How I am beating the February Blahs!

This cold weather has been super challenging!  It's so hard to stay motivated to do anything other than curl up under a blanket and drink hot tea by the fire.  However, those days are long behind us!  Busy babies and toddlers make it impossible to completely hibernate until spring, so what's a mom to do?

Here are some of the things I am doing to bust up my blues:

Exercise Short bursts of exercise help to focus your thoughts and give you a quick energy boost.  Run up the stairs, dance in the kitchen and lunge while carrying laundry.   If you can, consider joining a mom+baby fitness class to get you out of the house and meet other women.

Connect with a friend  When was the last time you spoke to your best friend on the telephone?  A good chat with your person offers a quick lift of your spirit.  A personal phone call vs a text or an email is a definite mood buster!

Make a date Either with yourself, or your partner, or some friends.  Mark it on the calendar and count down the days!  A brunch with baby or a fancy dinner out (if you snag a babysitter) gives you something to look forward to when every day feels like Groundhog Day (one of our families favourite Bill Murray films!).

Stretch We are all much less active in the winter months, and as a result our muscles often shorten causing pain or discomfort.  Pregnancy and breastfeeding posture often exacerbate these symptoms.  A 5 minute stretch session to target the middle back, lower back, hips and hamstrings can help you feel more comfortable.  Regular stretching is also known to aid with minimizing anxiety, improving mental focus and mood, especially when paired with deep breathing.

What else are you doing to blast the February blahs?