How to beat the holiday blues the Curbly way.
By DIY Maven
The internets are replete with articles on how to beat the winter blues, but I noticed the series of tubes are lacking the beat-the-blues Curbly slant. So here it is, a few ways to make your pad make you feel better.
1. Skip the gingerbread smells and try aromatherapy. Here’s a handy list of those that can raise your spirits.
2. Do NOT fill your home with sappy Christmas music! As a matter of fact, go anti-holiday with your music choices. And no blues either! (This goes for sappy, ‘feel good’ holiday movies too. Stay away from them at all costs.)
3. Make some ‘kid’ art. Pick up a pen, pencil or crayons and draw a picture of something that makes you happy. Maybe it’s your dog, your iPod, your favorite cuddly robe. Whatever! Just draw it and then stick it on the refrigerator. (Hey, if the kids can do it, why not you?) You’ll have fun creating it and you’ll smile every time you look at it. But keep in mind, you’re not going for artistic perfection here. As a matter of fact, try for anti-perfection and see how that feels!
4. Make your bed as soon as you get up. Seriously! You’ll get a sense of accomplishment and that’s a great way to start your day. Plus, when it’s time to go to bed, you’ll be reminded of that accomplishment, which is a great way to end your day.
5. Clean your house. Seriously! Some people think that living in a less-than-clean house is no big deal, but many times that nagging ‘I should clean’ actually persists in the back of your mind and that creates stress. So, to get rid of the nag, pick up some cleaning supplies and get to work. Again, when you’re done, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment AND you’ll have gotten a bit of exercise too! (A note about the word ‘should’: Eliminated it from your vocabulary. Use ‘could’ instead. Try it. Now, doesn’t that feel better??)
6. Add light to a room. Lamps, twinkle lights, up-lighters, bringing in additional illumination can make those long winter nights feel less oppressive.
7. Add color to a room. Rich or brightly-hued, a cuddly blanket will give warmth to a room and, when you wrap yourself in it, it’ll warm you too.
8. As a last resort, pretend your place is someplace else! Crank up the thermostat and put on a pair of shorts and t-shirt. Play some island tunes and have yourself a fruity, tropical drink. It’s sort of like playing hooky on the winter–and it feels liberating!
Remember, the holiday blues and depression are two entirely different things. To read about their differences, please visit this page.
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Self-proclaimed Maven of DIY, I'm up for anything from gonzo rehab to dressing a room. Check...
DIY Maven
A very easy thing to do for many of us.
ModHomeEcTeacher
Me likey. I always get a little blue around Christmas. :0
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