Make Your House Cozy for Winter to Avoid SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Hello Lovelies,
Here in Toronto, the days are darker and the nights are colder. While we have chatted about the importance of healthy home habits during the Winter, there is another obstacle that comes along with the cold. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common type of depression felt by Canadians during the Winter months (November-February). Everyone can experience SAD differently. Some people may even feel its effects in the Summer months, and feel completely fine in the Winter. For a full list of signs and symptoms of SAD, head to the Centre for Adiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
I personally was MAJORLY affected by SAD while I was away for University. Now that I have graduated and am a part of the work force, I still feel the symptoms of SAD every now and then (the fatigue, changes in appetite, trouble sleeping, etc.).
I am a major home-body, so for me to feel truly happy and comforted, I need to transform my living space into a safe-haven of warmth and coziness. The following list contains minor changes that I incorporate into my home during the months of December-February to help boost my mood and get me through the chilly, dark days of Canadian Winter.*
*Disclaimer: I am not trying to say that by following steps in this list you will “cure your SAD.” I just thought I would offer up the tools that have worked for me over the past couple of years in the hopes that they may also help you to feel a little bit better too! Please consult with your family doctor if your mental health is becoming too much to handle on your own - accepting help is ALWAYS OKAY!
Cozy Home: Winter Transformation
The Magic of Lights
Do you ever feel more lethargic during the winter? I know I do! Waking up to drive to work in the dark, and then leaving work to drive home in the dark is not a fun routine to be in. Thankfully we are starting to get brighter a little earlier here in Toronto, but it can still be a challenge to catch the light. I like to take matters into my own hands and fill my home with additional lighting. Simply adding a few strings of fairy lights around your bed frame or couch (wherever you like to relax the most) can help to transform a dark space into a more uplifting, happy one!
I expecially like to bring out a few extra desk lamps to brighten up the room on days where the sun just won’t shine. You can even purchase UV lights that replicate natural sunlight, HOWEVER I have never tried this and do not know much about these products so do your research before purchasing! It may seem like a simple change, however, the difference a bright space can make when you are feeling down is incredible! But don’t take my word for it - add a little light to your space too and enjoy!
2. Blankets… Everywhere
If you haven’t caught on yet, I am at my happiest when I am as cozy as possible. With that in mind, I am unsurprisingly almost always wrapped in a fuzzy blanket of some kind. To ensure I am never without an escape from the cold, I keep tons of blankets around my house in the fall/winter. AND… if I have to leave the cozy oassis of my apartment and venture to the outside world, I also keep a selection of blanket scarves on hand to cary the cozy with me wherever I go.
Most of my favourite blankets & blanket scarves come from Indigo. Their aesthetic never fails to make me drool and they are so plush and soft! I may or may not own 4 of the Textured Faux Fur Throws…they are so cute and cozy, and wrapping up in one after a long day is the best feeling in the world.
3. Space heater/Fireplace
One of my favourite appliances (is it strange to have a favourite appliance?) is our little space heater that looks like a wood-burning fire place. Not only does it fight off the drafty cold, but the warm, golden embers of the burning logs make me feel like I have escapped to a challet paradise. Again… it comes back to ligthing with me. The brighter (and warmer in hue) the better I feel!
Watching the little fireplace burn is one of the joys I look forward to when I get home from a long day at work. Most nights I feel as though I could stare into the crackling logs forever as I am transported into a magical, glowing world. Cheese level: 100… Cozy Level 1000!
4. Woodsy Scents
Surprise, surprise… CANDLES! Not only do they continue to add to the warm ambience of my space, but the woodsy smells swirl around me and trigger nostalgic memories and happy thoughts! Cinnamon, pine, sandalwood, and gingerbread…all scents that fill my heart with warmth and love this time of year. Not only do they smell and look great, they also help add more light to your space! The best part - they come in so many different scents, so if earthy, woodsy scents aren’t for you, you have a plethora of options to make your space perfect for you!
If you are not a candle person, fear not! Try using incense instead! They are a great/safer alternative to candles, and come in so many delicious, potent scents! If I already have a ton of light in my space, then I like to opt for incense instead to mix things up a bit! For someone like me who is super sensitive to smells, incense have a wondrous impact on my mental wellbeing in a similar way to rubbing essential oils all over my body. I definitely reccomend giving them a try!
5. Indoor Gardens
I have stressed this many times… I am TERRIBLE with plants, BUT I will not give up until my thumb is green! One of the things I look forward to most in the summer is filling my patio with plants and flowers. The joy that comes from growing something beautiful is indescribable! Last Christmas, I recieved an AeroGarden, and it has quickly become an addiction! I LOVE growing my own herbs and spices for cooking and home made teas, and the AeroGarden makes it so easy to continue growing indoors throughout the sun-less Winter months! The UV light rays that are given off simulate the sun cycle to maintain the growing schedule of your plants and keep them lush and green all winter long - you can even start larger vegetables from seeds in the AeroGarden in the winter, so that they are ready to plant outdoors in the Spring/Summer!
The reason I am mentioning this item as a Cozy Home essential for me in the winter is the UV light. Not only does is keep the freshness of Summer alive by growing fresh herbs all winter, but the UV rays also help to keep my other house plants healthy and strong all winter long if kept in close enough proximity to the AeroGarden!! It is a win-win for all of the green babies, as well as acts as a fun and exciting hobby to look forward to on a dreary winter’s day.
6. Expand the Tea Cabinet
While I drink tea 365 days a year, I always seem to stock up even more than usual in the Winter. I find that by having my tea cabinet (yes, I really do have an entire cabinet dedicated to tea) stocked and ready to go with as many of my favourite teas and cozy beverages as possible, it is much easier for me to pull myself out of a slump… I simply have to boil the kettle and begin the tea making ritual that soothes my soul and brings me so much happiness.
This goes hand-in-hand with the importance of my AeroGarden. I love to grow (or at least attempt to grow) herbs such as Peppermint, Chammomile, Spearmint and Lemon Grass so that I can dry them out and make my own tea concoctions! Being able to grow herbs indoors in the Winter helps to ensure my tea supplies never dwindle, and I always have a cozy escape from whatever is bringing me down.
Well I hope that at least one of you found this little list of mine helpful in creating a more cozy, happy space to escape from SAD and feel more like you again! A last little note I want to add in here: while all of the things listed in my post play a HUGE role in getting me through SAD, there is another key thing to remember! Like I mentioned in my previous post “I Have Depression,” I do take a little pill every day that helps me with my Anxiety and Depression.
To clarify, I take this 365 days a year, not just in the Winter months when I also get hit with SAD on top of my usual mental health struggles. I just want to be clear about this so as not to mislead any of you into thinking that a candle can “cure” mental illness. While these coping mechanisms help me to feel happy and calm daily, I do also get the extra little help I need from medication - WHICH IS OKAY! As I mentioned above, please consult with your family doctor if your mental health is becoming too much to handle on your own:
it is ALWAYS OKAY to seek and accept help!
Thank you for reading, and keep spreading the happiness around! What are your feel-good home rituals in the Winter? Let me and others know in the comments below!
Yours Happily,
Kristyn xo