6 Ways To Shake Off The Winter Blahs

The winter blahs are really a thing, and only getting tougher as sunlight seems to be dwindling more than ever before, revealing more grey days than blue skies. This plays a role in our mood and energy and has us wishing for spring to turn up sooner than later. So since it’s often necessary to jump start a good mood, we’ve rounded up a few mood boosters for when you’re feeling blah in the depths of winter aka right now. —Lauren Walker-Lee

Go for the cold

Cold plunges have become a way to invigorate the senses and quiet the mind. Touted by professionals to have great physical and mental benefits that include combatting pain, releasing endorphins, and upping your own immunity. Three positive effects to help combat the winter blues. The act of dipping yourself into a tub of 0-4 degree celsius is great for the body, but also a mental challenge to help battle stress outside of the plunge. The cold exposure trains you to quiet the mind and sustain yourself in the chilled water, a benefit to take with you in your day to day. Ice bath enthusiasts boast feeling happier and more energized and fans of the practice include Serena Williams and David Beckham. In addition to stand alone wellness facilities to take the plunge, at home consumer friendly tubs like Canada’s Coldture are gaining traction.

Wear colour

Sometimes it’s just as simple as reaching for the colour in your wardrobe to make the winter season a little brighter. Colour has the capacity to shift our mood and make an impact. The psychology of colour reveals everything from customs and traditions to how certain hues effect our brains. Orange is optimistic, and green relates to freshness, while red boasts excitement. Brand founder and scientist Sasha Jardine of Ste.Marg. Scot a Canadian outerwear brand built on colour, is well versed to talk mood boosting hues “Dopamine dressing’ is a term that’s been thrown around when it comes to dressing colourfully, but the effect of colour on our psychology and physiology goes deeper than trends, it is written in our DNA. We have been coded to be drawn to bold saturated hues and when colour is around, the amplitude for joy is naturally elevated. And in the winter, when 15% of Canadians suffer from seasonal depression at some point in their life we need colour more than we know.” Colour enthusiastic and maximalist style influencer Blair Eadie was spotted in the brand’s Hibiscus Orange Bowie Coat.

Listen to a happy playlist

It’s no secret music can enhance your mood, get you motivated, or simply make you think of a fond memory. Type happy playlist into Google and 75 songs come up that including Pharrell’s happy (of course) and classics like I’m Coming Out (Diana Ross) and Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves) With music’s positive effects of the brain curate a selection of your favourite tunes that spark joy, or try this Feel Good playlist on Spotify that boasts 143,261 likes and 14 hours of music.

A little glow goes a long way

Don’t we all feel better with a tan? Though we may not be basking in the warmth over the winter months or lucky to hit up the beaches of Tulum, we can still get our glow on with the help of top quality self tanners that will fool even your closest friends. No longer streaky or producing shades of orange, today’s self tans deliver a sun kissed radiance that will rival the real deal. Canadian company Nuda has created some of the best self tan options on the market, filled with skincare ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera plus exciting formats like their Tanning Serum $60 to produce an expert glow.

Move the body with yoga

Yoga, stretching, and meditation are all wellness essentials you can call upon when you need a boost. You can reap the benefits of gentle yoga, getting oxygen flowing, connecting to your breath, and clearing  the mind  “Yoga and gentle movement such as stretching, can offer relief from the winter blahs by intentionally guiding your focus away from the mind and back into your body. Practicing just 20 minutes of yoga is a beautiful way to invite warmth and vitality to your day, and to release those feel-good hormones. Think of it as one big act of self-love when you need it most.” Says yoga instructor Renee Walker. Embrace the serenity of yoga and stretching at home with the Everyday Mat $116 by Canada’s own b,Halfmoon.

Put on a bold lip

The lipsticks in your arsenal won’t ever go out of style and with the bold lip trend back for 2024 reaching for the brights this winter season can help to put that pep back in your step. Embrace the power of positivity with uplifting and vibrant lip colours that will add energy to those drab winter days. Singer Nikki Minaj needs bright pinks in her life, while actress Issa Rey opts for red when she wants an extra dose of confidence. We’re reaching for U Beauty’s Plasma Lip Compound $68.  A transformative treatment that plumps the and hydrates the lips with a 3D pillow-effect for natural-looking enhancement with immediate and sustained results Available in brights ranging from pink and coral to their new Shanghai vibrant red.