How to Maintain Your Positive Vibes This Winter

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The colder temps are rolling in fast and winter can be a hard time for people. Yes, the snow is beautiful and there is an abundance of outdoor winter activities to enjoy but, if you are like me, you have a hard time getting outside with Duluth’s frigid temps. Last year was my first winter in Duluth and I struggled to keep positive during those times. The usual recommendations for winter blues, like a sun lamp and Vitamin D, just weren’t for me. Now, going into my second winter, there are a few things that I have learned from last year to help me feel better until it begins to warm up.

How to Maintain Your positive Vibes This Winter | Duluth Moms Blog

Find a reason to leave the house

I am not a homebody so being cooped up in my house brings my mood down but when the temperature drops below freezing, I don’t want to leave either. So here I am in this vicious circle of my own bad attitude because I don’t want to be inside but I don’t want to brave the cold. I am enrolled in a monthly membership to Fit4mom and I have enrolled my toddler, Harper, in a local soccer program. Between these two activities, it motivates me to get out of the house a few times a week.

Have a set schedule

The cold weather makes me not want to do anything besides sit on my couch wrapped up in a blanket. Having a set schedule makes me get going in the mornings and helps my days at home go by quicker. An example of my typical morning is:

7:00am – Breakfast
7:30am – Playtime
8:00am – Harper activities (15 mins of art, music, science, and reading)
9:00am – Gross motor activity with Harper
9:30am – Snack
10:00am – Nap
12:00pm – Lunch

Find an alternate hobby

I like to run but like I mentioned before, I cannot bring myself to get outside in the cold temperatures and I don’t own a treadmill. I had a hard time staying positive in the beginning of the winter last year because I wasn’t running and I didn’t feel like myself. Around December, I started doing yoga and I fell in love with it! I was able to physically do things I had never been able to do before and found a peace within myself. This year, I am looking forward to the colder temperatures so that I can pick my yoga practices back up!

Eat some citrus and summer fruits

This one sounds silly but hear me out: when you think of sitting on a beach eating fruit, what fruits do you think of? Pineapple? oranges? grapes? Something about snacking on these fruits reminds me of summer and sitting on a beach and it totally helps my mood (plus they’re healthy choices!)

How to Maintain Your positive Vibes This Winter | Duluth Moms Blog

Have a support system

If you have a solid friend or family group, great! Utilize those connections and create group chats so when everyone is boarded up in their home you have someone to share that funny meme that comes across your timeline with! If you are still searching for your village, check out our Duluth Moms Blog Community + Conversation Facebook page. I found my very first friend in Duluth by posting there and asking for a playdate. It is hard to make yourself vulnerable but there are lots of mamas out there who are looking for adult conversation also!

The winter can be a tough time for people, not only because of the cold, but because of the extended darkness and typical gloomy skies. You may need to get creative on ways to find an inner peace and positive space within yourself but winter can be a time to try out new hobbies and activities. However, if you or someone you know is struggling with depression call 911 right away or contact Duluth’s Burch Tree Center’s 24/7 hotline at 218-623-1800 or 844-772-4724.