We’re nearly done with winter—but it’s not quite gone yet. The mornings are still dark, the air is still cold, and for many of us, the winter blues are still in full swing.
Right now, it’s easy to focus on what’s making my life miserable. But several blogs out there (I got the idea from this one) are instead choosing to pause for a few minutes this winter to focus on what’s saving their lives right now—what’s making life a little better, a little easier, a little happier.
So, inspired by those posts, here are 4 small things that are helping me get through these last few weeks of winter:
#1: Quiet time in the morning. I’ve been making it a priority to get up a couple of hours before I leave to have some time to myself. The only thing I do during this time—and I do mean the ONLY thing—is take care of those little things that make a huge difference in my day—things like reading the Bible, doing yoga, and just sitting in stillness. In spite of the impact these activities have on my life, they are too easy to put off and neglect because they rarely, if ever, feel “urgent.” This morning quiet time is my way of making sure the most important things happen more often than not.
#2: Big mugs of tea. Before I officially start my morning quiet time, I make a giant mug of tea. I always make the same kind (it’s this one, if you’re curious), and there’s something comforting about the familiarity of it. Without fail, taking the time to drink a cup of tea means I move into my day feeling both relaxed and alert, ready to face whatever life throws at me over the next 15 or 16 hours.
#3: Yoga (almost) every morning. I’m knocking out two birds with one stone here: I’m stretching my back, and I’m breathing deeply and intentionally. This means two things for my day: my back doesn’t hurt as much, and my anxiety-induced shortness of breath gets a lot better. It’s definitely worth 20 minutes of my morning time!
#4: Accountability. My motivation has been pretty low recently, which is not uncommon for me during winter (I explain why in this post). Low motivation can make it very hard for me to get out of bed early enough to do all these things that are so helpful during this long, dark season. My solution to this? I asked my fiancé to call me in the morning on his way to work. The phone call makes sure I’m actually up at the time I need to be, and I get to start the day by connecting with someone I love (automatic mood-booster right there!).
What’s saving your life right now? Let me know in the comments!
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