At this time of year, enjoying the delights of Winter is all about cosy fires, warm hats, snuggling up in bed at night and keeping warm. While staying ‘toasty’ is the name-of-the-game, spiralling energy costs do make you think twice before firing up the heater. So in addition to the usual suggestions, here are some warm-as-toast ways that don’t break the bank.
Keep up social interaction.
Going into hibernation mode during winter months isn’t good for your mental or physical state. It can lead to feelings of social exclusion, which makes you feel colder say University researchers.
TIP:
– Get out and about. It’ll help keep the cold at bay and boost your mood.
– Spend time with people. Interact with others.
– “Turn up” your warmth factor.
Fill your thoughts with sunshine.
Many people go to work and return home in darkness. Less hours of daylight and lower temperatures can lead to what experts call ‘‘winter depression’’. However, you can beat gloomy, wintery-type thoughts. Whenever you feel trapped by the winter blues , let the sunshine of cheerfulness free you from melancholy emotions. Sunny, cheery thinking doesn’t rely on blue skies. You can activate warm and happy thoughts all year round.
TIP:
– Don’t’ stay trapped in the dark. “Let the sunshine in”.
– Let the rays of heart-warming, positive, health-giving thoughts glow in your thinking. Bathe your mind in their heat-generating light.
– Mentally free yourself – like the small bird that was mistakenly shut inside a linen cupboard. Although in the dark, the bird sang. It was heard and was set free.
Expect to be well.
Nothing gives you the shivers more than thinking that you might become ill. That’s why when cold weather arrives, so too can the fear of sickness. One way to antidote this fear, is to warm up your thinking with health-sustaining ideas . According to the Mayo Foundation, benefits from the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health may include, “Increased life span, lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress, greater resistance to the common cold.”
Tip:
– Think about enacting a mental wellness-plan to keep your thinking healthy and warm-as-toast during Wintertime.
– Don’t anticipate illness during colder months. Be confident of maintaining good health.
– Keep the fear of seasonal sickness out of thought. “When the condition is present which you say induces disease, whether it be air, exercise, heredity, contagion, or accident, then perform your office as porter and shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears.” Science and Health, p.392, Mary Baker Eddy.
– Bolster your mental stance with protective ideas such as Psalm 91, Bible. Studies show they help people keep well all year round.
Kindle an inner glow.
Keeping mentally warm starts from the inside. Translated, this means that any spark of warmth should be ignited by the heart, as well as the mind.
TIP:
– Melt any icy stares or cold thoughts toward someone else.
– Radiate goodness through acts of kindness.
– Fan heartfelt feelings for others, until they warm the cockles of your heart.
– Be friendly. Be neighbourly. Such expressions of humanity can not only help keep you warm in Winter, they can help others feel as warm-as-toast too.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
Don’t sit still being miserable. Action and movement, specially in thought, bring warmth and progress, even if you are just helping others.
(Also at this time of year it is warmer where the Poms live. give us a visit !!)
Thank you Tony for your comment. You’re quite right that helping others always brings a warm glow of pleasure. It’s a great way to stay as warm-as-toast during the Winter months here in Oz. Good to know that Britain gets warm weather!
Some lovely ideas here Beverly. I will forward them on to a friend who feels the lack of light during the winter months. She already practices many of these things, especially singing, but it will reinforce for her that she is on the right track.
Thank you Joan for leaving a comment. Glad to know that you plan to share this piece with your friend. She is certainly on the right track to enjoying a happy, healthy Winter. Keep warm-as-toast!
I agree Beverly. Joy and energy expressed keep us warm. One can never be cold when one is energetic and active.
Thank you Marion for your comment. Being active during Winter months starts with the right mental activity. Letting the sunlight of joy in, coupled with gratitude and positive ideas, keeps us warm-as-toast.
Just when needed the right idea comes to us, many thanks Beverly
So glad Pauline that you found the idea of keeping your thinking warm-as-toast helpful at this time of year. It’s great to know that we can stay warm and well now, and all year round.
Thanks Beverley your ideas are very helpful
So glad Heather to know that you’ve found the idea of staying mentally warm-as-toast helpful to you. Thanks for leaving your comment. Remember to let the sunshine of hopeful, positive thinking in during Winter…and all year round. It’s health-giving.