Beating the Winter Blues

By CrystaI Youngblood

Ialways thought health coaching was a woo-woo subject until I found myself in the most undesirable place. I was at a point that I could not de-stress, lose weight or manage life. I felt unconnected to those closest to me and things were always rushing so fast, that I opened my eyes one morning and it was five years later. I felt out of control of not only my life, but my happiness, and my health too. There was no amount of self care that could save me. I was struggling, profoundly depriving myself of the happy moments in life without consciously knowing how to return. COVID has been a difficult time for sure, but what it did force upon me was a lot of time by myself, in my own thoughts. I learned so much about myself. I started tapping into my personal power and understanding what was fueling me and what was draining me. I did a self-assessment and decided I did not deserve to be this unhappy. It was time for a change and only I could make this change. I didn’t know exactly what to do, but I did know one thing, I could not keep going like this! If that isn’t a last resort of motivation, I don’t know what is.

Ten Tips to Beat the Winter Blues

1. Up your Vitamin D3 intake! It has been shown to affect your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being. A majority of people are deficient in Vitamin D3, especially in the winter months. Be sure to take it with Vitamin K for absorption. You can have your levels checked through a blood test, be sure to speak with your doctor. 2. Use light therapy or a sunlamp for as little as 15 minutes a day. This helps people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or just anyone who feels better in some sunlight. You can find SAD light therapy options (cheaply) on Amazon! 3. Take time to rest and hibernate. Go to bed early and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Avoid technology at least one hour before bed. Create a “bedtime” routine to let your body know it is time to begin winding down. 4. Eat hot meals or warming foods! You can add some spices to your meals or consume warming foods such as: soups, curries and stews! 5. When the weather permits, go outside to get sun and fresh air. This can be hiking, walking, even yard work. 6. Connect with the people who make you laugh! Humor and laughter actually help strengthen your immune system, trigger endorphins, boost your energy, AND has been known to protect you from the damaging side effects of stress! 7. Get in the hot tub or take a hot Jacuzzi bath, this is great for stimulating blood flow and helping you to relax. 8. Move your body every day. Do something that makes you sweat, get out of breath, or simply walk! Find the movement that works for you. 9. Update your wardrobe. Wear comfortable, vibrant colored clothes that make you feel cozy yet productive. The goal is to feel warm not dumpy! 10. Take up a new hobby or simply learn something new. Try learning guitar, a new language, or knitting. Really anything that you can look forward to and concentrate on. The goal is to learn, grow, and gain that sense of accomplishment through something new.

Determined to resolve my own issues, I enrolled in multiple health, fitness, and wellness programs to help me connect the missing pieces I needed for a resolution to take place. Two months into my health coach training, I left my career to pursue building my own company. There was an instant peace the moment I stepped into who I was meant to be. The education I invested in taught me how to de-stress, lose weight, manage life, and most importantly teach others how to do the same. As a Health Coach, I understand the weight and frustration of feeling like there is more out there for you, but not knowing where to turn to or how to get started. That’s why my core mission is very simple: give ALL of my clients the education around wellness, tools and resources that they need to feel healthy, happy, and fully capable of managing life’s pressures. It is my goal to offer an all around approach to health and wellness. The mental shifts in my programs are the most important part of the education that I can provide. This is where we focus on creating sustainable change through the formation of “better habits”. Without this, it is very unlikely for change to take place, much less last. Truth is, people know what to do, but struggle to make it happen for themselves. People need the right system, the right support, and the right accountability to achieve sustainable success. This is where I feel that my programs can help people obtain their wellness goals and connect the missing pieces in their lives. If you are interested in working with me or just tips on increasing your own wellness head to www.crystalyoungblood. com and check it out! I look forward to connecting with you and discovering how healthy you truly can be.

Crystal Youngblood is an ICF Certified Health Coach and Life Coach who positively impacts the lives of everyone she works with. Her goal is to help people become the healthiest, happiest version of themselves free from everyday stressors. She assists people with stress management, education around nutrition and fitness, lifestyle, performance and motivation through her multitude of programs. She is passionate in helping people find the right balance for them to create sustainable healthy change and contribute to the eradication of lifestyle diseases to make our planet a happier, healthier place.

Healthy and Well