Beating the Winter Blues
I’ve just arrived in Fiji for a dose of sunshine after a pretty wet and wild winter at home.
I’m not a big fan of the cooler months, and in years gone by (pre-covid especially), I’ve tried when I can to take a holiday in a warmer climate to help me through the season.
After a few years of travel restrictions, it’s felt like a long few winters in New Zealand, but I’ve developed some good tactics for beating the winter blues, and despite being at home for the most part this year, it hasn’t been all that bad.
I put this down to my focus on self care; elevating many of the things I try to do year-round to keep my mind, body and soul happy. While all different, all of these things tend to be based around the idea of hygge. Pronounced ‘hue-guh’, it’s a Danish word that sums up the essence of what is good in life. It’s about creating a feeling of ‘home’, or warmth in whatever place or space you’re in, and embracing the moment.
I thought I’d share them with you to pop in your toolkit for when you’re needing a little pick me up.
Take time for yourself
A super important focus no matter the season, some of my favourite things to do for myself during winter include booking in for the occasional massage, soaking in a hot bath with magnesium salts and lavender, and creating warm and calming spaces to curl up at home while the weather does its wild and chilly thing outside.
Cooking and enjoying great food
Arguably one to pop under ‘self-care’, good food is a big comfort. I love getting creative in the kitchen and experimenting with nourishing and warming meals that warm the body and soul, especially when cooler days and nights keep me inside.
Movement Indoors
By now, you probably know that keeping my body moving is important to me. In the winter, I tend to take my workouts indoors, opting to go to the gym or attempt a home workout. It can be hard to get motivated to exercise when it’s cold and dark, but I always find I feel much better after doing so.
Planning things to look forward to
While short, this Fiji trip has undoubtedly given me something to look forward to throughout the cold months. Coming right at the end of the season, it’s been an amazing reward to look forward to after many days of leaving and coming home in the dark.
I know how lucky I am to have had this to look forward to, especially after the last few years at home. Thanks in many ways to those years, I’ve learned the importance of planning other ‘at home’ things to look forward to to help beat the winter blues.
This year, I had two small trips within NZ. One of those was the Saint Clair Half Marathon in sunny Marlborough (12km run for me), another was a girls art trip to the Coromandel. We stayed in a beautiful bach and took on an intimate art workshop with the lovely and talented Claire Delaney. Walks on the beach, good food and a spot of creativity. Is there anything better?!
Connection and coming together
It’s easy to let socialising fall by the wayside during winter, but putting in steps to make sure it happens, I believe, can change your mindset throughout the season. I made it a priority to share good food with good people this winter, combining a few of my must-dos to beat the winter blues: enjoy good food, plan things to look forward to, and connect with loved ones.
Alongside this, I even got amongst the FIFA Women’s World Cup here in Auckland, heading along to two games, and was amazed at how uplifting it was to be there amongst the action, even in a crowd full of strangers. Witnessing women on the world stage and celebrating their success with a stadium full of strangers was an experience unlike many others!
What are your favourite things to do to keep those winter blues away? I’d love to hear about them for next winter!
