirt all day long.  To some of you, this probably sounds like a dream come true but believe me it’s not.  Dressing cozy and comfy all day everyday just makes me feel sloppy, lazy and unattractive.  I think we all feel a little better when we spend a bit more attention on our appearance.   I always wonder why I save my nice clothes for special occasions.  No more.  I’m breaking that habit and treating everyday special.  So dress to impress, yourself that is, and try and stay off the peopleofwalmart.com website this season.

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude.  They lift you physically, and emotionally.”
 – Christian Louboutin

4.       Keep on Inspiring the Positive - Surrounding yourself with positive people and thoughts is the best way to break out of your winter funk.  For me creating this blog is one of the best motivations to stay positive.  People who know me always snicker when they read my encouraging words and wonder where they come from.   Let’s face it; it isn’t the person that they see most of the time.  I’m not a pessimistic person but I can be cynical and my personality isn’t exactly sunshine and roses.  So, what I’m saying is that I think one of the reasons I have chosen to write about positive experiences and aspects of life, is to spark the positive side of me that is within me but doesn’t make an appearance much.  Think of it as my alter-ego.  I can honestly say that I feel so inspired after I’ve been writing that there is no way to feel down in the dumps.  Surround yourself with whomever or whatever brings out your optimistic side and get rid of the negative.

“An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship.  Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you.”

 

5.       Embrace the season -    Believe me no one despises the winter chill more than I do.  Just ask my husband how many times I bring up moving to a warmer location; during the winter months (it is at least once a day).  Since the lottery hasn’t made me the owner of my own private island yet, I guess I just need to enjoy where I’m at right now.  Suck it up buttercup (it’s what I tell my eight year old all the time)!  One way to get over all the cold and snow is to just EMBRACE it and have fun with it.  Go sledding, build a snowman, and make snow angels, learn how to ski or lace up the ice skates and dare to try your fate, on the ice.  Bring out your inner child.  You know the sparkle that you see in kids’ eyes when the snow is falling, get that sparkle back and have fun with it. 

“When you stop doing things for fun you might as well be dead.” – Hemingway

6.       Vitamin D – Ok so realistically who is going to sit by a light box?  Not this girl.  I know that all of us north of the Mason Dixon line are vitamin D deficient and that can lead to depression, especially in the winter months.  So, when the sun is shining make sure you soak up as many rays as you can, take trip to the tanning bed (I know it’s not good for your skin but it does wonders for you well-being) or if you can pump your diet full of vitamin D foods like –egg yolks, tuna, salmon and cheese. I guess it can’t hurt trying, right?

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman

 

7.       Exercise – Ok, so I guess it’s inevitable, we have to exercise.  Not just only to keep our bodies happy but we need to exercise to keep our brains happy too.  Studies have shown that even a 10 minute walk can boost your brain activity.  I might hate this one the most, but in fact, when my ass is moving and my heart gets pumping I feel so much better about myself and it’s hard to have the blues.  Turn up the music and dance around the house while you clean and EXERCISE.EXERCISE.EXERCISE. 

 “Physical Fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body it is the basis of creative and dynamic intellectual activity.” – JFK

 

8.      Have something to look forward to - Doesn’t matter how big or small it is, keep something in your mind that makes you upbeat.  With all the hype and buildup of the holiday season there is a large let down when January rolls around and there is zilch, on the calendar.  If your calendar is blank, find something to put on it to build up the hype and keep you motivated to looking forward.   Do those projects you’ve been putting off, indulge in a spa treatment, go to a sporting event or concert, go on a tryst to the movies, and continue a hobby you love or start a new one you’ve always wanted to try.  When winter seems endless, you need to plan something exciting.  Plan something that excites you and do more of what makes you happy.

“If you never did, you should.  These things are fun and fun is good.” – Dr. Seuss

9.       Get away and break out of your mold - Ideally you should plan a vacation to a tropical location. Nothing beats the winter blues better than feeling the sand in your toes and the sun on your face but if you can’t swing that, get away for a night.  Book a hotel in your hometown with a pool or go to an indoor waterpark.  Escaping the elements for a brief period of time can do wonders to your brain.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life to not escape us.” – Anonymous

 

10.   Bring the color back into your life – Winter to me, seems so dark and dismal, so dull and ugly.  Sure the snow can be beautiful and there are pretty moments throughout winter but overall it seems like the color has been sucked out of the world, plenty of monotonous greys and browns.  So why not bring the color back?  Stimulate your visual sense by redecorating a space in your house and changing your surroundings.  Let’s face it, we spend more time inside this time of year, why not make it interesting?  It doesn’t have to be a remodel just move some things around, freshen up the space.  Pick up some colorful flowers, at the market and put them in a vase or buy a small item that has a pop of color.  It will be more enjoyable to see blue instead of being blue.  Experiencing the hues, on the inside, that are missing outside will sure brighten your day.

“She colors her thoughts with only the brightest hues.” – Kobi Yamada

So, there you have it.  If you are in a huff, just because it’s winter, snap out of it and follow my ten steps to defeat the down in the dumps and LIVE YOUR LIFE.   For those of you that know me, please keep me in check because I am not spirally into that dark place this winter.  I’m grabbing the bull by the horns, jumping on his back and riding him into spring.  Take that POLAR VORTEX!  Just remember, I’m not an expert, these are my opinions and my experiences but I’d like to think I know EVERYTHING, so with that,  I know I’m right, so you should listen to me!