5 Ways You'll Survive The Seemingly Endless Winter

It's January. It's winter. It's cold. 

And it ain't getting any warmer--for a while. 

How do you survive? Well, for those who have grown up in the great white north, you've had years to prepare and learn and adapt--but even seasoned veterans of winter need the odd refresher....

1. Get warm: It's easy to crank up the heat in your house, but it'll cost you more money--not to mention if you have cracks in your windows, or your windows are just plain old and lousy, a lot of that heat will escape. The easiest thing is to keep yourself warm by bundling up: double socks, extra blanket or duvet in your bed, even a night cap. My go-to is my trusty alma mater hoodie.

2. Stay active: It's easy to avoid winter altogether, and hole yourself up in your house or apartment, but that'll do at least two unhealthy things: 1) you'll grow sedentary, which may lead to packing on more weight, and 2) you won't get enough vitamin D from the sunlight, which plays an important role in mood regulation. These two conditions lead to winter depression, or seasonal mood disorder--not pretty. How do you combat that? Simple: a walk or two per day, preferably in the afternoon when the sun is at its peak. This will help you work off extra food you might be eating, while giving you one source of Vitamin D.

3. Take your vitamins: Many people suffer during the winter season from a lack of Vitamin D. And there are some who take double doses of the stuff to ward off any potential of deficiency. This is one of the most important vitamin supplements you can take during the winter months. You can also supplement fish oils to get your vitamin A, which, along with vitamin D, is a good mood booster.

4. Hydrate: The summer is a no-brainer for hydration: you sweat like crazy and you drink. However, it's just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months, especially since low humidity can lead to dry, chapped skin and irritated nose and throat. 

5. Mindset: This is vital. It's easy to get down when it's dark in the morning and dark in the early evening, and you're getting less sunlight while holed up in your home watching re-runs of the Mindy Project--depressing! This is where mindset plays a huge part in keeping your head level. You have to focus your thoughts and efforts on things you like to do--staying good and productive. Find a hobby, and get with a community of people all doing it. Try to find the good in your day, the brightness in the overcast sky. Avoid alcohol if you can--it's a serious depressant--and opt for beverages that'll hydrate and stimulate, such as Kombucha. Avoid depressing movies or music, and choose instead entertainment that's inspirational. Read good books like Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning or Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, or The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. This is critical: filling your mind, your thinking, with good things, inspirational things, things that will get you through the dead of winter, and bring bits of spring into your life each day. That's the power of mindset!