“More than half the people living in places where there are four seasons report having the ‘winter blues,’ a mild depression characterized by a lack of motivation and low energy,” says the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute. To elevate your mood, make peace with #winter by spending time outdoors. Eat right, but make a place for a big batch of soup. Drink plenty of water, since winter can be dehydrating even when there’s snow on the ground. And “don’t be afraid to ask for help,” CTRI says. “Speak to your doctor or call your local mental health center if your symptoms are severe and debilitating.” #MidwinterBlahs
Tag: seasonal
Fighting Wintery Feelings of Gloom
#Winter may start with the excitement of the #holidays, but there’s not much to look forward to as the season progresses. Cold, gloomy #weather and social hibernation can easily trigger listlessness, sadness and depression. Combat those #blahs by planning something you look forward to, suggests Well+Good. A social event, vacation or class can get you out of the house and keep your mental state positive. Exercise — whether at the gym or on a brisk, bundled-up walk — can also elevate one’s mood. Or maybe it’s time to tackle an indoor task you skipped over the summer, like #cleaning a #closet. #MidwinterBlahs
Clean and Organize Your Garden Tools
A lot of #fall #garden prep involves #organizing and #storing things so they will be useful again when #spring comes. #Clean any hand gardening tools such as trowels and stick the metal ends in a bucket of sand “laced with vegetable oil” to prevent corrosion, says Better Homes & Gardens. Sharpen cutting blades on loppers, shears and mowers; drain hoses and irrigation equipment; and empty all gas-powered implements of fuel. Finally, empty flower pots and other containers of soil and store them in a dry, protected environment such as a shed or garage so they don’t crack during the freeze/thaw cycle. #FallGardening
Fall Tips to Ensure a Lush Lawn Next Spring
Many American families take pride in a lush, green lawn. But a lawn doesn’t necessarily stay healthy on its own; it needs care and #maintenance even as it starts to go dormant in the #fall. Keep cutting it until it stops growing, says Provision RPM, and aerate it once a year. Then, add some fertilizing material by mowing over fallen leaves, spreading compost or buying a store-bought blend. Fill in any bare patches with a quality seed that grows well in your area and the amount of light expected. And if the #autumn weather doesn’t provide it naturally, give your lawn a good soak from time to time. #FallGardening
Plant Garlic Now as the Perfect Overwinter Crop
While it’s too late to plant most vegetables, there’s one crop that can go in the ground right now: garlic. Get a seed head from a local grower’s supply or farmers market and plant the individual cloves six to eight weeks before the first frost, Almanac says. Plant the cloves 6 inches apart in an area that gets full sun, at a depth of 2 inches and in the “upright” (pointy end facing upward). If you’re expecting a hard freeze, mulch the beds heavily with straw or leaves. Fertilize, water, feed and weed as the shoots come up in the spring. Generally speaking, plants’ leaves will yellow when they’re ready to harvest, usually in early July. #FallGardening