As I write this, my backyard has at least four feet of packed snow waiting for the Spring melt. Which will bring with it a whole new set of problems. Once the ground becomes fully saturated, water will start seeping into the basement. Hence, the title of this newsletter … “March comes in like a lion and out like a lake.”

Winter can be a stressful time under normal circumstances. It tends to be a more isolated time of year, it’s cold which causes everything (including us) to contract, and the lack of natural light can bring on sadness or even depression.

I noticed myself falling in old habits while all this winter-not-so-wonderland was going on around me. Because I was tending to outdoor activities like shoveling and chipping away at ice dams, there was less time to do work and take care of my day to day responsibilities. So I worked longer and later to catch up. I started to feel tired, cranky, and craved caffeine and sugary foods that would keep the whole thing up and running. ?I’m sure this sounds familiar to a lot of you.

And then on February 18, Lent started. I’m a practicing Catholic and observe the Lenten tradition, so I decided to give up dark chocolate and caffeine (my go-to treats when I need a burst of energy). That’s when I hit my mid-winter rock bottom.?Not only was I physically exhausted, I was emotionally drained as well. I didn’t have the energy to do much of anything.

So I reached into my bag of self-care tricks and pulled a few out. This was my plan for getting back on track:

• SLEEP – I started going to bed early and getting the rest I needed. So simple, yet incredibly effective.
• YOGA – I got back on the mat. Yoga is not only a physical workout, it’s a mental one. It pushes you outside your comfort zone while at the same time clearing your mind of all the mental busywork that’s constantly churning.
• GREENS – I added more greens into my diet with salads and smoothies. Spinach, broccoli, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, chard, bok choy, and beet greens are all energy boosters that contain chlorophyll, magnesium and B vitamins.
• PLAY – We invited our grandchildren for a sleep over for some “living in the moment” time. Adding more playtime into our lives not only revitalizes us, it stimulates creativity in other areas.
• BREATHING – One thing we can take with us everywhere we go is the ability to calm ourselves with deep breathing. To take it to the next level, I infused doTERRA lavender and Balance essential oils. Together they’re the perfect combination of calm.

These simple things have given me so much more energy in just a few short weeks. And with the temperatures rising and longer days, Spring is going to feel that much sweeter once we put this Winter behind us.

What do you do to keep yourself from losing it after a long, long winter? Please share your thoughts below. I may need them for next year!

Be well.