TIPS | How to avoid the winter blues

October has started and that means three things: winter is coming closer, days are getting shorter and Christmas candy will be available very very soon. Although I'm looking forward to eating candy canes while looking at all the pretty Christmas lights, I really don't like the cold and the darknesss. I mean: have you guys noticed that it's getting dark at 7.30 P.M. already?! How's your mood doing?! I'm pretty close to winter depression (yes - already). All I want to do is cuddle up in a blanket with a huge cup of tea, binge watching series (which, apparently, is only making me more depressed)...
What to do, what to do? Well, here's a nice idea: I recently found out wearing colors can change your mood. So that's what I did last week: I wore color and I went all out. Did it help me through? And what more can we do to survive those winter blues? Find out today.


Monday: red and a tiny bit of blue
I started my colorful week by wearing red palazzo pants. And then about the colors. Red is the color of passion and energy. I must say I was pretty full of energy for a Monday. These pants were a big plus as well. I thought they would only be suitable in summer, but Marion changed my mind. She wore her palazzo's recently, so of course I wanted to try it too. And you should too! It wasn't even that cold!! OK, I admit, last week has been surprisingly sunny, but I think I might keep wearing these pants during fall. They are REALLY comfy. And pretty. The bag I'm wearing is from Are You Swedish?, a brand I will tell you more about soon.


Tuesday: red and green
On Tuesday I went CRAZY with colors!! This sweater is definitely my favorite. I've got it in two colors. I bought this one in sale at H&M and I found the other one a couple of weeks ago in a second hand store in Amsterdam. I love them!! And I think it goes great with my green skirt.
I wasn't feeling very well this day, because my back was aching like hell. But I got through and in the end Tuesday wasn't as bad as I expected. I felt pretty energized again and I just couldn't stay sad when seeing all those happy colors. My classmates also noticed my happiness and energy. I must do this more often!


Wednesday: blue
Wednesday was all about showing how colorful can be modest as well. I wore my blue Costes coatigan and my Cookie Monster shoes (instant happiness!) I got from Fashion Vintage, a secondhand boutique by Glamour Magazine. My happiness went through the roof again.
Blue helps with being smart and I needed that on Wednesday, hehe. We're doing a huge research project at school and some brains are always nice for that. I did have some pretty good ideas that day, but to say that was all because of the color blue I wore... I don't know. But being smarter / having a better intuition because you're wearing blue does sound great... Doesn't it?


Thursday: green, yellow and a hint of pink
The combination of blouses and dresses is a thing I really love. On Thursday I wore a green dress with a mustard yellow H&M blouse. Green for balance, yellow for optimism and joy and a hint of pink for my level of tenderness and love.
I really LOVE this outfit, I think it may even be my favorite outfit. All the colors are so cute together! And it made me feel a bit prada-esque. I don't know why, could have something to do with their latest fall / winter collection. I felt very feminine and cute (hehe), and a bit man repelling, because lots of guys at school told me all those colors really didn't go together. Well, as long as I love it, right?! Hurray for all the optimistic, balanced and loving colors of Thursday!!



Friday: navy blue and orange
Orange is a social color that helps you stand out in the crowd. And navy blue helps with your intuition, says Constance Hart here. Blue can also give you confidence. Well, I know at least one thing for sure: my hair looked great and I had lots and lots of inspiration!!
And yes, I wear the same sweater (in a different color) twice a week. And no, I do not care. And yes, I do love them too much. But I think I already said that.

So did it work?
I must admit I was happier and more cheerful than I usually am. I think taking some time to put an outfit together and doing so consciously makes you happier in general. Putting on jeans and an old sweater may be very comfy, but you won't feel pretty (or at least I don't). By dressing up in something you feel pretty in, your mood immediately gets better. I think I should try dressing up in black, grey and white for a week, to see if it's the dressing up part or the colorful part that makes you happy. Challenge accepted!

And last but not least... How can YOU avoid winter blues?
1. Dress up nicely in something you feel pretty in! And just try wearing colors - maybe it can make you happy as well.
2. Take a walk when the sun's out. You'll want to get as much daylight as possible! You could for example go for a walk when you're having your break.
3. Give yourself a relaxing day at home in the weekends. Pamper yourself, light some candles, read your favorite book, look through old photo albums... Just relax at home and go to bed early!
4. Research has shown that drinking sweetened beverages lead to a higher risk of depression (read more here). It might be hard to drink less soda pops at first, but replacing it with other tasty things might help. I used to be addicted to cherry coke, but now I replace it with home made smoothies which I take with me to school. I buy way less cherry coke now, hehe! ;)
5. Look forward to the cozy Christmas lights that will be all over town in a couple of weeks (or months). The more you look forward to it, the happier you'll be when they finally appear!

What do you do to avoid those winter blues?!