Fighting the January Blahs

What goes up must come down. Isn’t that how the old saying goes? And so it seems that once we get through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, old man winter settles in and so do the mid-January blahs. 

You know what I’m talking about, right? The elevated numbers on the scale have us reaching for celery sticks instead of cookies, and the dark, dreary skies and the bitter cold drive us indoors. Thus, our mood can plummet as far and as fast and the temperatures. 

I became aware a few years ago that I was the type of person who was effected by the January blahs,  and have devised this little plan that helps me push through and keep me from sinking into a cave to hibernate.

1.       Goals, Goals, Goals: That one won’t surprise anyone who follows my personal blog or has read some of my posts here.  I’m a firm believer in lists and goals, but have come to realize it's especially important for me in the winter months. Setting firm goals for the month of January helps to keep me pushing through to Spring. 

2.       Some time in the sun: Even if it’s way too cold to sit outside (like this week in NW Ohio), for me, it helps to sit near a window that lets in a lot of natural sunlight. Ten or fifteen minutes in the warmth of the sun is usually enough to raise my mood. 

3.       Better food choices: The high carb haven we tend to fall into in December with home baked breads, cakes and cookies not only packs on some added pounds, but it drains energy – at least for me. More than a diet, I work hard at substituting empty calories for ones packed with protein to give me more get-up-and-go. 

4.       Move: I think this is probably the hardest one of the bunch. When it’s warm, we want to go out and walk: enjoy the neighborhood or a local park, but not when it’s cold. Gyms are not always a financial option, nor are they always the best time management option, but it is important. (Even though I know this, it’s the one point I most often fail at.) I do know, however, that when I do move, I feel better. In lieu of a trip to the gym, I will go up and down my steps to the basement a few times or just get up and tidy up a few things when I take a writing break or a TV break.

How do you fight the January Blahs?

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. When she's not writing about fairies, shifters, vamps and guardian angels, she's working side-by-side with her husband in their business. Her first paranormal romance, Fairyproof was released by Crescent Moon Press in 2012, Resurrecting Harry is coming March 1, 2013. She blogs regularly at her website. You can follow her on Twitter and friend her on Facebook.