"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape -- the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."
- Andrew Wyeth

Precious Souls!

As fall morphs into winter, it can bring with it a gloomy cloak that even the hardiest of us can have trouble shrugging off. The days get colder, the sun becomes fickle in its affections, and all the colourful vibrancy of the summer has faded along with your energy level it seems.

Well, if the long nights and bleak grey days of November kicked your lethargic butt, I thought I'd share a few little tips to save you from slipping into hibernation for the next five months...

7 Ways to BEAT THE PRE-WINTER BLAHS 

1. Vibrant Foods – We tend to dive into the heavy carbs at the first sign of cold weather...further beaching us in our Pre-Winter Blahs. Instead try choosing foods that are colourful (AKA vitamin-rich), fresh, or spicy!  Enliven your taste buds, enliven your mood.
 

2. Unpredictable Day – Shake yourself out of a hibernation rut by embarking on a “Day O’ Unpredictability”.  If you usually dress in dark colours, go for red or hot pink. If you always use humour as your fallback, try having some really serious interactions. Take a different route to work, eat something completely different for lunch, or try a little something new sexually and sizzle away the blahs.

3. Heat Up Your Exercise – The treadmill and stationary bike don’t have a chance against the pull of hibernation, yet physical activity is imperative for energy boosting in this season. Try supercharging your body and soul with more exotic and pleasurable exercise pursuits like salsa lessons, swimming, belly dancing, or hot yoga. Not only will this wipe out the Pre-Winter Blahs, but it could also help you bypass the need for that inevitable “Lose 10 Pounds” resolution by the New Year.

4. Laughter Injections – Never mind Vitamin B shots…inject yourself with a good Will Ferrell movie, youtube video hijinks, or a good tickle!  Laughter has been proven to increase energy, reduce food cravings, bust stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, fight illness, and provides the benefits of a light workout.

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."
- Victor Hugo

5. Take it Outside – If you hide indoors from November to April, you'll miss tapping into the energy of nature that is powerful in any season. Sure, it’s hard to compete with summer’s symphony of colours, smells, and tastes, but there is a beautiful stillness to be found in this season… One that invites us to sit on a pile of leaves or (god help you) snow and truly exhale. So, be sure to get out there every day and let the rich scents, gentle sunshine, and crisp air be your tonic.

6. Margarita Therapy – Most of us don’t have a winter vacation scheduled until deep into the winter. In the meantime, head to the nearest festive Mexican resto and let the margaritas and mariachi music massage and ignite your sense of celebration, freedom, and fun.

7. Doses of Hibernation – This is the season when all of nature goes into hibernation and, as a part of nature ourselves, we need to honour this inner change in rhythm. Choose a morning or afternoon once a week when you don’t schedule a thing and just allow yourself to curl up in your big fluffy robe and read, meditate, drink tea, cuddle, or nap at will. Be ferocious in guarding your lair of downtime.

"I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you
savor a bad mood."
- Bill Watterson

Finally, another excellent way to ignite the darker months is to partake in my 6-Week Soul Coaching Program. My January programs are already starting to fill up, so fire it up and get registered for either my Online/Tele-Program  starting Tues., Jan. 17 or my Toronto In-Person Program starting Wed, Jan. 18. 

Ok, my dears -- get that big cozy sweater on, breathe deeply into that crisp air and remember:  “People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.” -- Anton Chekhov

Big Hugs, Kimberly

Kimberly Carroll
Certified Soul Coach
www.soulcoaching.org
416-963-9987

P.S. I was recently on "JJ and Melanie in the Morning" on Flow 93.5 in Toronto having some fun talking about Soul Coaching, learning to like your own company, and soul stealing. ; ) CLICK HERE if you'd like to take a listen.

 

CONNECT. BALANCE. IGNITE.

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