Tag: winter doldrums
Winter Doldrums
by admin on Jan.04, 2012, under Images, Real Estate
Is there any more potentially depressing time of year than right after the holidays? Whether good, bad, or indifferent – the after-Christmas and after-New Year’s time frame can sometimes leave you just feeling exhausted.
In many areas, cold weather first hits hard during this same time – as does the flu. It’s 15 degrees here this morning in Central North Carolina – after a high temperature one day last weekend of 73 degrees. I can’t work outside because it’s too cold – although I am working rather diligently to keep that wood stove fed! The lack of physical activity during cold winter months can have a negative impact on a person’s mental and emotional health. Lack of sunlight and Vitamin D are also often cited as main culprits in seasonal depression.
Add to this that if my father was still alive, today would have been his 77th birthday – and January seems to me a less than stellar way to start a new year.
Time to Re-boot!
Seed catalogs for Spring planting will soon be arriving in the mailbox!
Since it is dark by 5:30pm, I have more time now in the evening to read books or watch movies I don’t have time for on long, outdoor summer evenings. I am always looking for ways to improve my outdoor living environment and now is a great time to do some research and get some new design ideas – instead of trying to find time to do this while the grass is waiting to be watered or mowed.
If I get too bored, I can start planning my defense on the coming assault of tax season in April. Or in a more pleasant light – I can start planning a summer vacation. This winter “downtime” is also a great time to get your inside life organized. A good old-fashioned “throw-away” can be uplifting. Go through a room, or a closet, or a file cabinet that needs a clean-out and get it done.
Don’t be too tied to New Year’s resolutions. Too many people set themselves up for failure the very first day of the year – and then get discouraged. Instead, know that if you are alive and breathing this morning, you have a shot at 361 more days this year to change what you want to change and make any improvements you can as you go along.
If all else fails, maybe these Hyacinth images will help – and the fact that they bloomed before the end of February 2011 – not that long to wait for this season’s color. There’s also the clarity of a winter sky – which can not be seen in the more humid months of summer.
The first day of Spring is March 20, 2012…you can make it!
