How to stay positive when the weather is negative

Cloudy, cold weather makes me feel tired, cranky and blah. And it does the same for a lot of other people, too.   It’s the biggest complaint that I have been hearing from everyone lately.  Mother Nature is not cutting us a breakL  What’s a person to do on a dreary gray day? How to beat the cold weather doldrums? Here are 8 random tips that might help bring some inner sunshine to an otherwise blah-looking day.

1. Fake it ’til you make it. Sometimes pretending to be happy for a short period of time is the mood momentum you need to start feeling good again. Smile at strangers. Straighten your posture. Do a goofy dance to your most upbeat music. Speaking of goofy dancing…….

2. Move it! Though it may be tempting to slouch on that couch or hide under the covers, the best way to beat any blah mood is to find every excuse to physically work it. Take a brisk walk to that coffee shop, walk vigorously in place, do some jumping jacks, walk up and down the stairs.

3. Add a splash of vibrant color. If the sunshine is hiding from you today, make your own fun and happy colors happen. Buy some freshly cut flowers, wear your brightest dress, treat yourself to some happy-looking earrings. Or wear some poppin’ eyeshadow! 

4. Avoid negative people and surround yourself with positive people. If you are affected by the weather, this is probably not the day to hang out with that high-maintenance Debbie Downer friend who always seems to have something new to complain about. Kick it with someone who really knows how to make you laugh.

5. Do something extra-nice for yourself, and be extra-gentle to yourself, too. Feeling emotionally fragile or exhausted by the overcast gloom? Maybe this is the day it’s okay to take that afternoon cat nap. Or when you dedicate an entire evening just to unwind without fulfilling any obligations. Hot bath and herbal tea, anyone? Just finished mine!!!

6. Seize the opportunity to get wiser. Anytime you feel like crap, it truly is a teachable moment to be more mindful and more self-aware. Your under-the-weather state is a nudge for you to listen to your mind and body more to give yourself what you need to nourish yourself.

7. De-clutter your space. Cloudy weather and clutter are a bad combination. Make the effort to clean up any disorganized or messy areas in your space. There will be less mess piles sucking your mental energy, and the sense of accomplishment will give you a picker-upper.

8. Keep it in perspective, baby. A frigid day may make you feel cranky, but it should never destroy any chance of a rocking day. No matter what the weather is outside, you can still have fun, share laughter with a loved one, or really cheer another person up.