As we move into the colder period of the year and the weather starts getting a little drearier, things can often feel like things just get a little more difficult.
It can be just that extra bit tough to get out of bed in the morning when the sun isn’t beaming through the windows or the chill is much more prominent in the air. Couple those with the dark evenings as well, and everything can feel like a spark has gone out.
That being said, there is no need to worry, as you can make little changes that can improve your day-to-day life and get things to stay at a more even keel.
This piece is going to take a look at some of those changes, so let’s get into it!
Don’t Look at Your Phone When You Wake Up
This is such a hard one to do in a day and age where everything is on our phones, but unless you can restrict yourself to an alarm, having your phone away for the morning can help you set the tone for the day instead of something that you might read. Doom scrolling is real, and seeing the news the first thing in the morning can set you up for a day of misery. Create a new routine that will get you out of bed that you can enjoy. Put on some music, spend half an hour reading a book, or get up on the count of 3 and go down to make yourself the best mug of coffee you can muster. Having your own thoughts in the morning instead of everyone else’s can help you feel more in control of your day.
Bribe Yourself with Treats
Treats work. Not only can the anticipation of getting a treat for yourself be even better than the reward itself, but the treat then comes, and it can be anything you want. While treating yourself in the name of self-care is somewhat of a capitalist creation (when isn’t it?), you can make your own decisions about what you believe will enhance your life, either in the present or the future, and do whatever you need to do to help you get through another day.
Choose from a simple chocolate subscription to experience the delights of handmade chocolate when you are having a hard day or work towards a longer-term reward, such as saving up for a fun experience.
Use Your PTO and Sick Days
You are not a machine, and becoming burnt out in the name of work is no longer a flex like it used to be. If you listen to your body and mind and take care of yourself properly, your body and mind will not be forced to make you do so at a more inopportune time. That being said, don’t be afraid to use your sick days, especially over the winter when more bugs are going around, and keep yourself healthy.
