10 tips for an energizing January

Winter is cold, dark, wet and windy - and sometimes it feels endlessly long.

Especially here in January, it can be a bit hard to get through for most people, when December and the magic of Christmas are a done deal. But we also know that year after year we get through the dark months, and we are happy to live in the Nordic countries, where we can enjoy the different seasons of the year. Seasons, each of which has its own charm filled with sensory impressions, beautiful nuances and raw nature.
In particular, as something completely unique here in Scandinavia, we have the long, bright and warm nights to look forward to.

In the darkness of winter, it's important to be kind to yourself and focus on filling your calendar with nice, empowering, and self-loving things. And before we know it, the light has returned, the birds are chirping, nature is sprouting, and the temperatures are rising.

At CARE BY ME, we like to live by the motto of enjoying every single day, being positive and smiling from the heart.
We hope you can use the 10 energizing tips below to get through the rest of the winter.

Happy reading!

Daylight and fresh air

Winter days are dark and short, and therefore it is important to soak up the daylight that is available to you, as daylight has a miraculous effect on your mood.

Through daylight we get the special blue light, which stimulates the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects mood positively - or negatively if we get too little light.

Take the chance to get outside while it's light as soon as it's there, soak up both fresh air and daylight and pamper your body and mind. For example, walk for 10-15 minutes during your lunch break with a buddy, choose the bike and prioritize going for a longer walk on the weekend - perhaps with someone you love. Make sure to breathe all the way down into your stomach so that your cells get plenty of oxygen.

Water water water

Are you getting enough water?

It can be hard to drink plenty of fluids – especially during the cold months. But water is SO important for your energy and well-being.

If you have difficulty drinking water straight from the tap, you can add flavorings that not only taste fresh but are also visually appealing. Mint leaves, cucumber slices or berries.

A good tip is to add freshly squeezed lemon to your water. It tastes wonderfully fresh, and in fact, half a deciliter of lemon is enough to cover our daily need for vitamin C, which strengthens the body's immune system.

Movement

"From the first of January, I'm also going to start running/training..."

Don't we all know that phrase?
Instead of setting lofty (and often unrealistic) goals of going to the gym three times a week, running every other day, doing yoga at home in the living room, or whipping yourself up on the exercise bike, start small.
Because, yes, movement IS healthy.

We humans are designed to move, and when we do, we enrich our cells with life-giving, blood-circulating and energy-producing oxygen – while getting in better shape and increasing our health.

Physical activity is also a fantastic mood booster, and although exercise is probably the last thing you feel like doing at this time of year, the benefits are noticeable and hard to miss once you get started and it has become a part of your daily life. After all, all movement is healthy.

Start by setting a goal to go for a daily walk – maybe you’ll even accomplish tip number one at the same time. Put on your favorite music, podcast or audiobook, and dress warmly for the winter cold. Then you can always increase the pace to a power walk that can eventually turn into a run – when you’re ready.

The more you move, the more alive you will feel, and the feeling of doing something good for yourself is incredibly energizing!

Do something good for yourself.

January's slightly gloomy weather and lack of energy can make it extra tempting to just stay home and snuggle up under a warm blanket on the couch with a good book or your favorite series for a whole day at the weekend. And that's totally okay! Allow yourself to feel what you want.

Is it a home spa in the bathroom with a bathtub (if you're lucky), soft music and candles - maybe make Camilla's easy and delicious scrub that your dry winter skin will love, is it a movie and popcorn on the couch, a long walk in the woods alone, baking a cake and enjoying a piece with a cup of tea, taking a long afternoon nap or something completely different?

Notice. Treat yourself. Recharge your batteries.

Vitamins, juices & smoothies

Do you remember to take your daily vitamin pill? If you're not sure that you're getting enough vitamins through your diet, it's a good idea to supplement with a vitamin pill so that your body is well equipped to keep winter colds and flu at bay.

A good idea is to turn seasonal vegetables and fruits into a smoothie packed with good vitamins and nutrients that strengthen your immune system and keep winter colds at bay.

Get enough sleep

A good night's sleep is important for both body and mind.
Sleep is absolutely essential for our well-being, regeneration and healing, and in fact, a good (preferably consistent) sleep is just as crucial to our well-being and well-being as a healthy diet and exercise. Not getting enough sleep has a big effect on your mood and the negative energy no one needs during the grey winter months.
Read or reread the post here about why sleep is so important and get some good tips for a good night's sleep.

Be with other people

Although it's nice to hibernate at home for a bit, it's also wonderful and life-affirming to be with others in the dark, and be recharged with smiles, chats, and social interaction.

Make a delicious dinner for good friends, invite the family over for hot cocoa and board games, watch a movie at the cinema, go to a café and have a good cup of coffee with someone you love, take your best friend under your arm and spend the day in a sauna and steam bath at a day spa, go to a museum with your mom/dad or invite your better half to a romantic dinner in town.
Being with people who are valuable to you is worth its weight in gold and an unparalleled energy boost that you can live on for quite some time.

Wrap yourself up soft & warm

“… SOFT AND NATURAL MATERIALS ON THE SKIN ARE JUST AS BIG A PART OF MY HEALTH ROUTINE AS A NATURAL AND NOURISHING DIET, GOOD SLEEP, YOGA AND MEDITATION.”

The quote comes from Vicky Olivia, Yoga Teacher & Complementary Hormone Therapist, who is part of our own team on a daily basis.

Wearing soft clothes on your body is important for both body and soul. In fact, the skin is the body's largest organ, and like the body's other organs, the skin plays a vital role in our health. In addition to providing information and protection, the skin is also a sensory organ with direct access to both the nervous system and the hormonal system.

Especially during the winter, it's a good idea to let the warm and soft materials embrace you and take good care of you. Choose styles in natural, quality materials like cashmere, wool and organic cotton. We ourselves love this set , which we have lived with throughout the Christmas holidays.

The feeling of soft blankets and clothes stimulates the nervous system and increases the production of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is also known as the pleasure hormone and the brilliant thing about this hormone is that it normalizes our stress levels.

You can read much more in the post here.

A little pocket of happiness

Looking forward to something in itself gives a feeling of happiness.
That feeling is important to remember. Keep it inside yourself as a little pocket of happiness. A pocket you can carry with you through (winter) everyday life, and give you a smile on your face and a small energy boost when the pocket is opened.

It can be an event you're looking forward to – big or small. A summer wedding, weekend getaway or birthday celebration. An upcoming winter ski holiday, summer vacation planning, hairdressing, café trip, pottery course or concert.

The first coffee outside, the first anemones in the forest or the first fresh laundry hanging out to dry under the open sky.

Maybe you're facing the need to paint, create a gallery wall, freshen up the kitchen or maybe even move?
If you have a garden, plan which summer flowers you will soon be planting, so you can start visualizing a beautiful blossom and dream away about all the bouquets you will be picking.

How about giving your wardrobe a refresh so it's ready for a new season?
Clear out, sort and organize. Sell what you no longer use and enjoy saving the money you earn for something you want – or donate the clothes to a good cause and enjoy making others happy.

Treat yourself to spring

While we wait for spring, light and life, treat yourself to spring flowers in pots indoors.

Plant snowdrops, crocuses, pansies, hyacinths, tulips, etc. and place in groups around your home.
It's beautiful and life-affirming to see it sprout and it's a clear sign that spring is approaching and winter is coming to an end.

If you have a garden, look for early signs of spring in the beds.
There is (almost) nothing that beats the feeling when you discover the first snowdrop breaking through the hard soil.