Monthly Musings: Fighting the Winter Blues

It’s time for the first Monthly Musing of 2023.

1. Something you do for yourself to beat the winter blues?

I’ll be honest…I don’t really have winter blues. I like winter. I live in the South and the summers are HUMID, so I am fine with winter. But I would say, wear warm, cozy clothes, and make sure you have plenty of light. If you’re at home, open your shades. Even if it is dreary and cloudy, it is still daylight, and that is always nice! A mug of something hot always makes things better too 🙂

2. Something you do for your family to bring Joy over the winter?

I just continue to be my cheerful, sunny self! LOL

3. Favorite cozy items or go-to’s?

blanket/throw, a warm drink, and a book. Add a cat (or two) in your lap and you’re set!

4. Winter exercise habits or practices?

just bundle up and get outside in the daylight (unless the road is slick…don’t do that). Seriously though, my favorite time to run outside is in the winter. I bundle up and head out.

5. Do you practice journaling or meditation?

no. I do pray but I do not meditate or journal. I know it’s not the same as journaling but I sometimes do “brain dumps” when I have a lot to do. Just taking a few minutes to stop and think, and then writing it down, helps A LOT!

6. Do you light candles or use essential oils to relax?

no. Most candles are too strong and make my head hurt (plus, the cats would more than likely play in them :/ ). I do have essential oils but do not use them. I can relax fine without them, but I do like the smell of lavendar so maybe I need to use that one 🙂

7. Any bedtime rituals you would like to share that promotes quality sleep?

I don’t know if it is necessarily a ritual but I “fix” my bed and then I get in and read. By fix, I mean, I pull an extra blanket up, and put a pillow on both sides of the bed. Recently, I’ve been having pretty bad back pain and it is usually worse when I’m sleeping. I figured out that it was probably coming from my hips, so now I sleep with one of my knees up on a pillow. Having one on each side of me means that when I turn over, there’s always a pillow 🙂 I have come to realize that those two pillows, in addition to the extra blanket, is just extra EXTRA cozy, so when I lay down, I. AM. OUT!

8. What are your morning habits that help prepare for a good day?

I should preface this by saying, despite the fact that I am at work by 6am, and can get up early on Saturdays to run, I am not a morning person. So, everything I do is to help me actually get going and get out the door. The night before, I try to lay out or hang my clothes that I am wearing the next day. Even if I don’t have them laid out, I have at least been thinking about it, and more importantly, checking the weather and then thinking about my clothes. Not having to figure out clothes in the morning really helps this not-a-morning person. Anything that takes much thought in the mornings will slow me down, which then seems to mess my whole day up, so if trying to not have to do too much thinking in the mornings is a habit, then there you have it LOL.

9. Favorite way to spend a day off in the winter?

at home, in my PJs, fireplace on, naps, binge watching TV, reading, coffee, cat loving, getting things done (but only if it doesn’t require going outside)

10. Favorite winter themed movies?

I know there are so many more but the only two I could think of was “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Frozen”.

*linking up with Holly & Patty for Monthly Musings