How to beat winter with your brain

I. Love. Seasons. I can’t get enough of them. And while that’s tough to say as the Northeast is buried under mountains of snow, it’s the truth. Anticipating the forthcoming season could be considered one of my favorite pastimes. Watching the fashion blogs for fall/spring lines…stocking up on winter scarves and then ditching them for tanks and shorts in the summer…come springtime, I even attend a Pumpkin Spice Latte support group (jk…kinda).

However, sometimes it’s easy to forget that even though the seasons are repeating, time isn’t. Our lives aren’t. There are no do-overs for today, tomorrow or the next day. It’s helpful to remember that though the years may seem to follow a circle, it’s really more like a line. Time marches forward, not around. And when you’re moving in a circle, you’re destined to repeat. Repeat old mistakes, old habits and old ways of thinking. But when you start moving forward, you leave those things behind. You pursue what’s next instead of what once was.

It’s a little late for New Year’s resolutions, but here are some tips that can help you seize this day, no matter what the weather looks like outside your window.

Start a spring hobby!  

There are a million things to choose from. You could learn to play the guitar, start a succulent garden or take a yoga class. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, try something like unicycling or accordion-playing! But whatever you do, pick something that will stretch you in new ways.

Make a seasonal resolution.

Set this spring apart by following through on a promise to yourself, like, “I will start riding my bike to class,” or “I will read at least one new book a week.” That way, when summer rolls around, you’ll have some accomplishments under your belt, and will be a better-rounded person.

De-clutter your space.

And I’m not just talking about spring cleaning. Move your furniture. Throw stuff away. It’s amazing what an effect this can have on your overall perspective! Seeing your home in a different light is refreshing in ways you wouldn’t believe.

Keep a diary.

While we may have Timehop to remind us of what we were doing a year ago, writing things down when they happen is proven to preserve memories. It’ll help you remember what made this season of your life special and different. Plus, writing things down helps us to process what happens to us, and when we do that, we’re better able to move forward!

Every morning, the world is new. Every morning, you are new, and you are older. Treat every day like the gift that it is!