That California Girl

*pumps dopamine* Winter season is here! At least in Berlin, Germany, it is. Despite the festive Christmas season to look forward to, skiing activity and snow, winter is something that some of us native sun-kissed folks often dread. Grey skies, freezing cold temperatures, and just straight darkness are the main things that easily bring our moods down, leaving us feeling demotivated to maintain our daily routines at times. Often the time to “hibernate,” the winter season can truly cast negative feelings upon us, but I believe that with a shift in perspective, mindset, and intention, there are some promising tools and habits that’ll surely help! Here are five tips on how I try to stay happy and positive during the winter season.

1. Discover your “winter” hobbies

Like produce, trends, and activities, categorize your hobbies by season, if possible. Typically, what interests do you have that are more optimal during the spring/summer season versus the autumn/winter time? During winter, not only is it cold out, but daylight is limited, which demotivates us to leave the house. For me, I tend to focus my interests on craft and stationery activities, such as bullet journaling, modern calligraphy, cozying up with a good book (or two), and going to the spa for a good ‘ol sauna session. During this time, I’m also more prone to learning more difficult recipes for dinner, such as attempting to cook a pot roast or beef Wellington—all with a glass of wine and good music.

2. Hype yourself with “just because” celebrations

Maybe it’s part of my American culture, but boy do we sure love to find any excuse to celebrate literally anything. From Valentine’s Day to annual cultural events and amping up upcoming movies, creating things to look forward to goes a long way. Obvious things to look forward to include Christmas and New Year’s, but aside from that, the world is your oyster when it comes to creating rituals and celebrations for yourself. You don’t even have to come up with something grand. For instance, if you managed to get out of the house at least four times in a week, then reward yourself! Treat yourself to a nice dinner out, or even establish a biweekly Friday night out to check out the latest movie or a nearby concert. If you or a loved one accomplished something, use that as an excuse to celebrate!

3. Establish your fixed winter routine

During the warmer seasons, I typically enjoy going on long runs in our city park, riding everywhere by bike, and roller skating outdoors. Like winter hobbies, identify which habits work best with your daily life structure to distract from the dark, cold winter days. Try not to distract or escape too much; the idea is to mindfully alleviate the harsh winter times, not blackout and escape from. Things you can consider incorporating into your “winter” daily and weekly routine can include things like switching your body lotion to a stronger butter cream and massaging it in while listening to a podcast. Another could be making yourself a warm hot chocolate every night to sip on while cozying up on the couch with a good book. You can also opt for indoor sport activities to stay fit and energized, like taking evening dance classes. As someone who enjoys random dance bursts, I love exploring different dance styles through classes, such as hip hop, commercial, and dance hall, on a weekly basis during winter to keep the happy vibes going!

4. Maximize indoor get-togethers

Living in the city, I typically enjoy going out with friends to try new restaurants, bars, or outdoor-friendly activities, but during the winter season, my friends and I love hosting dinner nights in our homes. If you don’t already, consider stocking up on fun board games or video games to play with your friends, or maybe host themed dinners, like murder mystery nights where everyone participates in improv gaming paired with a delicious home-cooked meal. Elevate your Netflix movie nights by inviting your friends over—the more, the merrier! Or, if you have friends with similar interests in crafting, you can host a paint ‘n sip night or even a DIY at-home spa experience. These are some simple ideas on how you can foster a better winter season with good company and at-home events.

5. Leverage helpful tools to boost serotonin and dopamine

We know that natural, non-medicated ways to boost serotonin and dopamine include getting as much sunlight, exercise, and healthy eating habits. However, what can we do on “down” winter days where the temperature is just unbearably cold with little to no sunlight? In places like Berlin, Germany, or Bergen, Norway, there are plenty of grey, moody days during winter, which make it really difficult to overcome at times. These are the times when doubling down on conscious winter routines is most important.

Try using productivity tools like Trello or Notion to organize a structured routine and consider gamifying it to maintain commitment. For instance, tying back to creating rituals and celebrations, consider inserting time slots in your calendar like “walk outside for 30 min.” every morning at 10 am during the week and reward yourself by purchasing a new sweater at the end of a two-week interval as a reward. You can also invest in a light box, which mimics daylight, or even boost your Netflix evenings by watching light and fun movies or TV shows that make you happy or laugh.

Depending on where you live in this world, “true” winter typically goes for three months long—like any other challenge, think to yourself, How can I get through this? What are ways that I can flip the switch and turn the cards I’m dealt into a better experience? It’s easier said than done, but with perspective shifts and the right mindset, you’ll get there! Instead of dreading something, combat it by transforming it into something that you look forward to! Happy Winter, all!