• Plant-based Recipes
  • Organic Home + Garden
  • Mindful Health
  • Take a Course

Mobile Menu

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Apple a Day Doc

Sustainable Plant-Based LifestyleRx w/Ann Collins,MD,RYT

  • Home
  • Apple a Day Doc Mission
  • Adventures + Recipes
    • Plant-based Recipes
    • Organic Home + Garden
    • Mindful Health
    • Resources
  • Get in Touch
  • Plant-based Recipes
  • Organic Home + Garden
  • Mindful Health
  • Take a Course
gratitude-winter-blues

Gratitude to Brighten the Winter Blues

You are here: Home / Mindful Health / Heal thyself: Disease prevention & reversal / Gratitude to Brighten the Winter Blues
gratitude-winter-blues

February 18, 2019 //  by drcollins//  Leave a Comment

The Practice of Gratitude as an Rx to Beat the Winter Blues: Gratitude Journal Challenge

In the midwest, February though shortest in days, can feel like the loooonnnngggggest month of the year. For me it matters not if that bashful groundhog in Punxsutawny sees his shadow or not, by this time in the winter, I am jones’in for spring.

This afternoon, I was working with a teenage patient who is feeling the same way. Kinda punky, cabin feverish, and having trouble seeing the positive in things today. We all get that way sometimes, yes? And in Indiana, after a stretch of cold gray days where the sky feels as low as a hobbit’s ceiling, you betcha, I feel it too.

Now this kind of itchy, restless, bluesy is different than a persistent stretch of down days or debilitating forms of mental distress. For those experiencing severe anxiety or depression, intensive support is vital and should be sought with your personal physician ASAP! What we are talking about here is the winter blues, that end of hibernation time, cooped up, will the sun ever shine again on this frozen tundra kind of disquietude.

In my experience, mindfulness techniques can be a wonderful boon to help lift us out of the winter blues. Several research studies have linked the use of gratitude practices to improved mood, increased energy and positivity. (click for reference link).

Starting a gratitude journal is a simple, cost effective, and uplifting intervention that can help us to focus the brain’s attention on the possibilities in life, and away from a habit of dwelling on fears or regrets. At Nourish Wellness, our gratitude journal workshop is among our most popular, especially when offered in the dregs of winter :).

So I’m starting mine again today, in solidarity with my patient who is starting her gratitude journal as well. If you are in need of a lift, join us! Grab a notebook and a pen and set aside 10-15 minutes a day to reflect on what brings you joy. What are the gifts in everyday life, big and small, that you sometimes overlook? Make a list of 10 people, places, things, or experiences that warm your heart and make you feel appreciation… write a new list every day… for 45 days. Give us a shout out to let me know your experiences before, during, and after. Believe me, its a game changer!

So you guys are my accountability buddies for day 1 of this winter’s Dr. C gratitude journal. Just 44 more to go!

Here is my list for today:

  1. The health of my family, all are hale and hearty at the moment.
  2. The unconditional love of my Rosie pup, my intrepid adventure companion & cuddle bug.
  3. The amazing ability of the body to heal. I’m grateful that a tear in my gastrocnemius (calf) muscle which had me on crutches a few weeks ago has healed well enough to do Warrior III yogasana on a fallen tree today.
  4. A warm and cozy home in these chilly days.
  5. Meaningful work.
  6. A supportive community which inspires me to keep growing, learning, and creating (that includes you!)
  7. The potential energy I can sense in the soil under my gardens…Mama Earth may appear to be hibernating but she is preparing for an abundant spring.
  8. Snowballs!
  9. The daffodils whose noses are peaking out of the soil next to my front door.
  10. The knowledge that even on the grayest of days, the sun is shining in its glory up there above the atmosphere, and the clouds bring snow + rain which nourishes the rivers & the fields & the gardens…where springtime will soon flourish again.

Now its your turn. One notebook, one pen, 15 minutes a day, one list, ten items, for 45 days. Go!

Let me know what you think after you complete your gratitude journal challenge!

Written by Ann C. Collins, MD, RYT

Wondering how to get your protein in a plant strong diet?

Download your free copy of “11 Protein Strong Foods for Plant-Based Diets” to get started!

    We promote vibrant health with veggies. We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Dr. C and the Apple a Day Doc Team

    Share this:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin
    Share
    0 Shares

    Category: Heal thyself: Disease prevention & reversal, Home Grown Resources, Mindful Health, Resources, Yoga & MindfulnessTag: gratitude, Mindful health, mindfulness, resources, winter blues, Yoga & Mindfulness

    Related Posts

    You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

    Update on the Novel Coronavirus, Jan 29, 2020

    Research Review: Plant based Diets Associated with 32% Lower Risk of Death from Cardiovascular Disease, and 25% Reduced Risk of All Cause Mortality. (JAHA 8.7.2019)

    What is Freekeh?

    Nature Rx: Yogic Lifestyle and Green Footprint, a Prescription for Vibrant Health

    Weekend Chocolate Mylk Vegan Smoothie

    Weekend Chocolate Mylk

    Ready, set, compost!

    The Apple a Day Doc Chicks: The Pre-teen days

    Turnip Greens: Health Benefits Review

    Environmentally Safe Plant Based Household Cleaning Solutions

    Green up your Spring Clean with plant sourced products to keep your kitchen and home chemical-free and family-safe.

    Meet the Apple a Day Doc Chicks!

    5 Sustainablity Ideas to Re-vitalize Your Home this Spring!

    overwintering-carrots

    Overwintering Carrots: Sweet Surprise in the Nourish Wellness Garden Today!

    Previous Post: «vegan-butternut-squash-soup Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
    Next Post: Easy Crust Pumpkin Pie easy-crust-pumpkin-pie»

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Our Favorite Recipes

    Savory Butternut-Tomato Soup

    Savory Butternut-Tomato Soup

    Sweet Potato Baked Bean Buddha Bowl

    Sweet Potato Baked Bean Buddha Bowl

    Harvest Apple Kale Salad

    Harvest Apple Kale Salad

    Jenny’s Peach Tomato Salad

    Jenny’s Peach Tomato Salad

    Recent Posts

    Savory Butternut-Tomato Soup

    February 17, 2020

    Sweet Potato Baked Bean Buddha Bowl

    February 10, 2020

    Update on the Novel Coronavirus, Jan 29, 2020

    January 29, 2020

    Harvest Apple Kale Salad

    September 23, 2019

    Footer

    Inspiration

    Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.

    Be A Better You

     

    Recent Posts

    Savory Butternut-Tomato Soup
    Sweet Potato Baked Bean Buddha Bowl
    Update on the Novel Coronavirus, Jan 29, 2020
    Harvest Apple Kale Salad
    Jenny’s Peach Tomato Salad
    Research Review: Plant based Diets Associated with 32% Lower Risk of Death from Cardiovascular Disease, and 25% Reduced Risk of All Cause Mortality. (JAHA 8.7.2019)
    • Apple a Day Doc Mission
    • Get in Touch
    • Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Disclaimers

    Site Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Apple a Day Doc Mission
    • Get in Touch
    • Privacy Policy, Terms of Use & Disclaimers

    Copyright © 2023 Apple a Day Doc · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme