On October 31st, there will be a time change here and the sun will start setting at 5 pm and earlier each night. Another way to put it is that the worst time of the year is approaching-winter!

I, among many others, experience seasonal sadness during the colder months. There’s less sunlight, it’s cold outside, and everything just looks dead. Usually, I just drag myself through it, but this year I wanted to take the last of the long days to prepare for my lack of motivation when it gets dark.

This routine can be spread out over multiple days, and I have already gotten started on it. Here’s what’s on my Reset List:

Deep Clean

Getting the grunt work out of the way for when you really can’t be bothered makes a difference! Scrub, dust, or do maintenance on something that has been needing attention for a while but is missed in your normal cleaning routine.

One thing I did was shampoo clean some of the large rugs in the house. I also reorganized all of my guinea pig’s laundry.

Switch Out Closet Items

If you store out-of-season clothes, now is the best time to bring out the sweaters and fully pack away the tank tops and vacation clothes. If you are feeling extra motivated, take this time to create a “donate” pile of items you don’t wear anymore.

Change Up Body Care

An easy way to romanticize a season or make the most out of it is with the little things. One thing I like to do is change out my fragrance for the seasons. I have many lotions, soaps, and body sprays to go through, so it helps me use them up!

You can also choose a new candle or hand soap to make a small but notable change.

Redecorate

Now is also the best time to start putting away the fall decorations and start bringing out the winter pieces. If you are anything like me, sometimes I miss the opportunity to put up a decoration and it hangs as a testament to my lack of motivation until spring.

I never decorate specifically for winter other than putting up a Christmas tree, but maybe I will make some light blue or white decorations to give myself something to look at lol.

Make Plans to Look Forward To

I think a big part of my dislike of winter comes in the months following December. The big holidays are over, and now it’s just cold! I am working on finding things to do now so that I have something to look forward to in the boring days of winter. I want to make a bucket list like I did for Autumn, that may help a lot!

Being out in the sun as much as possible in the winter is something I would like to make a goal, getting vitamin D will be very important in combating negative emotions.

Prepare Your Own Craft Kits

This is an idea I got from the YouTube channel Mia’s Digital Diary. She created her own craft kits with materials she already owned so that she could accomplish a quick project without the overwhelm of making a lot of decisions or cleaning up a big mess. Hers included cross stitch and foil embossing, but I think my kits will be a little bit simpler. I’m thinking of a making a small hand sewing project kit, collage ATC kit, impromptu letter writing kit with washi and markers, etc.

Conclusion

I need to get a start on doing all that I can now so that I am prepared to hibernate in the winter! As much as I don’t want to, I will try and romanticize the winter like I do Fall. Maybe that will make it more enjoyable! Do you experience cold winters, or is it mild where you live? How early does the sun set? Let me know, and I will see you all tomorrow!