Top 10 Best Things To Cure The Winter Blues

Welcome to GetMojo, where we do the research so you don’t have to! In this video, we’re offering our picks for the Top 10 things to Ward Off the winter blues.

Being stuck inside during the winter months can get a lot of us down. We can struggle to relax and get motivated - and no matter how many times we flip our pillows, change into a new pair of sweatpants or have a long shower, nothing seems to help. Well, fear not, we’re here to help. We’ve sifted through numerous website and consumer reviews to present our 10 recommended products to ward off the winter blues. But please note that products don’t replace consulting with a mental health professional to determine the best strategies for you. Okay, first up.

In terms of medical advice when it comes to tackling low mood in winter, one of the most common solutions is getting more sunlight — or in lieu of sunlight, utilising a light therapy lamp. This model from Carex has a 10,000-lux LED light, which is 99.3% UV free and designed to enhance your mood during the darker, winter months. This large 15½-by-12½-inch light can be easily mounted on a desk or bedside table, and maneuvered to suit your needs. It also doubles up as an excellent reading light.

We all know how important getting deep and restful sleep is for your mental health. If you suffer from anxiety or struggle settling when in bed, a weighted blanket could really help you relax. In essence, a weighted blanket is designed to put evenly distributed pressure on your body, and can feel like a giant hug. The weight in this YnM blanket comes from a series of pouches that are filled with tiny glass beads. Available in a series of cool designs and weight denominations, the rule of thumb is to select a blanket that is around 10% of your body weight for optimal comfort.

Now a staple in many people’s living rooms and bathrooms, essential oil diffusers don’t just add a dash of class to a living space, but they can also serve as gateways to relaxation. This large capacity, 500 millilitre diffuser emits essential oil fragrances - such as lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree - into the air for up to 15 hours. The color-changing LED light function ensures that it always looks good when on display. And speaking of, there are multiple wood finishes to choose from to ensure it blends in with your room’s decor.

We’re changing gears as we highlight Headspace, a guided meditation app that could possibly help with managing stress, anxiety and sleeping problems. The Headspace app offers a vast library of guided mediation sessions for different goals, and there’s a new meditation added every 24 hours. The App is also compatible with Alexa devices, to allow for seamless integration of new meditation routines around the house, in the workplace or on-the-go.

A relaxing bath can be an excellent way to wind down before bed. And knowing you have a fragrance treat awaiting you can help make it an occasion. This bath bomb set from LifeAround2Angels comes with 12 individually-wrapped moisturizing balls that fizz when put into water, each emitting a different scent — such as kiwi & strawberry, melon and shea & coconut. If you need a reason to sit and do nothing in the tub, then look no further.

Sticking with the bath theme, if you’re aching after a long day and want to be nudged in the right direction towards a good night’s sleep, this lavender bath set is a great pick. First off, the scent of lavender is well-known for promoting a better night’s sleep, so the lavender aroma alone is a big plus. Combine that with epsom salts, which can help ease muscle fatigue, and you’ve got a calming, pre-sleep ritual, perfect for those who struggle to de-stress.

The popularity of adult coloring books has boomed over the last few years - and that’s mainly because the meticulousness and methodical practice of coloring can serve as an excellent distraction for busy, anxious minds. And our adult coloring book pick goes to this Bob Ross book. Filled with idyllic scenery, this book allows you to move mountains, bend rivers and color countless happy trees. And don’t worry about going outside the lines, because, as Bob used to say, “we don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents”.

In an ideal world, we’d all get soothing massages everyday. Well, with this portable shiatsu massager from Zyllion, you can make that a reality. This compact model offers a kneading shiatsu massage, which can be applied to your neck, back, calves, and pretty much anywhere else you can reach. This massager also has a heat function to help aid with muscle soreness. This is a great product for those who frequently travel and want to unwind in their car or in a hotel room.

As we mentioned in our bath salts entry, certain scents might help when it comes to readying the mind for sleep. This product brings the soothing scents of lavender, vetiver and camomile straight to your pillow in simple spray form. This Works claims that in a test of 100 subjects, 89 of them found that they fell asleep faster when using this spray. There is an abundance of happy Amazon consumers who seem to agree, with 73% of its 7,000 reviews being 5 stars.

Sometimes, taking a step back from reality and immersing yourself in a good audio book or your favorite album is just what you need. And with these wireless active noise cancelling earbuds, you can zone out by blocking outside noise. The battery life of these earbuds is impressive too, boasting 10 hours off a single charge, and an additional 30 hours when mated with the charging case. There are a ton of other wireless headphones on the market, but this JLab pair offers particularly good value for money.

So which of these products should you choose? Well, that depends on where and when you feel you need motivating, or relaxing, or an improvement in mood the most. Is it before you go to bed? After you wake up? Or what about when sitting at your desk when working from home? Everybody is different, so be sure to prioritise what you feel is most important to you, and take it from there.

Stay tuned to GetMojo for the most complete video product reviews!