If the colder weather and darker days are getting you down, you’re not alone.The “winter blues” is defined as a short period of time when a person may feel down or not like themselves due to weather changes, like in the fall and winter when daylight hours are shorter, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The winter blues are more common than you probably think. Even in more mild climates, like in California, getting less mood-boosting sunlight can have dramatic effects on our moo and outlook. 

So what can you do to beat the blues when the short, dark days are getting you down? Here are a few ideas to combat the winter blues this season:

Wellness has been difficult to maintain in 2020, to say the least. With the rise of COVID-19, raging wildfires, the election, and regional lockdowns, our focus seemed to shift from wellness to mere survival. We redirected our focus from skincare to sanitation, working out to working from home, and from zen to Zoom. In the midst of all of this, our mental and physical wellness was left in disarray. 

2021 is an opportunity to reclaim our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as we identify new ways to take care of ourselves and those around us. Here are a few of our favorite wellness trends for the new year:

Now that the days are getting shorter and a pandemic and election still in our midst, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and worn out during the day. However, we have learned to never underestimate the power of stretching our bodies to relieve anxiety and stress. When energy is waning and stress is rising, it’s pretty incredible how a little deep breathing and muscle movement can completely reinvent your mood, energy, and outlook. 

Below are a few stretches that can be done when you need a quick pick me up.  They don’t require any special clothing, equipment, or training – just a willingness to take a break and recharge.