It’s that time of the year again when the days are short and the nights can feel extra, extra long. We all know that the time change can seriously affect your mood and although there are some things to look forward to this time of year - holiday movies, hot chocolate and pretty lights! - you may be looking for a little extra sparkle to help get through the season. If so, we’re here to help with our list of mood-boosting tactics below!

Keep yourself healthy from the inside out!

It’s so easy to think that treating yourself to not-so-healthy food cravings will help to boost your mood when you’re feeling a bit blue but, unfortunately, this is a short-lived fix. Instead of giving into these (likely) high-sugar foods that will ultimately lead to a crash, we suggest incorporating more healthy foods and habits into your day to help you feel good from the inside out!

Start with something small like a daily smoothie made with your favourite fruits or veggies - we highly recommend the Ninja® Nutri-Blender Pro with Auto-iQ®, 1000-Watt, Personal Blender for this! Once you’re in the habit, take your smoothie on the go with the Ninja Single-Serve Cup and add in a bit of morning movement such as a short walk in the fresh air.

Photo Credit: Ninja Kitchen Canada

Soak up all the sun you can

With fewer hours of sunlight per day, we highly suggest taking advantage of those bright (albeit COLD hours of the day). During the sunniest part of the day, stay close to windows where you can feel the sun, or take a midday walk to soak up a little extra light - don’t forget to bundle up and wear sunscreen! If you live in a particularly dark part of the country or are not able to take advantage of those precious light-filled hours, we recommend investing in a Light Therapy Lamp.

Plan something exciting to look forward to

One of the keys to getting through a long winter is having things to look forward to! This can be especially important during that post-holiday lull in January and February when everything tends to feel a little, well.. blah. Try planning a day trip to shop, and more importantly eat all the things, at Eataly with friends - or a romantic staycation, including a lavish spa experience, at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto with your boo.

Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Try to pick up a new hobby to fill your nights

Get excited about something new! We’re sure you all remember the extreme bread-craze that hit, well everyone, at the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020 and we’re here to say it’s time to bring that back! Having a new hobby to focus on, and experiment with, is key to passing the time during the long winter nights. Find some amazing recipe inspiration on BakeGood.ca!

Keep your space clean!

It’s so easy to get distracted, or discouraged, by a cluttered or unclean space - and for those of us who work full-time, the last thing most of us want to do when we finish a long day at work is clean, in the dark. That’s why we LOVE the robot vacuums available through Shark Cleaning Canada - these handy little vacuums take all the work out of cleaning the floors so that you can focus on more important and helpful things like self-care or your new favourite hobby!

Make sure you are getting enough ZZZ’s

Last but certainly not least, make sure you are getting enough sleep. This one is sort of self-explanatory but it’s important to remember that sleep is restorative and it allows your body and mind time to heal. Getting eight hours of sleep will help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day, but try not to overdo it as this could lead to moodiness and trouble focusing.

Stay cozy out there, friends!