Trying on winter coats yesterday.

Last week’s mild weather turned noticeably colder this weekend. Here are my favorite cold weather mood-boosters.

1. plan a trip – happiness increases when people anticipate taking a vacation – whether they actually do it or not! So I spent a little time fantasizing about and planning my next tropical getaway.

2. buy flowers – this one is so easy! I buy flowers every weekend in bright colors to bring a little life into my place.

3. get outside – if the sun is shining like today, that’s an extra bonus. If not, listening to a podcast and breathing in the crisp air usually helps me get out of a funk.

4. embrace what winter has to offer – I read a lot around the time of the solstice on December 21st, encouraging the celebration of the season. I recently saw that people in the Nordics make it through winter by embracing all the fun activities to be had in winter, like skiing, the beautiful sunsets, drinking hot wine with neighbors.

A pagan solstice god.

5. be yin – This includes cherishing the slowness of winter, not rushing or stressing. What a great time to incorporate meditation, yin yoga, or get a weekly massage.
6. root vegetables – Eat seasonally and soak in all the nutritional benefits of root vegetables!
7. play music – Country, pop, R&B – every night. It’s like having your own little dance party.
8. take time for tea – I buy a new flavor of tea every week to test out. It’s another little treat that doesn’t cost a lot, but brings me a lot of happiness.