Thriving throughout Winter WFH
This season? Notttt for me. Sorry to all you Christmas-heads out there but the holiday cheer doesn’t make up for the rainy dark days for me. Here are some tips I’ve found beneficial for my mental health this season in particular.
Sleep Quality
I'm not even ashamed anymore of how many things I need in place to have a restful sleep. I do fantasize about just being able to close my eyes and lay my head down but I've come to accept I'm too sensitive for that. The crowning jewel of my sleep routine is my sleeping mask, and I've used a sleeping mask to block out light for close to 15 years. My Manta Sleep one is the best I've tried, even as a stomach sleeper! Blocking out light is sooo necessary for me to fall asleep quickly. I take a magnesium supplement in the afternoon, and mix a teaspoon of ashwagandha with warm water right before bed. I've got my earplugs and mouthguard and I'm ready for a restful night’s sleep. I’m glad I grew out of the desire to be cool and low-maintenance years ago.
Daily Movement
A planned exercise routine has never been a huge part of my life. I love outdoor activities of all sorts but when inside season rolls around I tend to lose enthusiasm for moving my body. Hear me when I say this...I hate to admit how good I feel after working out. Like, it's something we all know is true and putting it into practice is definitely the hardest part but it makes me feel happier when I exercise, plain and simple. I've been loving A Few Fun Moves lately, and another one is Free to Move — a brand I had the pleasure of working on in 2020 :) Both are inclusive, fun, and are diet-culture free zones.
Vitamin D
This year I got a mass supply of Vitamin D from Costco, but in the past I've taken the Garden of Life Spray (not medical advice though…I’m a designer, not a doctor!). Whatever way you can get your fill of Vitamin D during these short days, please do! Sitting outside on my patio all bundled up on the non-rainy days and taking 20 minutes to read during lunch is a nice way to step away from the computer and have a literal breath of fresh air.
Candles
As a recovering cheapskate, my 28th year marked my dive into ~$40 candles. I do love to treat myself and make my space as comforting as possible while I'm designing and sift through inspiration so a candle is a nice lil treat just for me. I'm working my way through Boy Smells Cowboy Kush and recently picked up a mega sized PF Candle Co Teakwood and Tobacco, two moody and smoky scents I'm into for fall and winter. I’ve learned recently to prevent candle tunneling getting a pool of wax the entire diameter of the candle on the first burn is key!
Tea
Another no-brainer! Kind of a throwback but I've been huge on Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice these past few weeks! Enjoying this after dinner as a sweet treat with a splash of soymilk as part of my wind-down routine is sooo comforting. I'm trying to lay off the dessert every single night so this is a nice change up!
There are my tips for enjoying your work from home winter as a freelancer. Do what you can to stay grounded and enjoy the rest of Q1!
