Mid winter needs some invigorating cheer up tactics to keep our minds and hearts from getting down and depressed. Christmas is over. The weather is frightfully cold and bleak in most cases. The sun has gone into hiding only to peek out briefly with promises of returning warmth in the far away spring. With a little bit of thought and planning we can give winter days a booster dose of invigorating cheer ups. We all need that little bit of “umph” to get through the last leg of winter. Here are 31 ideas to help cheer your winter days up.
| Soup Social | Invite friends to bring a favorite homemade soup. You provide croutons, a simple salad, and a great movie for a cozy time. | Choose the favorite and share recipes |
| Dance | Play your most favorite songs, push back furniture to clear up a space to dance. | Dance the day or night away; it is great exercise |
| Light Therapy | Experiment with lighting in your home. Open the drapes, try a warmer hue to simulate warmth or sunshine, like a salt lamp’s soft glow. | Light up the rooms you are in the most |
| Be Kind | Do random acts of kindness for someone just because. | Elect 3 to 5 recipients |
| Spa Day | Warm Epsom salt baths, soak achy feet, hot stone massage away your aches and pains | Select a spa treatment and make time to indulge |
| Book Club | Read a story you just can’t put down and share the experience and comments with a few friends. | Determine a title and grab a bookmark |
| Master Yarn | Learn to crochet or knit and make a warm cozy throw. You get to stay warm while mastering it! | Favorite yarn color, crochet hook or knitting needles |
| Exfoliate | Your lips, hands, face, body, and feet | Make your own sugar scrub or buy a sweet smelling one |
| Retail Therapy | Set a budget limit, write down any needed items, and shop. Clearance sales has the best deals. | On-line or brick and mortar stores |
| Connect | Make a connection with another human being for some one on one conversation and interaction. | Phone, lunch date, meet up for cake and coffee, send a greeting card, tell a corny joke |
| Hydrate | Drink water, drench your body in lotion, soothe your chapped hands, apply hydrating face cream | Try a new flavored water, try out a new body or hand lotion |
| Pray | Reconnect with God. Take a moment to be grateful for what is going right and pray over what is not going well. | A quiet moment individually or join a prayer group |
| Go To Church | Attend a local church service, see what is offered, and make a heartfelt connection with God and others. | Search out local churches, service times, and their calendar of events |
| Walk a Dog | Take Fido out for a walk and enjoy some fresh air and light exercise. | A dog |
| Organize | Cabinets, closets, junk drawer, pantry, etc. | Choose a few spaces and begin |
| Set A Budget | Revamp your budget or create one. Paying attention to your finances is always wise. | Software or old fashioned notebook and pencil |
| Pedi/Mani Day | Male or female, don’t ignore your hands and feet. They are the most used appendages you have. | Make an appointment or nail clip and polish at home |
| Vita C Buffet | Buffet of vitamin C rich foods, juices, and cosmetics | Your home, a few close friends, and Vitamin C items |
| Praise Him | Get your praise and worship on. Find a Christian radio station and turn up the volume. | Radio, CD, and a willing heart |
| Paint | A fresh coat of paint upgrades any room or space in the house. Do your research on paint coverages first. | Choose the space, adopt a color, and paint your heart out |
| Up Hair Regime | Deep condition your hair to keep static frizz away. | Home hair remedy or a wonderful salon bought one |
| New Hair Do | Visit a salon for a new hair cut or have them style your hair in the latest vibe. | Make an appointment |
| Read The Bible | God’s Word encourages, inspires, and convicts us of areas we need to work on within ourselves. | Best Self Help Available |
| Donate | Adopt a local charity, donate, and make a grass roots difference in your community. | Your time, money, or stuff |
| Light A Candle | Fragrance therapy with ambiance; but remember: NEVER leave a burning candle unattended. | An incredibly great smelling candle |
| Be For The Birds | Feed the birds that have to weather the winter outside in unhospitable temperatures. | Bird seed, stale bread, a bird feeder |
| Set A Goal | Set yourself a goal and achieve it over the next 4 to 6 weeks. | Accountability Partner |
| Exercise More | Exercise more each day intentionally. Get your heart pumping and lungs working, take the stairs, stretch, etc. | An exercise plan and determination |
| Dream Garden | Plan your flower and vegetable gardens now. Subscribe to gardening channels and catalogs, purchase seeds or plants to make it happen. | Garden catalogs, notebook, seeds, and gardening videos, garden gloves and tools |
| Hope | Cultivate hope in your life and share it with others. | Something to hope for |
| Smile | Everybody can smile even on a bad day. Give it a try! | Intentional attempts 🙂 |
Mid winter days don’t have to be boring, cold, or dreary. Use these chilly days to draw near to God. Make plans for the new year, set goals, take care of yourself, and those around you. It only takes a little effort and a few ideas to brighten your day and that of someone else. Enjoy trying a few of these 31 invigorating ideas and cheerful pick me ups that will help the winter days pass before you know it. They may even have you smiling and encouraging others along the way too! Be blessed!
Lots of great ideas!
Better to try something cheerful than to sit and be depressed! Someone needs to talk to that groundhog! LOL!