5 Ways to Get Out of the Winter Funk

Hello friends, it's been a while. I am well aware of the fact that I've been neglectful of this wee space over the last few weeks and I want to use the excuse that it's because I was without a laptop (no lie - it was more difficult being without Pinterest more than anything!) but in truth I was in the middle of a major funk that I am only starting to resurface from. I'm not sure if it's the weather and my neediness for Spring to be here already but whatever it was it really dragged me under. When I get in to this negative mindset my confidence and motivation are the first to go. I become lazy in just about every area of my life which only makes me feel worse about myself. I am the eternal optimist in the eyes of my friends and yet when this fog comes down I turn in to the person I least want to be; needy, insecure and just a little sad. I don't really know what triggers the fog but I do think being cooped up inside and forever yearning for a sunny day does tend to influence my pattern of thought - living in Ireland doesn't help this at the best of times! This state of limbo is not something I talk about often because it doesn't really happen that often. It's so common for people to feel this way at this time of year; we're all waiting for the chill to leave us and for the sun to warm our souls again. But why shouldn't I talk about it? Because I might share a part of myself that I don't like? This part of me that's far from perfect and far from the positive shiny person I want people to see me as is not something I should be ashamed of. Learning to like ourselves is such a necessary step to happiness and so accepting these little negatives is a lesson I will always be working on. The weather is turning though and I can feel the weight being lifted already. Right now I'm writing with speed for this first time in what feels like ages and my fingers can't keep up with the ideas that are flowing out. Yes spring is here. Actual sunlight is streaming on to the table I am writing at and I can see blue skies from my seat. How good it feels when we can finally see the light at the end of a tunnel we didn't think would end. Of course the dark moments will come and go but they are always a temporary blip that I shouldn't pressurise myself to get out of as quickly as possible. I will endure them at my own pace. I will talk as much or as little as I feel I need to. I will like who I am even when I feel I shouldn't. I will be the first person I am kind to each day. If you are feeling a little burdened by our long winter and are in need of a little positivity to help guide you in to spring, then try a few of the below ideas that I turn to even when all I want to do is throw my jammies on! Make Plans Every Sunday I like to make my plans for the week which can wreck Andrew's head because it means planning his as well! But knowing that I have people to see and fun things to look forward to allows me to get excited about the week ahead of me. Surrounding myself with people I like reminds me that I am in a much better place than I think. Practice Yoga I went to my first heated yoga class last week and walked out with my mind and body buzzing. I was soaked in sweat but I also felt like I shed a tonne of baggage that I hadn't realised I was carrying that day. I have known how much good yoga brings in to my life for a long time but the heated class only heightened the positive change. Please try it out! I couldn't recommend the Flow Yoga Studios in Belfast enough but there are sure to be classes near you if you're not in the city. Do A Little Good I am lucky enough to volunteer on the 'Time to Read' programme but to be honest I feel like the children do more for me than I do for them. Watching their confidence grow and the wee improvements they make over time is such a joy and it's usually one of my favourite parts of the week. You don't need to volunteer to do good, all it takes is a drive to make someone else's day a little better. Bringing a smile to someone's face will surely bring a smile to yours so it's win-win all round. Notice Pretty Things Being a self-confessed Instagram addict means that I am always looking out for the beauty in the things around me. Some people might think that Instagram can create a constant need to share everything and can lead to comparing ourselves to others (which is never a good idea). But keeping an eye out for the little things that I might usually take for granted encourages me to appreciate the corners of my wee world. Get Outside Yes Ireland brings an awful lot of rain but this also means that there are endless fields, rivers and forests to get lost in. My favourite place to clear my head is Helen's Bay. It's my spot where I go to on my own to feel the sand, let myself get battered by the sea winds and watch dogs lunge themselves in to the waves (dogs make me SO HAPPY). Make time for those solo moments of gratitude, a time to sit and think of nothing. No internal arguments you will never actually have. No memories that make you feel bad. Just your own piece of wonder near you which makes your heart sing a little. Feel free to use mine if you don't have your own! Do you have any methods of bringing a little lightness in during the darker moments? Any ideas that will always guarantee a happy head? Would so love to hear them!