Archie Hayes 
As we leave winter behind and start to tentatively push into spring it can be hard to stay motivated when you look outside just to be greeted by a drab, dark, and grey sky. Luckily there are plenty of things that you can do both indoors and outdoors that can improve your mood and blow those winter cobwebs off.
We’ve put together a shortlist of activities to keep you happy and healthy regardless of the weather outside.
Meditation
As much maligned as meditation has been over the years, there is no doubting the fact that taking some time out to focus on yourself and how you’re feeling can have some marked benefits on a number of areas of your life. Studies have shown that frequent meditation can boost your immune system, reduce stress, and help improve your memory skills. If all of this wasn’t enough it can also indirectly help you perform better at work giving you another added boost, everyone is happier when their job is more fun and less like a chore. Set a time of the day and create a meditation corner to help you make it into a daily routine. Spend time to decorate that corner, setting up a diffuser and putting healing stones such as an orgone pyramid. You can research and look for healing crystals that align with you. The benefits of howlite stone would be perfect for someone who wants to maintain peace and harmony or invite a positive spirit for life transformations.
Get Outdoors
It might seem like heading out into the grey and cold is the last thing you want to do, but there are literally hundreds of outdoor activities that could be exactly what you need to improve your mood. The NHS recommends ‘getting as much natural sunlight as possible’ and the best way to do that is to head outside, you’ll be getting more natural sunlight even if it is overcast than you would sit inside.
If you’re not sure where to start, here is a helpful list of 6 outdoor activities that are perfect for improving your mood when the weather is gloomy.
Declutter
If you want to avoid going outside until it brightens up a bit then consider improving your surroundings without leaving the house. Spending a small amount of time each day to slowly remove things that you don’t need around the house, freeing up space and reducing mess can give you an immediate pep boost. There’s a reason spring cleaning became a worldwide idiom, out with the old and in with the new (or just out with the old) can be a real chance for a fresh start or another step forward. Check out this list for a few quick tips on where to start.
Hobbying
It can be as simple as getting back to drawing or even playing a game regularly, but giving yourself an outlet that’s completely separate from work and purely for relaxation. Staying relaxed and calm during the winter period, especially once you’re past the holidays, can seem difficult with no change in weather and nothing to look forward to. However, progressing a hobby or starting a new one can be a real game-changer and help pick you up from the winter slump.
Exercising
Another one for those of us that want to stay in the warm while it’s still chilly outside, exercising either at home or the gym can be a real boost to self-confidence and your mood. Coming with a constant sense of growing accomplishment on top of the physical benefits any exercise at all can be a huge help when it comes to maintaining a positive outlook during this time of year. Set yourself sensible, manageable goals and work towards surpassing them in a reasonable timeframe. Build on your accomplishments and keep looking towards the future and you’ll quickly find yourself enjoying the entire process not just the end result.
Hopefully, we’ve given you some ideas on how to help lift your mood when it’s dark and grey outside. Mental wellbeing is incredibly important for everyone at all times and maintaining it only gets more difficult when the weather isn’t the most inviting. Now is the best time to start forming new, more positive habits that you want to keep up throughout the year.
