Winter has definitively arrived, and that means your mental health has likely taken a hit. Even for those in slightly warmer climates (hi Florida!), the vibe shift of the season often propels us headfirst into an unavoidable slump. And when morale is low, everything feels hard. 

But never fear, we've compiled all the best habits for you to survive and thrive through the season until spring buds once again. From skincare essentials to tips to trick your body into moving (even when it really, really doesn't want to), we want you to have your best winter yet. 

 

Find Your 'Lazy Girl' System

Baby, it's cold outside — and you don't need to put in any more effort than is necessary. Set yourself up for success by keeping your many lip balms in one jar by the front door, or maybe even designate a zone specifically for your go-to hat, coat and gloves, so they're always within reach. 

 

Embrace Environmental Skincare

Sounds kind of crazy, but skincare extends beyond the products you actually put on your face to what your face, well, faces on the daily.

 

Put Pleasure First

Let's face it, this is not a super cute time of year, and that means prioritizing me time over progress and discipline. Pleasure can take various forms — as simple as making tea every morning, or purchasing one thing a week (maybe within a certain budget) that serves no practical purpose other than joy. Set aside time in your schedule for calls with friends, or your favorite show, and maybe add a sweet treat into your daily rotation. This is the time to treat yourself gently. 

 

 

Adopt Micro-Rituals

If you to ask our parents generation, coming home and pouring a glass of wine was an instant stress reliever. Of course, we now know there are healthier, more productive ways to keep your mind, body and soul on track (and the scaries away) after a long day.

It may sound silly, but you can kinda rewire your brain chemistry with as small an effort as lighting a scented candle when you walk in the door, or opening the blinds and making your bed the minute you get up (this is also known as 'micro-cleaning). Other examples of this is 20 seconds of stretching every hour, or doing a single page of reading each night. Seriously, a little can go a long way. 

 

Find An ~Accountability~ Podcast 

No, we're not talking nutrition or finance tips, more like a podcast you love, that you turn on to get you through the tough stuff. For you, that might mean going for a long walk outside, or cleaning the house, even meal prepping on a Sunday. Basically, you're going to save that episode, or episodes, for those activities alone. Hell, you may even start to build a positive association with more menial tasks, to the point you even look forward to them. 

Love all things pop culture? Try this one. 

 

Lay Out Your Clothes 

Remember before your first day of school when you had your outfit all ready? Do you remember why you did that? Okay, looking cute, sure, but also making sure you removed any decision fatigue from your morning. 

It may seem like an unnecessary effort, taking the 4-5 minutes every night to lay out a look for the next day, but saving the time it takes in the morning to scour through your wardrobe for layer on layer can make all the difference when it comes to lightening your mental load. Seriously, just put your clothes out, and thank yourself later.

 

Rise with the Sun

While it might be tempting to go into full hibernation mode, there are kind of endless benefits rising with the sun. Morning light increases serotonin and dopamine, reduces stress, and kickstarts your metabolism, not to mention immediate sun helps sync your circadian rhythm, boosting alertness, mood, and sleep quality — helping your body make vitamin D for stronger immunity and bone health. 

A sunrise alarm clock can be game-changing to get your body in the habit of waking up, phone free. Not to mention it's so cute (and a great gift). 

 

Discover 'Admin Hour' 

There is nothing more daunting than think about paying the electric bill or rent, while processing a bunch of returns. Instead of dragging these tasks out until you hit the inevitable procrastination wall, queue up your favorite show and dedicate it's entire length to admin, once a week. When it's over, that's you done! 

 

Move With Purpose 

It's cold, and you don't want to go outside, much less WALK. That makes all the sense in the world. Unfortunately, to feel even remotely good, we have to move our bodies. So, what's the answer? Well, trick ourselves, of course.

If you live in a relatively walkable neighborhood, use any need to go outside as an excuse to make it a walk. Walk. Shipping? Walk. Food? Walk. Coffee run? Walk. If you're more suburban, park your car, and try and hit all your errands in one fell swoop on those two little legs. If you have no choice but to be super intentional, add in a walking element to your catch-up with a friend. Your body, and mind, will love you for it.