Best ever winter blues busters
August is that time of year when it feels like we’ve been in the grip of winter for way too long, and for many parts of the country, the end doesn’t feel like it’s coming any time soon. But the good news is you don’t have to turn into a couch potato and hibernate until winter’s end – check out these fun things to do in winter to bust your cold weather blues!
Brighten things up
It might be dark and miserable outside but that doesn’t mean you should be as well. Try brightening things up by adding a vibrant coat of paint to a feature wall or wearing your most colourful clothes.
Go ice-skating
Where ever you live there’s probably an ice skating rink somewhere close by and it’s high on our list of winter activities. It’s a great cardio workout and it also improves balance and joint flexibility, and builds leg muscles – there’s never been a more enjoyable way to get fit in winter!
Move things around
Staying indoors can feel a bit confining so it’s a good time to clear out the clutter and rearrange things a little to make the space more open. Try facing a chair so you can see out the window, or moving a coffee table to open up the floor.
Start a project
If you’ve got a project in mind that never seems to get started, now’s the perfect time to get moving on it. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive – try visiting your local second hand furniture shop to find a quirky piece you can update with a little DIY magic.
Get some culture
Sometimes all it takes to bust the winter blues is a change of scenery for a few hours. If it’s been a while since you’ve hit the local art gallery or museum you may be surprised at how interesting it is to immerse yourself in a bit of culture or history for an afternoon.
Buy some flowers
Everyone loves fresh flowers and a burst of colour will do wonders for your mood. Flowers don’t have to be expensive, just head down to the market or check out the specials in your supermarket. Carnations aren’t the granny flowers they used to be and there’s a carnation comeback happening! Try grabbing a bunch of hot pink ones, cut them short and keep them in something unexpected, like a vintage teacup. A ten-dollar bunch can last up to ten days.
Get your social groove on
Spending time with friends always brightens your mood so why not organise a weekly potluck or happy hour with them. Join a club or networking event – Meetup is a great place to start. Just enter your location and start searching for all the meetup groups near you. You’ll learn new things and meet new friends, filling in some of those extra hours and helping you stay positive and energized through the dark winter months.
Do some volunteer work
Volunteering helps the local community and it’s good for your soul. Whether it’s helping the elderly with some transport, walking the dogs at your local animal shelter or mentoring troubled kids, there are many worthy causes out there who need a helping hand.
Get moving
A 2005 study by Harvard University suggests that just by walking fast for around 35 minutes five times a week (or 60 minutes three times a week) you can improve symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Exercising under bright light can also improve general mental health, social functioning, depressive symptoms and vitality. If you’re looking for a mood-busting workout, Real Simple has some great options to lift your spirit and increase your energy levels.
Head to the sun
Whether it’s oversees or heading north, there are loads of sunny holiday destinations in Australia or close by. A week of sunshine will kick those winter blues right out the door, and when you get back winter will be almost done! You’ll pick up some health-boosting Vitamin D along the way so why not start planning that trip now – and if you need a little financial help to get you there, don’t forget to check out our flexible mini-loans to find out how easy it is to get some extra funds. Once an application has been approved, we can usually get a payment into your bank account within 24 hours so you could be sitting in the sun by the weekend!