What a long winter in our latitudes! Cold, snowy, and cloudy. Too much white – bleak landscapes. You're probably tired of the chilly, gloomy snowy days. And you're dreaming of spring's rebirth. But something keeps you from waking up…
Even in March, winter refuses to leave, fighting the arrival of spring for a long time, threatening us with unexpected snowfalls and cold snaps. How can we overcome this winter blues? How can we wake up and shake off the fatigue, drowsiness, and sluggishness?
Everything is different in spring; even time flies differently, somehow more joyful, active, and interesting. Let's develop a program to prepare for the spring/summer season right now.
1. Long live good mood and positivity!
Think about pleasant things. Read smart books, watch interesting films, listen to uplifting music. Talk to people you enjoy.
Create a “greetings wall”: get out greeting cards from friends and family, tape them or pin them to a piece of poster board or corkboard, and post them on the wall in a prominent place. Whenever you feel sad, just look at these greetings to realize how many people there are in the world who love you.
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget about loved ones. This wall will remind you to call your family and friends.
2. Try to change at least something!
Or maybe it really is worth changing something, for example, your image: your hairstyle, your clothing style, your habits…
Day after day, you drive the same road, the same route from home to work and back. Sometimes you need to change your route just once to make a difference in your life.
3. Down with extra pounds!
Do you have a sedentary job? It would be beneficial to stretch and do strength training exercises to strengthen your weakened muscles. If your job requires you to spend a lot of time on your feet, consider yoga; it relaxes the body and soothes the soul.
And if your job is similar to the expression “unloading train cars,” then it's better to get a swimming pool membership.
Is your boss annoying you? But you can't quit? Find their best photo and print it out in color. Buy a punching bag at a sports store, stick your photo on it, hang it at home, and train like crazy. This will help you release the tension you've built up throughout the day, shed a few extra pounds, and strengthen your arm muscles.
A photo of your boss will be a great motivator for exercise. When you're feeling too lazy to get off the couch, look at your boss's satisfied face… This method of fighting depression has long been legalized in China.
4. Go through your wardrobe
Are your clothes ready for spring? Take your coat to the dry cleaner. Replace the heels on your spring boots. Sew on any missing buttons. Wash, iron, hang, and sort by color.
Sometimes it can be very helpful for women to simply go through their closets and put them on shelves—it helps bring order to the house, calms the nerves, and even inspires.
This activity will also help you figure out what you're missing. Keep a notebook nearby and write down: what needs to go with this skirt? Maybe a belt or a strap? Or what about this dress? The next time you go shopping for something new, bring your notes, and you'll know exactly what you want.
Set aside one of your weekend days for this activity.
Put aside what is too small for you, what you don’t like, or what you don’t wear for any other reason: it’s old-fashioned, worn out, the wrong color, the style doesn’t suit you, it brings back bad memories, or you just don’t like it and that’s it.
Do something with those unwanted things. Don't let clutter accumulate at home; it attracts negative energy. So give these things to someone: a shelter, a gift to a friend, a flea market, a rag market, a fire, or just throw them away!
5. Bringing the interior to life
There's a saying: when a woman gets tired of her usual routine, she starts rearranging the furniture in her apartment. This can dramatically change the interior, and with it, her mood and even her lifestyle.
No, you shouldn't lift heavy objects yourself; it's better to ask someone else to do it. When asked about the feasibility of this activity, say something like, “I want to better optimize the space in our apartment.”
If you're a petite girl and don't have a strong shoulder nearby, you can simply change the curtains and bedspreads, move the nightstand to another corner, and buy something for the interior: a couple of sofa pillows, a new rug for the bathroom, or some cute trinkets for the coffee table.
6. Rethink your priorities
Have you already defined your life plans? Do you know exactly what you want and are you working toward it? If you're unsure, create a maximum-impact plan. So, what do you want to achieve this year? Make this plan include three major goals (remember, you'll have to achieve at least one of them) and several secondary ones.
For example: changing jobs, going on vacation to the sea, getting an education—these are the main goals. Now, break down the path to achieving them into sub-items. Then, spread these items out over time. What, don't you want to manage your own life?!
Then act according to the circumstances, but don't forget to keep your goals in mind. For example, if you want to change jobs or get an education, then you need to start looking for a new job or save money and apply to university.
And remember: it's never too late to learn, change your profession, or change your social status. If you keep telling yourself it's too early, the time will come when you'll feel it's too late for any changes in your life. There's no such thing as “too late” or “too early”; everything should be done when you have the desire. Your aspirations are everything.
7. Plan your vacation and make it happen
Don't sit at home on the weekends. Even if you don't have money for entertainment, there are websites online that will tell you where to go if your budget is extremely limited.
If you're looking for a seaside vacation or a European sightseeing tour, don't miss out. You'll remember the wonderful vacation all year long.
Save up for your trip: before buying another non-essential item, close your eyes and think about how nice it is to lie on a sandy beach, the sun shining so warmly, the sea lapping nearby… Now open your eyes and look at the item you're about to buy. Do you still need it? Are you willing to trade a good vacation for it? Repeat to yourself three times, “Screw it! Scratch it! Scratch it!” and hang the item back on the hanger or return it to the shelf.
To avoid temptation, avoid such stores altogether. And to “soothe” your urge to go out, buy a museum ticket and wander the galleries, admiring the works of art. You'll save money, learn about art, and cultivate not only a sense of beauty but also style and a sense of proportion. Famous paintings by great artists always inspire.
8. Get a talisman
Everyone needs to care for someone. It's great if you have children. But what if you're currently single?
You need a talisman, and what it will be is up to you. It could be a plant, or perhaps an animal you'll care for. This “something” needs to be one that requires your constant care and protection, just like a Tamagotchi, but a living one, not an electronic one.
This talisman will “call” you home, wait for you and thank you for your care: the flower will bloom, and the cat will purr on your lap.
9. Expand your circle of interests and make new friends
Do you feel like your life is boring and monotonous? And nothing new can happen in it? You need to expand your range of interests.
Make it a rule to try something new and unusual at least once a month. It doesn't matter if it's Chinese cuisine, skydiving, or a low-cut dress.
Don't listen to “well-wishers” who tell you it's tasteless, expensive, dangerous, or just doesn't suit you. You only have one life, and you need to do everything in it, try everything.
Find a new interesting hobby, meet new people who can share your interests, share their experiences with you and change your life for the better.