stay inspire(d):
KicK winTer in The shins!
story and photos by Aryn Henning Nichols
It’s tough to stay positive in the winter – when it’s edging on four feet of snow outside, the thermometer hasn’t popped above zero in days, and the only fresh vegetable in your house is a month-old potato, the force of the couch is strong. If it’s a blanket that’s made to be worn, it’s okay, right? Wrong! At least not in the long-term. As Dylan Thomas said: “Do not go gentle into that good night.” Use this winter to get happy, inspired, and ready for spring! Try making some changes and goals that sound fun. It can really work, says Mary Jorgensen of Decorahbased Rising Sun Life Coaching . Jorgensen believes making small adjustments in your day can make a big difference in your life, and we couldn’t be more on board! So we’ve put together a list of inspire(d) ideas to “kick the winter doldrums in the shins.” Jorgensen also added another great tip to our list that we couldn’t resist sharing: “Smile, even for no particular reason; scientists know that smiling generates good hormones, uplifts your mood, and – an added bonus here – prompts other people to smile back, which gives you warm fuzzies to beat the cold.” We love that.
MAKe TiMe for you There really is no such thing as “no time”. There is definitely “little time”, though, so you have to schedule the things you enjoy most – literally put them on your calendar on a time/day that you set, and stick with it. Go to a movie, get a beer or coffee with friends, take a yoga or meditation class (read some tips on meditation on page 32). If it were my schedule, I might get a massage, take a bath…maybe even pencil in a nap!
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Winter 2013-14 / theinspiredmedia.com
DrinK coffee/ hoT chocolATe/ TeA Okay, that morning cup of coffee makes you feel happy and awake, but a cozy warm drink, sipped with a friend or by yourself on the couch – that’s all about taking care of you.