6 Mid-Winter Mood Lifters

Anyone feeling the winter blues? Sometimes after a string of cold, gray days, you need a little pick-me-up to help keep a positive outlook on life. And, if you have a predisposition toward depression, it is important to take charge of your moods and treat yourself with a little TLC during this time when lots of people succumb to “seasonal” depression.

You can help yourself refocus and recharge by doing several small, but intentional things this winter. It’s not hard; it just takes some thought and preparation to set yourself up for a Mid-Winter Mood Lift.

My 6 favorite Mid-Winter Mood Lifters:

1. Hot Tea

I only have to specify “hot” because I live in the South where iced tea is the assumption…everywhere else in the world it is simply referred to as “tea.”  Tea has heartwarming properties. Pick up a couple of boxes of organic tea on your next shopping trip, and plan to incorporate “tea time” into your routine. It doesn’t have to be fancy – all you need is a cup, hot water + tea bag and time to steep. Steeping is good for the soul.

2. Citrus

Citrus fruits are such gifts! Eating them boosts your immune system, and smelling them, or using citrus oils in aromatherapy, will give you an instant clap of clarity. I use essential oils for our family’s health and wellness, and I always have some kind of citrus oil on hand. Lemon, tangerine, orange or another blend – they are a worthy investment for your mental and emotional well-being. If you don’t have essential oils, just slice up a few oranges and lemons, put them in a small pot and add enough water to cover all the fruit. Heat to a high boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer on your stove for an hour or so. Simple aromatherapy in your kitchen!

3. Laughter

Truly, laughter is medicine that heals you from the inside out. Plan ahead for some laughs in your life! Grab a friend or two and watch a funny movie together {movies are funnier when you watch with a group}. If there’s nothing good at the theaters, check your own movie stash at home. I have a couple of old favorites on standby for my especially low times: Singin in the Rain, and complete seasons of I Love Lucy on DVD. You might have a list of old favorites that crack you up…why not pop one of those puppies in your player and work up some laughs at home? Or, if you have a favorite comedian or author who makes you smile, spend some quality time filling your brain space with those things, too. Laughing changes your perspective, releases endorphins and moves you out of “the blahs.” Make some time in your schedule for laughter!

4. Light

Part of the problem during winter months is that we are light-starved. Days are shorter, sunsets are earlier and clouds block our daylight a lot of the time. With this in mind, make sure you take advantage of the sun whenever you see it peeking through the grayness! Get outside for 10-15 minutes and sit in the sunshine during your lunch or whenever you have a moment to take a break. If you have little ones, they need the sun, too, so bring ‘em with you! Take a walk around the block and get some fresh air while you let the sun work its Vitamin D magic in you. A simple recharge from El Sol can make you feel really great!

5. Focus

One of the very best ways to lift your mood is to take the focus off yourself for a while. Plan to do something special for someone else this week: think of something that would bless your husband, or your friend, your mom, your neighbor or whoever and go do it! Sometimes, breaking up the logjam in your soul is as simple as turning your focus outward and getting a different viewpoint. It’s almost impossible not to feel a surge of joy when you take the time to bless someone else!

6. Scripture

There is nothing more life-giving than the breath of God flowing through His Word. During my own experience with depression in the past, it was God’s voice in Scripture that dug underneath my darkness and rooted into the soil of my true self. The Word of God transmitted through my spirit, transformed my mind, and then transformed the rest of me. If you want to feel a fresh breeze blow across your soul, open up your Bible and find God’s life-giving breath inside.

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It is ALIVE and it will put life into you! Mankind began by and is sustained by the breath of God – it is imperative that we are continually being filled by it! Read through the Psalms and discover your own expressions of lament and praise and communion with God. You won’t be sorry!

Whatever you do, just don’t let another day go by while you sink into a deeper, darker place. You don’t have to give in to the pull of depression! Tell it to leave in Jesus’ name, and then try some of my favorite mood lifters!

What are your favorite go-to remedies for the mid-winter blues?

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