Three Things That Will Make Your Day 10x Better

Escape the winter (and Covid-19) blues

Despite living two hours away from Cedar Point my entire life, I went for the first time this summer. I liked every ride until the very last ride of the day. It looked super old and definitely felt old as my head hurt from it afterward.

Covid-19 is like that roller coaster, there are highs and lows, bumps and turns, and I am desperately waiting to get off the ride.

Life has been hard lately. The trees seem barer, the streets seem lonelier and the days seem longer. With the added sadness and hardships of Covid-19, the winter blues seem to hit even harder this winter.

I have grown up listening to my mom jokingly say:

Wake me up when It’s summer!

or

I could hibernate like a bear!

I can finally relate. I can relate to the feeling of never wanting to get out of bed. Can you?

If so, keep reminding yourself that you can’t move forward if you're stuck in place. Start off small by adopting new habits that leave you feeling fulfilled and content.

“You’re not stuck. You’re just committed to certain patterns of behavior because they helped you in the past. Now those behaviors have become more harmful than helpful. The reason why you can’t move forward is because you keep applying an old formula to a new level in your life. Change the formula to get a different result.”

— Emily Maroutian

If this article is what you need to get out of the funk seemingly everyone is in, then so be it. I understand that you want to curl up in a ball and drown out all your worries and tensions. That’s all I did for the first two weeks of quarantine. So trust me when I say I get it. But I also know that I can’t work towards my own happiness by staying in bed all day. I just have to face it.

So what are three simple things you can do to make your day 10x better?

Go for a drive. No, seriously do it.

After leaving the house for the first time in a week, I instantly felt better. I needed a change in pace and a new scenery desperately. Sometimes a simple drive is all you need to cure your winter blues.

I picked the prettiest spot near my house and drove to it. It's never a busy road so I was able to walk around and take some pictures. It felt relaxing and peaceful in a way. The trees looked sad and I felt sad for them. Winter can be a lonely time for everyone especially with the added troubles of Covid-19.

Throughout my drive, I made it a point to find the prettiest tree I could. That was hard on such a bitter day. After 30 minutes of random driving, I was able to find this unique-looking tree.

Let’s be real, it wasn’t the prettiest day but that part doesn’t matter. What matters is that you find time to focus on yourself and your emotional well-being.

Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.

— Katie Reed

Walk around the house

When my anxiety starts to creep in and my underlying thoughts appear, I walk around the house. I know this may sound silly but walking around your house clears your head.

Moving around is good for you as it provides:

• the necessary movement that your body loves and craves
• energy and motivation
• a break from the day
• a perfect time to straighten up the house

You might be thinking “will this really help me?” I can testify that it really works. You won’t know if you don't give it a try.

Think about all the times you walk in the summer. Perhaps you go to a park to walk your dog or play beach volleyball with some friends — all things you can’t do in the winter. Walking in your house replaces those activities that you are lacking in your daily routine.

Plus there are so many benefits to walking. According to Mayo Clinic, walking is important for your lymphatic and immune systems. Boosting your immune system during winter is crucial. I mean winter isn't called flu season for nothing.

Go outside

Breath, inhale, exhale, repeat.

Feeling trapped is a scary feeling. You get so trapped inside you forget about the beauties of the outside.

The cold wakes you up, it kind of slaps you in the face honestly. I didn’t realize I needed it until I did it. It was amazing.

I went outside in the dead middle of winter to stand in my driveway. It was around 6:20 p.m. so it was around the end of rush hour. It was silent — no cars, no people, no animals, nothing but me and my shivering body.

The sun was just setting, you know the time where the sunset shimmers through the windows and the sky changes colors brilliantly.

The sky had this pinkish, blue color to it that reminded me of cotton candy.

The sky reminds me that life is so much bigger than I could ever imagine. I am just this teeny tiny speck in this gigantic world. The problems I face really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Take time out of your day to appreciate the wonders of the sky. It might just give you a new perspective on life.

Post-Concert Depression- Basically feeling depressed and empty after a concert.

That’s how I feel after summer. I miss the feelings summer gives me, and I miss all the sunlight that comes with it.

Post-Concert Depression reminds me of seasonal depression because they both leave me feeling empty inside.

Now let's get down to business.

What is Seasonal Depression?

Seasonal affective disorder, (also known as SAD or Seasonal) is often triggered by some type of weather change.

Makes sense right? The shift from fall to winter seems to be the toughest change. The days get shorter and the nights get colder. Those adjustments can be tough on anyone, even if you have high spirits more times than not.

Do you have some type of Seasonal Depression?

Here are some symptoms/signs:

• Anxiety
• Tiredness
• Sadness
• Carbohydrate cravings and weight gain
• Extreme fatigue and lack of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability

Maybe you clinically have this, maybe you don’t. I’m not sure if I do, but I do know I hate the way I feel during winter. The snowy roads and bitter temperatures bring me down while the anxiety caused by isolation kicks me straight in the face.

No one likes getting pressure headaches from low temperatures or feeling drained or misplaced.

Perhaps going for a drive, walking around the house, and going outside can cure your seasonal depression.

“There’s no better time than the present” — John Trusler

The famous cliché that couldn't be used at a better time.

Begin helping yourself right now. Seriously, do something to make yourself feel a little at ease amid these uncertain times.

We all deserve a little bit of extra happiness right now. This year has not been easy, to say the least.

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

― John C. Maxwell