Written by Alex Grace, Living.Pretty.Happy
Today, I’m so pleased to introduce guest blogger and friend, Alex Grace!
Alex is a well-being lifestyle blogger at Living.Pretty.Happy where she writes positively-minded content intended to encourage, motivate & help you feel happier. A UK Blog Award Lifestyle Finalist, Alex covers well-being, beauty, wellness, travel & days-out.
Alex has beautifully put together this post on feeling happier throughout Winter – something I’m sure we all need to read about from time to time when those pesky Winter blues set in:
5 Fun Ways to Feel Happier this Winter
I really look forward to winter (you’d have heard me say…never!) Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas & all the build-up, but the rest of the season, well I’d very happily skip it. The cold days & the longer periods of darkness can play havoc with our mental state. But there is hope!
So before you take yourself into full-on hibernation mode allow me to help you develop a winter-induced spring in your step.
Here are 5 fun ways to feel happier this winter…
- Create Uplifting Playlists & SING!
Music has a unique ability to help influence our mood. Spend some time thinking about songs that uplift you, motivate you, make you feel good & put them all into a playlist. They’re then easily at hand when you need to start to feel happier.
And while you’re at it, get singing! Students at Goldsmiths University conducted a study (https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/why-does-singing-make-us-feel-good/) that discovered singing gives a natural high & is good for our mental well-being – especially when done as part of a group. Now if that’s not a good excuse to join in the Christmas Carols this year, I don’t know what is!
- Watch Comedies
This is my personal favourite. Watching comedies has been part of my daily routine for a long time now. Why? Because there is nothing like a good belly laugh to raise the spirits. Think TV shows, movies & stand-up. Anything that gets you laughing, smiling and releasing the happy hormones.
- Start a Weekly Tradition
Pick something you & your friends or loved ones will find fun to do together & turn it into a weekly tradition during the winter months. How about Mexican Mondays, Film-night Fridays or Sleep-Over Saturdays?
Having something in the diary involving others to look forward to, adds a positive note to each week & helps keep those (all too easily experienced) feelings of winter loneliness & lethargy at bay.
- Volunteer
When we help others it promotes positive physiological changes in the brain associated with happiness. These rushes are often followed by longer periods of calm all helping to promote a better sense of well-being for us.
Rather than hide away, commit to volunteering for a cause that means something to you. You’re more likely to stick with it when you know others are depending on you. It’s also very motivating to be involved in something bigger than you. Plus, you’re out meeting people thereby not isolating yourself – total winter win!
- Take the Best of what Winter has to Offer
Rather than focus on everything you don’t like about winter – which is guaranteed to put you in a negative state of mind, how about accepting it for what it is? (I mean you can’t really stop winter can you.) Instead learn to make the most out of what you do enjoy about it.
Maybe embrace the comfort of the season – start practising a bit of food-freedom, become a connoisseur of the hot-chocolate, watch Christmas movies on repeat. Whatever makes you happier!
This is also a great time of year to take up a new hobby – pick something you like the sound of and give it a go! Creative hobbies in particular help to calm & focus your mind.
Wishing you a fun and happy winter!
5 Fun Ways to Feel Happier this Winter was written by Alex Grace
You can connect with Alex on the following platforms!
Blog : Living.Pretty.Happy https://livingprettyhappy.com/
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Twitter : @liveprettyhappy https://twitter.com/liveprettyhappy
Facebook : @livingprettyhappy https://www.facebook.com/livingprettyhappy/
Pinterest : Livingprettyhappy https://www.pinterest.co.uk/livingprettyhappy/
Great post, which of these do you think is most important?
I think accepting winter for what it is is extremely important! If you’re constantly fighting it, all you will do is lose.