5 Ways to Stay Happy and Avoid the Winter Blues

You’ve all heard about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is usually attested to having the winter blues. But you can stay happy this season. With some creativity and willingness to try new things, you don’t have to experience feeling down and out. 

Try these 5 ways to avoid the winter blues.

Why Do We Get Sad During the Winter?

There could be several reasons you could experience a blue mood in the winter. It’s easy to blame the cold weather and shorter days, but you may also want to consider a few other reasons.

When it’s cold outside you might want to just curl up on the couch and get lazy! But it’s no time to let your gym habit slide. It’s well known that exercise can boost your mood. Especially aerobic activities. 

Any type of fun exercise activity can increase positive mood feelings. If you live where there’s lots of snow, try snowshoeing or ice skating. Skating outside especially is so refreshing.

Other reasons you could feel sad in the winter, is all the hustle and bustle with the holiday season. You may be worried about money and overspending. You may not be eating right and starting to feel a little sluggish. Too many parties to go to and feeling too busy. Or you might be feeling left out and all alone. Try and remedy each of those things if they affect you in a negative way. 

But most of all exercise and get yourself moving!

Stay Active, Stay Happy

Vigorous exercise that lasts at least 20 minutes, 4 times a week can reduce depression and anxiety. Avoid the winter blues and stay happy by going to the gym to boost your mood, or do an aerobic type of exercise video at home. 

If you can’t go outside because of the weather, use exercise equipment in the house. 

Try this mini stepper with resistance bands. Because this stepper has removable training bands, you will get a total body workout. Using this stepper will tighten and tone 20 different core muscles, including your chest, back, and shoulders. An awesome way to beat the weather blues!

Spend Time with Friends and Family

It’s always fun to spend time with your friends or family. Especially when you have a game night. Especially in the cold winter months when staying home alone is such a big temptation. Boost your mood and have some fun. Try these two games on your game night.

Quickwits Party Card Game

This party card game is fast-paced and fun! You will have lots of laughs as you and your friends shout out hilarious answers. There are some adult themes so you want to be careful who you play with! Maybe not teenagers or gramma! Lots of laughter though! Laughter is good like a medicine. Your ‘sad’ won’t last long with this game!

Twister Ultimate Party Game

Playing this Twister game is always fun with the kids. If you participate and play with your kids, you will have a blast. This Twister game includes a spinner and a plastic floor mat twice the size of the original. It even has more and bigger colored spots.

And Twister has a new twist to it! It has an optional spinner-less play. You can use Alexa with it. You’ll just have to get it to see how that works!

Set a New Goal or Start a New Healthy Habit

Setting goals or starting a new healthy habit can help you stay happy and avoid those winter blues. 

Use this goal setting journal to achieve your long term goals. Journaling can help you achieve your goals. This book combines proven elements like breaking down long term goals and identifying negative habits that are holding you back. 

Other techniques used in this book by the most affluent people in the world are visualization, meditation, and gratitude. 

This is a great book to help you get over the winter blues because you can set your goals and fulfill those big dreams you have. 

Cozy Up With a Good Book

Everyone loves a good book! If you’re stuck inside on a cold winter day, just cozy up with some hot chocolate and read those books you’ve been wanting to get at for months.

This ‘Red Queen’ 4-book set is a great choice.

Try Out Some New Recipes

The Joy of Cooking has been around for generations. This classic cookbook has been fully revised and updated by the author’s great-grandson and his wife. 

Try some new recipes and stay happy cooking this winter season. The process is just as much fun as the end result. 

There’s nothing better than enjoying a home-cooked meal with the people who matter to you the most.

Related: Southwestern Chicken Soup

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You can stay happy this winter even if the sun doesn’t shine much! Do some fun activities and keep up with your exercising. Winter doesn’t have to be gloomy!

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