Is it spring yet? Kidding. But really. If you're anything like me, the moment the holidays end, I'm ready for daffodils, baby animals and pastels.
Alas, winter is still hanging out with us until late March. For many, this time of year can feel like it drags on. And on. And on. The good news? There are plenty of ways to make the best of it.
Do some early spring cleaning.
While springtime is traditionally the prime cleaning time, the new year can also be an awesome opportunity to give your space a little spruce up. This could mean switching out pillow covers in your living room for a more spring-timey shade, gathering up clothing and accessories that no longer serve you to donate, deep clean your least favorite parts of the house to tidy, etc.
It's also a great time to get organized! Consider tackling your junk drawer (you know you have one) and dividing it up into usable segments. All those charging cables and bricks? Give them a little home so you'll never need to frantically dig through clutter again when the time comes. Twist ties and rubber bands? Toss them in a little jar and call it good!
Up your self-care game.
While practicing self-care during the colder months could mean booking a massage or facial at your favorite local spa, it doesn't always have to be. Self-care can be as simple as giving yourself time to practice a hobby, creating a slow morning routine to calm your mind, reading a new book instead of scrolling on your phone, throwing on a face mask after a long day (I'm currently loving the Borghese Advanced Fango Active Purifying Mud Mask), celebrating your body through movement, etc. Just be sure to make time for you.
Switch up your scents.
Whether it's perfume, laundry detergent, shampoo, lotion, candles or air fresheners, changing the scents in your surroundings could have some serious mood boosting potential. Scent notes in perfumes have the potential to perform differently in hot vs. cold weather, so keep that in mind! I usually bounce between two scents throughout the year (REPLICA's Autumn Vibes for cooler months and Beach Walk for warmer), but layering your scents is also an option.
More of a fragrance-free person? Consider switching up colors instead (in your wardrobe, on your nails, in your décor, etc.).
Make some plans!
Now is the perfect time to sit down and plot out some future plans. These could be smaller plans like coffee dates and snowy weather activities, but also bigger ideas that require research or a decent amount of prep time.
Whether your aim is to travel abroad for the first time or run a half marathon (or both ... you go getter), taking advantage of this "slower" time of year to map out what's to come can help you make the most of the year as it comes. But remember: there's no need to put pressure on yourself to do it all. Only take on what feels good and will enrich your life in the way you want it to.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
