Being from Minnesota, we get used to the cold winters and endure them from year to year. Most of the time, we are complaining about ice, snow, the temperature, or the short days, but it’s home. We often get asked, “Why do you live there?” For most of us, the answer is, “Because it’s where I grew up and my family is here,” “We love the seasons,” or “I have no idea.” Whatever the answer is, every year in the middle of winter, we look for ways to beat the winter blues.
One way is to move to a warmer state.
My sister, Deb, decided she had enough about 15 years ago. She made the plunge and moved to Florida. She is so much happier and likes to send us pictures of her on the beach every Sunday.
My son Ryan just moved to Tucson for a job last summer. He loves the weather!
One time, Deb came home for our brother’s wedding reception in January, and it was one of our below-0 stretches. She vowed to never come to Minnesota in the winter again if she could help it. Ryan has only been in Arizona for a few months. He has already adapted to the warm weather and complains when it is below 40 degrees in Minnesota.
This year, I am lucky enough to get to spend a month in Tucson. We just arrived this week, and I am already hooked!
My husband and I left Minnesota on Friday and drove to Texas before we stopped for the night. It’s pretty amazing how you can reach a different climate in one day. We drove through the plains of the Midwest and met an ice storm, a thunderstorm, and 50 miles an hour of wind. Then the next day, we drove across New Mexico and saw snow and 30-degree weather until we finally reached Arizona, where the temperature jumped to 65.
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The sun feels pretty amazing! I’m excited for a little break from the snow, ice, and cold of Minnesota.
However, I know that is not possible for everyone. You might have kids in school, other family members that need you, jobs that you can’t get away from, or not enough funds to make a trip right now.
This wasn’t always possible for me either, but I have been writing down “spend winters in warm weather” in my journal for a long time. This year all of the stars aligned, and I was able to give it a whirl.
But this isn’t a post about how to get to warm weather for the winter, you have to figure out how to do that on your own! (Psst, if that is what you want, start manifesting it now!)
This is a post about how to beat the winter blues because I will be back in it before it’s over.
Top 10 reasons you should love winter!
This list is so that we can appreciate winter for what it is and what it allows us to do. When we appreciate what we have, we attract more of what brings us joy!
- A few of our favorite holidays are during winter. Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.
- Warming up with a blanket, a fire in the fireplace, snuggling, or reading a good book!
- The cold and dark days are a great excuse to stay inside, slow down, and recharge.
- You can layer all of your favorite clothes into one outfit. Big sweaters, sweatshirts, and sweatpants are the best!
- A new year, new beginnings, and new, blank calendars and planners waiting to be filled and designed.
- Snow for skiing, sledding, skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, etc.
- Comfort food and warm drinks.
- No mosquitoes!
- The beauty of a fresh layer of snow on the trees.
- It’s only 3 months and when the sun starts shining again in the spring we are recharged and ready to go out and take on the world again.
Related Post: 29 Things To Do When It Is Really Cold Outside
But,
If you are one of the 10 million Americans who suffer from a little depression during the winter, and appreciating it is not going to work, here are 11 ways to beat the winter blues.
11 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
- Give your skin some TLC. Keep it moisturized. Consider going to a spa for a facial or a massage.
- Open your blinds during the day to let the sunshine in. When it’s dark or cloudy, consider getting a lightbox.
- Exercise! Outside if possible. Take in the fresh air and sunshine on clear days. When you are inside, exercise in a well-lit space.
- Turn on your favorite, upbeat music and dance around the house!
- Laugh at a comedy show or movie, with friends or watch YouTube videos.
- Clean your house. Clutter contributes to overwhelm and fatigue. Try setting a timer for 10 minutes a day. Wash your windows to let more sunshine in.
- Eat your fruits and vegetables. Comfort food is great but gaining weight over the winter may keep your depression going into the Spring. Find some balance.
- Plan day trips with friends. It will give you something to look forward to and get you out of the house.
- Write it out! Get out your journal and write down how you are feeling. Find ways to get creative with your writing. Poems, affirmations, mantras, stories, or rants. Write down all of the things you appreciate about winter. I gave you 10 examples above. Start a gratitude journal.
If you need help with starting a journal practice, sign up to download The Living Marvelously Journal.
I Want The Living Marvelously Journal!
- Plan a vacation! Get out of the snow and cold. The planning process can be just as fun as the trip. Take a week and break up the winter.
- Find a friend, therapist, or life coach to talk to. Sometimes just having someone to listen to you and validate your feelings can make you feel better.
Minnesota is still my home and I won’t be leaving there anytime soon, but I’m going to enjoy the sun in Arizona every moment I can. I am very grateful that this is a reality for me this year.
I hope you can find ways to beat the winter blues too. Let me know in the comments below if you have other suggestions.
“When it snows you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels.” ― Unknown
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ― Anne Bradstreet