Ways to Beat the Winter Doldrums

As we settle into the post-holiday season, many of us experience a seasonal mood shift. With this winter being especially unique due to Covid-19, it can be more difficult to find ways to break out of a dull winter mood. Here are a few tips for keeping the winter blues at bay until we welcome spring in a few months:

Find Time to Take a Walk in Nature

Many studies of longer (60-90 minute) and shorter walks (15 minutes) in a natural setting have shown that participants benefit after from a lower heart rate, lower fight-or-flight response, and feelings of being more relaxed. Walks in nature have also been shown to boost memory and decrease feelings of anxiety. Walks in urban settings are not shown to provide the same benefits. Ten Trails is located close to area hiking trails and many state and regional parks, giving you ample opportunities to get outside in nature. You do not need to even leave the community to benefit from a walk in nature, however! Our community nature trails are the perfect place for a daily stroll.

Listen to Music that Lifts Your Mood 

Scientific studies show that music has a positive effect on emotional well-being, including improving mood, decreasing anxiety, and helping stress management. Our brains associate specific pieces of music with certain happy memories and music has also been shown to have an effect on the release of dopamine in our brains. Next time you are feeling the winter blahs, put on a song that you remember listening to during a happy time like your wedding, graduation, or a favorite concert and see if it shifts your outlook.

Schedule Daily Exercise

The health benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical! Numerous studies have shown that exercise has a positive impact on mood. Proposed theories are due to exercise’s impact on blood circulation and the resulting influence on the brain and HPA axis. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins in the body which produces a feeling of well-being. This feeling is often commonly referred to as a  “runner’s high.” Ten Trails has many paved paths and nature trails that are ideal for use for daily exercise like jogging, walking, or biking. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Alternatives to Resolutions to Start off Your New Year

This has been an unprecedented year for the entire world, with many of us looking for a big change in the new year. Rather than making the same tired old New Year’s Resolutions that you likely will not keep, why not switch it up a bit and try a different approach to mark the beginning of 2021? Research shows that a focus on creating new habits is way more effective in changing unwanted behaviors than traditional resolutions. For example, instead of resolving to lose weight in the new year, create a new habit for 2021 that you will take a walk for 30 minutes every day after dinner. Need some inspiration for new healthy habits for 2021? Here are a few suggestions you can try out:

Practice Daily Gratitude

According to Psychology Today,  a regular gratitude practice is correlated with a greater sense of overall happiness. Practicing gratitude helps release feel-good chemicals in our brains and cultivates a sense of mindfulness. When you are focused on your many blessings, you are not dwelling on the things that are perceived to be going “wrong.” With so much turmoil and uncertainty over the past year, it can be easy to feel uneasy and anxious. Adding a gratitude practice to your day may be just the thing to turn those negative feelings around in the new year.

Reach out to Someone to Connect Once a Week 

The pandemic has made life for many much more isolated than ever before. With restricted ability to travel and see friends and loved ones, the past 10 months may have been very lonely for some. Make a new habit in the new year to reach out to a friend or family member once a week for a phone call check in or virtual visit. As humans, we crave connection and these weekly check-ins with friends may not only do you a world of good, but might be what your friend or family member needs as well!

Move Your Body Every Day 

Make a habit to move your body each day in a way that is most fun for you and that will not feel like a chore. If you hate running, do not make a new habit of running miles every morning or you will quit before January is even over. Dance, walk, play with your dog, ride your bike, or hike local trails. Daily exercise contributes to better overall health and a sense of well-being. Find the thing that you enjoy doing and make a habit of finding time for it every day! 360.460.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Join us for Yoga in the Park 

Ten Trails just began a brand new event series for the summer! Join us for our Summer Series Yoga in the Park, every Sunday at 1 pm in our Civic Park through August 25^th! Classes are free and open to residents and the general public.

Yoga Brought to You by Studio Barre and Lounge 

Our yoga series is taught by a certified yoga instructor. Every Sunday from now until August 25^th, grab your yoga mat and water bottle, and meet your friends and neighbors in our park for a balanced yoga class suitable for all fitness levels.

Amenities to Support and Active Lifestyle

Our Summer Series Yoga in the Park is just one of many activities to support your active lifestyle at Ten Trails! In addition to yoga classes, our community has basketball courts, miles of paved biking trails, nature trails, bocce ball courts and a ping pong table for residents to enjoy! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043