It's January! Just a couple of weeks past the Winter Solstice. The days are growing longer, they say, but not so much it's noticeable yet.
Where I live, January is the coldest month of the year. That's where the CHILLS come in. Snow and ice, school closures, the joy of scraping frost from windshields. I don't love the cold. I don't ski, I don't ice skate. I don't snowshoe. Statistically, more people die from cold-related injury than from heat-related injury. Yup. Hypothermia happens, people!
After Christmas is over, I'd much prefer the very next day be 60 degrees with tulips springing from the earth.
Alas, I have to wait a couple of months for that.
January is also the beginning of flu season around here! FEVER! (AND chills, of course.) Additionally, there's the headaches, the sore joints and throats, the terrible cough. We're lucky these days to have flu intervention medications that can reverse the progress of the disease. TamiFlu. A godsend!! But only if you take it within the first couple of days. If you miss that tiny window, you're out of luck and stuck in bed for a week or more.
And for a lot of people living in those parts of the world that experience four distinct seasons, January represents something of a mental health challenge. It's called Seasonal Affective Disorder--or, appropriately, SAD. Symptoms include low energy, increased appetite--especially for sugary foods--trouble concentrating, changes in sleep patterns, and sadness.
So, for some of us, getting through January is about survival!
So let's survive! Here are some tips for getting through winter with your warmth, health, and mind intact.
WARMTH:
- Dress in layers--and lots of them if you live in the north. The great thing about layers is that if you get too warm (hot flashes, anyone?) you can take a few off!
- Warm feet means a warmer you. It's true. Our legs can tolerate a lot of cold, but if we keep our feet warm, like with a great pair of wool socks, the rest of you stays warmer.
- Electric blankets and rice bags. My daughter introduced us to Warmies, adorable stuffed animals you can microwave for a couple of minutes to give your bed a leg up on warming YOU up.
- Hot drinks. I love my herbal teas. Peppermint is a favorite. I also love cinnamon tea with a splash of hot sauce. Yum. And, of course, hot chocolate in it's many varieties.
- Snuggle up with someone you love. Always a hit with me.
HEALTH:
- Your doctor may encourage you to get the flu shot every year.
- Avoid sneezers and coughers like, well, the plague. Because when you're in the midst of a nasty flu, it might as well be a plague of Biblical proportions, right?
- Wash, wash, wash. Keep those hands clean! Keep surfaces--especially those you touch frequently, clean with sanitizing wipes or Lysol spray. Even a simple warm soapy washcloth is hugely effective.
- Avoid wearing yourself down. Get good sleep, avoid overdoing, eat right, exercise. A tired, unhealthy body is more vulnerable to viral attacks.
- Hydrate. It's easy to get dehydrated when it's cold out. We tend to drink more when it's hot. So develop a habit of drinking plenty of water.
MIND
- Find joy in the very fact that it's winter! Think gorgeous and comfy sweaters, super-soft blankets, hot chocolate, the beauty of the world right after a snowstorm, the wonder of snowflakes. Snowflakes, you say? Wow! They're stunningly beautiful. Check this out!: SNOWFLAKES ARE BEAUTIFUL!
- Here comes the sun! Prioritize time in the sun. That's not always easy on the shortest days of the year. My poor husband leaves for work before dawn and doesn't get home until after the sun sets in the middle of winter. On warmer days, he gets out during his lunch break to take a short walk, or even to go to lunch at some place with big windows so he can sit in the sun for awhile. You can also add high intensity lights to your home or workspace.
- Keep your personal spaces from getting cluttered. I know it sounds a bit strange, but it's actually quite effective. When the world outside is unlivable, keeping the world inside cozy and organized can help make that space a refuge from the dark.
- Get some good quality sleep, at least a little daily exercise, and make sure you're eating a healthy, balanced diet. Mind and body are so incredibly intertwined that keeping a strong, healthy body can be an important factor in balanced mental health.
- Make time for creativity. There's something soothing and satisfying about starting--and completing--something beautiful. The greatest thing about being creative is that there are no wrong choices. It's not like math with strict rules. You can do anything, and if you don't like the results, no one has to know. And you can start fresh over and over again.
If you're just dipping your toes into the water of creativity, coloring a Mandala is a great place to start.
Try this FREE one from our website: ARTISTICCHAOSINK MANDALA
Just click the link and hit print! While you're there, take a look and see what other fun coloring products we have to get your creative sauces simmering!
Namaste!