Hi, friends, and welcome back to Stylishly Good Vibes! It’s another lovely winter day here in Cleveland, which inspired this blog post about the winter blues. I never realized how much I crave sunshine in the winter—that is until I moved to South Carolina and then back to Cleveland.
Winters in Myrtle Beach were really magical. It was sunny 3/4 of the time—unlike Cleveland winters, which tend to be grey 4/4 of the time.
I love Cleveland, though, because it’s where my family and friends are, so I’ve got to learn to make the winters work for me. Now, I grew up here, so it’s not like I’m shy to the fact that our winters suck. I just think the grey skies affect me more as I’ve gotten older, ya know?!
In the winter, I try to plan out my days off so they’re filled with fun things that help me forget about the weather. I think that’s the best way for me to beat the winter blues, but I understand that everyone is different.
Today, I’ll be sharing 8 of my favorite ways to beat the winter blues, as a way for you to gain inspiration for helping you with your own winter blues!
Let’s get started!
1. Wake up early.
I used to sleep in until 10 or 11 A.M. on the weekends, but now I choose to take full advantage of my days off by waking up early. I want to spend as much of the day as I can doing fun things, and waking up early gives me the ability to do just that. Plus—when you wake up early, it’s highly unlikely that you won’t be able to finish everything on your to-do list!
2. Read. Pick up your favorite book or stop by the library instead.
I love to read. It’s one of my favorite past times, no matter the season. During the winter, I love reading biographies or books on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Honestly, winter is my time to read anything and everything since I’m forced to stay inside because it’s too cold to be sitting outside.
3. Face mask time!
As you probably know by now, I’m obsessed with face masks. I have a different face mask for just about every mood or issue my skin has. During the winter, I love to interchange a resurfacing mask and a moisturizing mask. My two favorites at the moment are Peach & Lily’s Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask and Sand & Sky’s Australian Pink Clay Mask.
4. Take a walk outside.
Despite the fact that it’s winter, there are sometimes nice days where the sun is shining! Those are the days that I choose for my winter walks. I bundle up in my favorite puffer coat, hat, and gloves, and head out into the world with my earbuds in tow!
Usually I’ll walk about 2 miles or so, just enough to get my body moving. I love listening to music or a podcast while I walk. It always makes me feel ready to take on the rest of the day when I go for a morning walk, so I definitely recommend this to kick-start your day!
5. Stop by my favorite stores.
One of my favorite ways to beat the winter blues is by getting out of the house. This doesn’t mean that I’m heading out with the intention of spending money, either. Sometimes I just want to go and look around at my favorite local stores to gather inspiration. My stores to go to for all the good vibes include Coven, Avalon Exchange, Aware Marketplace, All Things for You, and Helm.
6. Get coffee with pals.
I love drinking coffee, especially when it involves close friends! It’s the perfect reason to get out of the house and to catch up on the latest gossip. This is something that I try to do every couple weeks with my friends. I always leave feeling inspired and excited, which is the best feeling!
7. Watch movies that take place in summer.
I’m a big movie junkie and I have a running list of favorites. During the winter, I’ll close out the day with a movie that’s based in the summertime. I have no shame in saying that most of the time those movies are based on books by Nicholas Sparks. They’re just so good and heartwarming! Plus, they get me excited for sunshine, beaches, and summer fun.
8. Make a list of things I want to do in the summer.
I love being a forward-thinking person. I don’t dwell in the past, but I also make sure that I’m not living too far into the future. Making a list of things I want to do in the summer is one of my favorite ways to get excited for what’s ahead.
I always have a running list of things I want to do in Cleveland, and summertime offers so many more opportunities for things to do. So, I get my list ready ahead of time so that when summer rolls around, I’ll be ready to go!
Well, that’s all I have for ya! Just a little bit of inspiration for how you can beat the winter blues in Cleveland.
Until next time!
Alicia