Ways To Chase Away the Winter Blues

I’m sitting here giving an occasional glance out the window – we’re expecting another winter storm in East Tennessee. I’m not sure how many red alerts I’ve seen on the weather channel for our area this winter, but it seems like lots! I don’t mind the snow, but I am not a huge fan of gray days. But I’m not going to let it get me down or cause me to complain.

The winter blues hit lots of people – especially mid-January and February when you’ve played in the snow, had plenty of cancelled school days and church services and are now kind of ready to move on!

Winter is here until the Lord moves it onward, so why not make the most of it and encourage yourself while you wait for the first daffodil to pop its welcomed little face in your yard? Here are some ideas to Refresh you and help you to make even a gray winter day a blessing.

1. Keep little lights on around the house so it’s not dark! If you don’t want to burn much electricity use hospitality lamps. Burning votives is another cheap way to add light. I got a bag of 144 for less than $7; that’s .05 each! They burn for a couple of hours. I love to walk into a room in the middle of a gray day and be met with a flickering flame.
2. Create a Winter Tea time each afternoon. If you’re not a fan of tea, try coffee or hot chocolate with a little treat like biscotti or cookies. Drink it from a special cup.
3. Create some fun – have some friends over for brunch or lunch.
4. Be creative. Get sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, card making, jewelry making, or whatever you love to do, but usually don’t have time for!
5. Move the furniture around! This always gets my adrenaline flowing! Poor Dale! Even changing around the accessories is fun! Look for a spot where you can create a cozy reading corner. Add a small table in your bedroom for candlelight dinners or dessert. Create a new centerpiece for your kitchen table using what you have – fruit, a pretty dish, kerosene lamp…
6. Turn on some music that will lift your spirits. I love listening to Anne of Green Gables soundtrack.

First and foremost, however, make sure you’re letting in the Light of God’s Word each morning. It will melt any icicles that are forming! Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9

What do you do to chase away winter blues? Come back tomorrow; I’m going to share two great winter recipes. One starts with a can of soup to make the best soup (and yummiest) for flu days. The other recipe starts with a brownie mix for delicious biscotti!

With love,