How is it that the shortest days of the year often seem to drag on the longest? In that stretch between the holidays and those first signs of spring, it’s understandable to be feel completely and totally “over it.” Over having to bundle up in 15 layers to take the dog out. Over shoveling the driveway…again. Over being cooped up in the house.

Instead of trying to fast forward to the sunnier, warmer days that lie ahead (far ahead as they may seem), there are a few strategies that can help boost your mood—and dare I say appreciate and embrace—these dormant winter days.

1. Limit your screen time
   • Don’t get me wrong. I am really good at Netflix-ing. I watched all of Bridgerton in a single day and I wear that as a badge of honor. But there comes a point when you will reach the “end of Netflix.” Maybe not literally, but you will exhaust the well of programming that feels like a relaxing treat on a snowy day and hit that zoned out sluggish feeling of mindless consumption that does little to fill your cup. So set some parameters and try to cozy up on the couch only when it’s truly calling.
2. Get moving
   • When you’re feeling tired or bummed out, the last thing you want to do is move (again, hello Netflix). But getting the blood flowing is one of best things you can do to improve your mood. In fact, research shows that regular exercise raises serotonin levels in the brain, which boosts your mood and overall sense of well-being. And you don’t need to work out for hours every day to reap the benefits. Just focus on consistency—a regular yoga practice in the studio or at home, a daily walk around the neighborhood (bonus points for fresh air and Vitamin D), a weightlifting workout for 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week, heck dancing around your house! All of these things will make a significant positive impact on your mental health.
3. Phone a friend
   • For many of us, connecting with friends is always more difficult in the doldrums of winter. Add a pandemic to that, and at times it feels impossible. Luckily, we live in a time when technology makes it easier than ever to reach one another (even if it isn’t in person). Set up regular phone or Facetime dates just as you would coffees and happy hours. Sign up for a virtual class with someone you haven’t seen in a while. Or embrace the old school practice of letter writing—just taking the time to tell someone you’re thinking of them will not only bring a little joy to their day, but it’ll also bring a little to yours, too.
4. Tackle a project
   • Winter is the perfect time to get things done. You’ve got nothing to do and nowhere to be. And the simple act of crossing something off your to-do list can serve as a serious motivator and increase feelings of productivity. So, write yourself out a list of a few projects you want to accomplish by winter’s end. Make a few of them small and easily achievable: organize my junk drawer, take that box of clothes to Goodwill, edit my camera roll; and a couple that are a bit more ambitious: repaint the guest bedroom, try my hand at sourdough, set up that Etsy shop for the jewelry I’ve always wanted to sell. Not only will you feel good accomplishing something in the moment, come spring you can look back on your winter months as time well-spent.
5. Practice gratitude
   • The simple act of taking note of the things you are thankful for can quite literally change your life. It’s freezing in your house, but you can find gratitude for warm wooly socks and a strong cup of coffee. If it snows one more time you’re going to scream, but at least that blanket of white is rather pretty. And even on the days when it seems impossible to find gratitude for anything, you always have your breath. And the very fact that you can breathe in and breathe out is something we can all be thankful for.

These are a few of the many ways to beat back the winter blues. If you have a go-to practice that helps boost your mood let us know in the comments!