Surviving the Winter Blues
As we head deeper into the month of January-we experience sadness, dreariness and overall bleh. The holiday lights are put up, the cold winds sweep through and the trees are bare- its…depressing. These months are when your unemployment period can really hit hard. During this time its easy to want to stay inside, cozied up on the couch and disengage. As you move through your unemployed time, its important to establish a routine to keep yourself busy and within a positive headspace-even if you’re not working.
While strolling through a local bookstore while unemployed- I picked up this book- The Finnish Way. This book helped me find bravery and courage through my unemployment-it also inspired me to live slower and simpler.
The Finnish practice the art of Sisu-a longtime way of life that consists of:
Movement as medicine: going for walks, practicing yoga, swimming-OUTSIDE of a gym- the Fins like to do cold plunges-check your local area if any cold plunge/sauna facilities are nearby!
Forest/outdoors therapy: getting outside is a great way to recalibrate your brain. Check out your nearby local parks, forests, or National Parks
Healthy eating: we get flooded with new diets, workouts, ‘detox teas’ and millions of other things. But eating clean, and listening to your body and what it needs can help alleviate feelings of being sad. Feeding yourself healthy, easy and low-costs foods will boost your book. Check out my grocery list post!
For more info on the art of Sisu-I highly recommend reading The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar- click here to order!
While it is a daily struggle to feel happy again in the winter-especially for those of us who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) there are some positive things to do to keep the winter blues at bay.
A few good things about January and February are:
Looking for jobs! Budgets get reset, some companies restart their fiscal years over, and everyone is looking for new people post holiday to fill the open roles.
Rewriting your resume– I know, it's a pain to do and conquer. But utilizing your time off to update your skills, your jobs and what you can bring to a new job!
I offer resume and cover letter consultations and revamps-Click Here to find out more about how I can help you!
Cover letters-another pain that we ALL hate doing-but having extra copies of various cover letters on hand can be helpful. If you’re looking into trying a new job, having a cover letter ready for the employer to read can help them understand why you are the best person for the job.
Need someone to read over your cover letter? I can do that too! Click here to inquire!
Cleaning out your closets- getting rid of clothes, shoes and previous objects from your former desk can really help clear out the old energy associated with a former job
Volunteer- finding a local charity or organization you are passionate about and offering your time can help your blues go away. It also gives you a little perspective on your life and where you are…
There are PLENTY of things to do to keep yourself preoccupied while unemployed!
The one thing to do is to keep positive, trying to move forward and staying busy.
