Winter. What’s not to love? I mean, aside from finals, flu season, family obligations, freezing-ass temperatures and not seeing the sun for weeks at a time.
Seriously, though, you’re not alone if the season gets you down. Winter can really take a hammer to your health, especially if you’re already struggling to keep it together.
So, give yourself a break. Here are a few things you can do to stay warm til the sun comes out again.
1. Let Yourself Disengage from Work/School
You can’t live your whole life on-call. Do what you can to put a wall between work and home life.
Have a habit of bringing work baggage home? Create a ritual that marks the end of the workday/week and the start of your me-time. Change out of your work clothes, put on a playlist, and do whatever helps set the mood: incense, mood lighting, cookies in the oven, the works. Then, sit down and pack a bowl with a strain you know will give you a lift.
Your brain loves a good routine, and rituals like this help you disengage and slip into relaxation-mode.
2. Laugh Until You Cry
Laughter is incredibly therapeutic. It boosts your heart rate and triggers the release of dopamine, serotonin and feel-good endorphins. Plus, it’s contagious. Don’t let a week go by over the grueling winter months where you don’t hook up with friends to make each other laugh.
3. Treat Yourself by Treating Someone Else
Self-care isn’t a single-player game. Doing a good deed always does your mood some good. You could make your friends homemade gifts, bake them some treats, or have them over for a smoke sesh.
Seeing your friend’s face light up when you smoke them out is a sure-fire cure for the winter blues, at least for a little while.
4. Do Your Body Good
You may think yourself a certified night owl, but the lack of sunlight in the winter can still take a toll on your body. Less sunlight means less vitamin D and a weaker immune system.
Shore up your body’s defenses by adding some high-vitamin D foods to your diet, like milk (cow’s milk and soy milk are both a good choice), orange juice, eggs (however you like ‘em) and salmon. If you need an extra boost, your GP might recommend some supplements or light therapy, too.
Aside from that, take steps to keep yourself from catching a cold or flu: wash your hands, stay clear of sick people, and practice safe smoking.
5. Get Moving
Tempting as it is just to hibernate, putting some movement into your day will make winter a lot more bearable. And believe it or not, you can get ripped while you get ripped! A pre-workout j can help you loosen up and crush any exercise-related anxiety. You’ll also benefit from cannabis’ bronchodilator/vasodilator qualities.
6. Sleep Well
You would think you’d be a pro at this whole ‘sleeping’ thing by now, but even that can a challenge when you’re in a winter slump. Lousy sleep makes for a lousy mood, which makes for lousy sleep…it’s a vicious cycle.
It’s important to try and get those 7 to 8 hours’ sleep to power you through the day. Small changes, like having a consistent schedule, a good sleep routine and a dark, quiet room, help a lot. Cannabis is another huge ally here, especially Indica strains high in terpenes like linalool and myrcene.
Take Care
Most of us could stand to take better care of ourselves. When the cold winter months have got you feeling low, it’s important to treat your mind and body right. Do what you can to sleep well, eat well, keep moving and stay toasty! The sun will be out before you know it.
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