Beating the Winter Blues

Does it seem like those in between months of January, February, and March are dragging on and on? Let’s face it; you can’t constantly blame the most famous groundhog in the world, Punxsutawney Phil, for the prolonged winter distress you start to feel every year. Do you find yourself with a case of the “winter blues” in the midst of these dull months? I think it is safe to say that for the most part, we have all been there. It is easy to lose sight of the fun, bright, and cheery things in life within this season. Don’t let yourself be bullied by these boring months, so follow these tips on how to avoid these stifling dilemmas.

A great way to keep busy is finding a new hobby. Whether it is following a blog on the Internet or following a new workout schedule, hobbies never cease to prevent boredom. They provide something to look forward to each day, sometimes making the hours in the day go by faster. Both delicious and entertaining, baking is another great way to turn that frown upside down. Let’s be honest and admit that the best type of happiness is happiness that comes along with a freshly baked cake. Try this recipe for Confetti bars, a cookie dough square that looks like a party on a plate. 1 package of Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough 2 cups of miniature marshmallows 1-½ cups of milk chocolate covered pretzels, broken into pieces 3 tablespoons of rainbow sprinkles ¼ cup of Nestle Toll House Semi Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels Spend the evening preparing these few ingredients and you will end up with this beautiful and yummy result. For more information on how to bake this treat visit http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/29614/Confetti-Bars/detail.aspx

Another great way to remain stress-free and happy in these dull months is a combination of a great book and a warm fire. Add a cup of hot chocolate or tea and you have one relaxing evening. Making yourself comfortable is a great way to ease the discomfort and chilliness of January, February, or March. If books aren’t your thing, no worries, movies are great time wasters and they keep you interested and entertained. Netflix is becoming very popular, and with many TV series and movies at your fingertips, it is almost impossible to get bored. “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” John Lennon said it best, so as long as you are “wasting” time on something that benefits your happiness, “waste” away.

Say you are tired of sitting inside and you want to go out and embrace the cold weather, what do you do? Do the activities winter is known for, activities that are only available for cold weather. Skiing at Perfect North is a great way to exercise in the snow. Ice-skating is another entertaining winter sport that will create memories and potential bruises if you aren’t careful. These are fantastic ways to get some fresh air rather than being cooped up in the house all winter.

The most important piece of knowledge to remember when dealing with the “winter blues” is that winter is a great time to overcome the “plateau,” or rut that people oftentimes will fall into when they become jaded. Set goals for yourself and work hard to meet or even exceed them. The winter blues may seem like a negative “illness,” but in reality there are positives that come from it. By dealing with ways to cope with these dull months you are adapting to your surroundings, and transforming yourself into a well-rounded individual. Shutout this virus and make yourself a happier person because of it.