Previously Posted: February 8, 2009
Have you felt yourself slipping into a slump lately? Is it taking more effort to drag your behind out of your bed these days? This week I’m taking a stand against this mid-winter drudgery--are you with me?
How do we begin? Well we already know the basics; scientists have linked the lack of sunlight experienced during the winter months to sleepiness, fatigue, and moodiness. So what do we do to combat this need for the big ball of fiery energy in the sky? As I see it, on these days of less sunshine we need to make our own light; create our own energy. These 5 tips will help you do just that!
1. Visualization: Close your eyes and remember the last time you were physically being warmed by the sun. Think about how you were feeling while soaking up the sun’s rays. Were you in a garden or on the beach? Do you remember any sounds such as the birds singing, kids laughing, or breezes rustling the leaves? Need something more realistic to get your started? Retreat to a cozy chair near a south facing window and enjoy the warm of the winter sun while reading a book. You may have just found your secret weapon against your mid-winter blahs. Remember, you can return to this place whenever you feel the need. Just close your eyes and go back for a visit to renew and warm up.
2. Put things in perspective: Daylight Savings begins on March 8th – that’s only 1 month away. And, we are gaining about 3 minutes of daylight everyday; by March 8th we’ll have about 11 ½ hours of daylight, compared to the 10 ¼ we have today. Plus, the average temperature on March 8th is 36 degrees. An average temp above freezing means more sunshine.
3. Get creative: Connecting with your creative side is an amazing day-brightener! Try a new recipe, experiment with a new hobby, create a visualization board or revert back to childhood with a coloring book and box of crayons!
4. Gratitude: As Wayne Dyer says, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” We may crave warmer and brighter days but don’t forget to acknowledge and appreciate all that this time of year has to offer. A crackling fire wouldn’t mean as much if it wasn’t for the nip in the air. And is there anything more beautiful than a fresh blanket of snow and frost covered trees? Start a gratification journal to keep a log of all there is to be thankful for during this time of year, and soon your outlook and perspective will begin to make a positive shift.
5. When the chill of the wintry days gets you down, remember what these brisk, gloomy days lead up to. Soon the temperatures will climb, the birds will sing, the trees will show signs of life, the ground will develop a subtle green tinge, and we will find ourselves amongst the most beautiful transformation that only God can provide. And, that thought alone may be the one thing that pulls me out of my little “funk” to survive these last few weeks of winter. For if it wasn’t for the winter, there wouldn’t be a spring.
Now it's your turn. Share how you create your own "light" to get yourself through the cloudy days of winter. Enter your comments below!
Jenny, Sister of Soul
Soulspiration of the Week:
“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
No comments:
Post a Comment