Ways to Get Out of a Winter Funk

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Today is sunny, so I’m feeling much more energized.

But ask me about days like yesterday when the sky was gray -- I get into a little funk. I felt tired and off and spent much of the day dreaming of moving to a warm, sunny beach.

Here’s your gentle reminder that we’re all human. And ya might have a crappy day. It can’t always be sunshine and rainbows.

Even though much of the world makes you feel you “just have to do this one routine or purchase this one thing to make you feel good again”, there isn’t one “wellness” thing that can save us from having these feel-bad moments ever again. There is no quick fix.

But taking care of your body, paying attention to how you feel, and having compassion for yourself DOES help you access the ability to accept that unpleasant emotions will show up and welcome them into your everyday life.

I ask you to think how might it affect you if you welcomed all your emotions rather than denying them?


It can increase your capacity to recognize, tolerate, learn from, and turn around these icky moments. And, in turn, figure out which routines and rituals YOU need to feel fully whole, wildly well, and alive.

For me, it’s when I do good things for myself, I feel good.

• When I feed myself whole nourishing foods

• When I move my body in ways that feel joyful

• When I get ample sunlight and, if it isn’t there, I create my own with a light therapy lamp (I use the Verilux Happy Light)

• When I make the effort to get outside and breathe the fresh air, even if I don’t want to get dressed

• When I tend to my plants or spend time appreciating nature

• When I make help someone else feel good

• When I volunteer or do some service in my community

Allowing myself to have those days and being aware of what I need to feel alive and well, helps give me the energy that makes it possible to turn it around and pass those good feelings on to the world around me.

Self-care is about taking the actions and setting the boundaries that preserve your life force. Your most energized life comes from cultivating your own feel good habits because the things you do today will help you keep moving on the days the sun might be covered by a funky gray.

.…and I can still wanna move to the beach someday.