Want to know the easiest way to look on the sunny side? Quite literally getting some sunshine. After surviving what feels like the sixth months of winter in the northeast, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’d started to get in a serious rut. Spending so much time inside hiding from the cold doesn’t do any of us any favors, and it’s hard not to long for the feeling of the sunshine on my skin, or the ability to go for a run without having to bundle under seventeen layers. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing I love more than a cozy day, and I’ve enjoyed cozying up under the blankets for more than my fair share of movie marathons this winter. But we all know I love my sunshine, and even just knowing that I was headed to the sunshine state this month was enough to help me feel a whole lot more excited about life!
Fast forward, and I’m happy to report that even just a few days in a warmer climate have left me feeling completely renewed. It’s funny the way some fresh air and sunshine can transform even the worst days into the best, and can always seem to provide some much-needed energy. This little trip reminded me how I truly love starting the day with a run outside, that I’m happiest when I have a good book by my side, and that a breath of fresh air is always the best cure to a stressful day.
While I’m not saying we should all drop everything and move down south (although I also wouldn’t be opposed), this experience was a great reminder that there are definitely little things I can do all year long to help both my mental and physical health, even in the depths of winter. They call Florida the sunshine state, and I’d like to embody that state of mind all the time, even when I’m hundreds of miles away. This means getting a daily dose of Vitamin D wherever I can, and incorporating the activities that make me happiest – regardless of whether or not the sun is actually shining. It means waking up a little earlier so that I have time for myself, and prioritizing reading a good book over mindless screen time. I’m determined to take those habits, and hopefully some sunshine, back up north.
So my advice for today? Take a little time to do the things that make you happiest. No matter where you are, bundle up and go for a walk, or sit by the window to feel the sun on your face from the warmth of the indoors. Read a book, do some journaling, join a club that you’re interested in. Or, if you’re one of the lucky ones, maybe head down to the beach for a picnic. It’s certainly easier said than done in the middle of winter, but it’ll make it all the more worthwhile until spring is back in full swing. Let’s all embrace a sunshine state of mind. ☼
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