It's December! And you know what that means: Christmas, Christmas and Christmas! Also, not to mention the cold and shorter days. At least the 4pm sunsets make me feel like I'm working until "late night" at the office.
Anyways, the idea for this post came to me when I was struggling to leave the warmth of my blanket burrito and head to work. 'I need like a 7-step plan every morning to motivate me to get to work during winter' I tell myself on those mornings when I'd rather stay snug in bed.
I realised then that I could probably use my love for Christmas to get myself more productive! As I am known to get slightly too festive too soon. Like, doesn't everyone own a reindeer hoodie and (secretly) listens to Christmas music in November?
So, I've taken it upon myself to write up a few things that I do to make me feel merry (and get out of bed):
1. SWEATERS! The snuggliest sweaters you can find. My tip: vintage shops usually have the best ones: oversized, woolly and snuggly. Only get ones that makes you want to wear them outside and show people how dressed you are for the cold! Most of my sweaters are either from thrift shops or the H&M Kids section (aged 12-13 years).
2. SCARVES! No, not the 1990s shoelaces disguised as scarves that all of your favourite pop singers wore on the red carpet but the thick, warm, toasty ones that you wrap round and round your neck till it covers the bottom half of your face. Keeps the face from getting all icy cold as well.
3. SONGS! Say it with me: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear" (Buddy the Elf, 2003). Okay, maybe not sing it out loud, but maybe plug in your headphones and bob your head to Wham!'s Last Christmas or the whole Michael Buble's Christmas deluxe album. Here's my Christmas Jams playlist, feel free to follow and 'shuffle play'. It has everything from Elvis to Buble, Lady Gaga to Zooey Deschanel. Something for you to get in the festive mood, that always cheers me up when the weather is not particularly cheerful.
4. SHOPPING! Okay, not really going out and spending all your cash but I couldn't bring myself to break the pattern of words beginning with S. The Christmas Markets are on! Visit your local one and just marvel at all the decorated huts selling things worthy of being presents for your loved ones. Or, you could make it a thing to visit the best markets around your area but the crowd is definitely not a crowd-favourite (ironic, isn't it?). For me, Bath's Christmas Markets are absolutely a joy to walk through but when the crowd comes in, that's when I'd rather hide indoors with...
5. MOVIES! (I gave up trying to find a suitable S-word) but having a film to look forward to watching every night helps me be extra productive at work, so I don't feel guilty spending 2 hours watching The Holiday again (and again). Christmas films are always fun to watch, except Die Hard. Not sure why that film is always on those 'Top Christmas films to watch' lists, because of that one festive scene?
6. WARM DRINKS! Coffee, hot chocolate or anything mulled. Instead of paying extortionate amount of money for a cup of mulled wine outside, I make my own! Go to the supermarket, buy the spices, an affordable bottle of red wine (any 'oaky' ones, I normally go for whatever is cheap) and an orange. Perfect hand warmers for when the heater in my room just didn't work.
7. GOOD VIBES! I guess nothing beats the cold the warmth of good company. I might not go to many fancy Christmas dinners this time around but making time over the weekend to visit friends/the sister definitely helped me forget about the cold. I'm also planning a little R&R trip on my own, and if that is more you, that's good too! As long as you are toasty on the inside.
Well, there you go. This is how I try to combat my (self-diagnosed) Seasonal Affective Disorder and spread the Christmas spirit. Going to church also helps because advent = singing carols = singing my favourite songs out loud where only God's judgement matters. IMHO, I think He loves my singing, or at least, He hasn't complained.
I do hope where ever you are, whoever you are with, no matter what you do, that your Christmas is as love-filled as the Grinch's heart when he started feeling again. I do love that Christmas is at the end of the year because isn't it the best way to start putting things into perspective and cherish what matters. Despite the stress of preparing the feast or buying Christmas presents, I wish that you all can still have a merry, merry, Christmas.
Here's a photo of me, as a reindeer to end the post:
Liza x