We have all heard of the winter blues, but sometimes it just happens without frost in the air, even with a pretty little bluebird right outside your window. I’m no doctor, but I do know some possible ways to help lift your spirits.

1. Wash your pillow or pillow case. Yes, even for you super clean freaks out there, sometimes an extra wash helps. Let’s say you always wash your pillow case and sheets on Sunday, but your feeling low on Wednesday morning, pop your pillow case in the washer, with a little white vinegar and lavender EO (or any EO that is safe and you like) added during the rinse cycle or whenever you put your liquid fabric softener in. That night you may find you feel a bit better, and there is an added bonus: Washing your pillow case a little more often may curb acne breakouts, it has been said that sometimes skin troubles can be caused by oil and bacteria on your pillows. 
2. Start a new hobby. Always wanted to build model planes or learn to prepare sushi? Do it. Now. Quit putting it off. Let’s rewind to about two years ago: I had a nasty Etsy addiction (love this place still). Buying crochet hats is one hell of a drug, and the money it cost…the things you have to do for it…ugh.  Anyway, I knew handmade knitted and crochet items are definitely worth the money considering materials and the the labor, but I just could not keep buying. And I was sort of in a funk, so one day I wondered into the depths of the interweb and found myself watching a video on how to crochet a simple line, and that was it, I was hooked. A lot of you may be deterred  on starting a hobby because of money, but in most cases you can still start in some way. I did not have a crochet hook, but after a few minutes with a piece of pine and a knife I had the ugliest, but kind of functional crochet hook.  So you don’t have the stuff yet to make a cherry pie because you want to bake,before you get the cherries and the nonstick pan, study some free online recipes. Take a few days to find the best recipe for you. Before I even made my hideous crochet hook, I watched tons of crochet videos just to learn. Learning is sometimes the best part of a hobby. With your hobby, don’t set major goals. Don’t swear you’ll know Cantonese in three months, just take your time, and let things flow, you may find more success this way. who knows, maybe in five months you might find yourself tackling Mandarin as well. I did not push myself to learn how to crochet a sweater in a month, and it has been two years and not only do I crochet, I knit and sort of weave. And it really lifted the low I was going through when I started.  I found something to do, and the ideas that ran through my head are what gave me some excitement. So go look up a video on interpretive dance and start trying to do jazz fingers!
3. Listen to different music. No, I don’t mean listen to something cheerful, just take five minutes when your feeling blah and listen to something you don’t know. Karl from Karl’s Didgeridoo Shack who makes excellent incense, also came out with a didgeridoo album. I never thought to listen to didgeridoo music before and the day I got this wonderful gift from Karl, I was feeling bad, but then I listened to this album that day, and lit some incense, and wow, it was a different, intriguing experience for me, I felt better quick. You can too, aromatics and music together have always helped those I subjected to it. So you like, umm, that little guy with the bangs, who sings pop music these days, try looking up an old, old bluegrass song and spritzing some citrus oils in the air. Will you be cured? I’m not sure, but you definitely shouldn’t be bored and that is a step in the right direction. This can be done quickly in your car too.
4. Talk to the cashier you have seen every week for the last year at your local dollar and nickel store. So you feel kind of crappy and you have to go pick up some processed cheese chips for your mom because she won’t get off your ass until you do, and you are checking out, ask the cashier how their day is going. Did they enjoy the weather this weekend? Do they have grandkids?  Talking small talk with a smile will not only possibly help you, but it maybe a kind thing to do for them. I did this once when the owner of this site demanded some type of Grade A potting soil for his planting of jasmines and so I had to go to the local dollar store. I ended up talking to the cashier and turns out he was way into Star Trek too, and he thought Klingon’s were way more awesome then Bajorns as well. And now I always have a pleasant experience at that store. And I did not feel like biting the owner of this site   right on the face anymore. That day. Give it try.
5. Are you in a really bad low energy funk? It could be a health issue. Despite my heavy Crow heritage, I have really pale, light sensitive skin, so daytime outdoor playtime is pretty limited for me and I was not absorbing the necessary vitamins from the sun’s glorious rays. I started feeling bad and tired (I already had a preexisting disorder and thought it was that, getting worse). When I went for some blood test, it was found that my vitamin D was dangerously low. So I had to take supplements and after a few weeks, I felt more alive than I had in awhile. So if you feel tired, and bad, try some vitamin D and a doctor’s appointment. It could make a major difference. And of course, talk to your doctor before starting any new vitamins, supplements etc.
6. Get your frankincense  on. Frankincense has been said to help with a wide range of emotional issues, people often burn the resin to dispel negative feelings and vibes. If you don’t feel like burning resin, get the essential oil and put a few drops in a pot of water on your stove and simmer without the lid, the scent should fill up your house or a least a room or two. Frankincense is believed to purify and with its evergreen, almost pine like notes, it has refreshing and clean perky scent. 

I hope this was able to help someone out there, but of course you know that you should see someone if you are having severe depression symptoms . Slight moodiness or blues are normal for everyone and can usually be remedied with a few simple efforts and of course, natural aromatics!