5 surefire ways to improve your mood
Whether it's because the cold gets under your skin, you're too tired to "do" anything, or you want to bring your loved ones together in an inspiring and exciting way, fire is a great ally. Try one (or all) of our favorite ways to lift your spirits.
Aromatherapy
The practice of using different aromas and essential oils for therapeutic purposes has been used around the world for thousands of years. When inhaled, aromatic molecules travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the emotional center of our brain, which can influence our mood. You can use scented candles, sticks, incense, an oil burner, or diffuser with a few drops of essential oils.
Try apple, which is excellent for calming anxiety and general stress, and can even relieve migraines; citrus scents ( yuzu in particular), which have the power to reduce mood disorders and alleviate symptoms associated with tension and depression; mint, which has the power to both improve memory and calm nerves; or any other scent you enjoy.
Home spa
Warm stiff limbs, soothe sore muscles, and calm nerves with a homemade spa remedy. Fill a bathtub with very warm (but not hot) water and add Epsom salts while the faucet is running. Epsom salts come from natural springs in England and dissolve into magnesium and sulfate in water.
Used as a home remedy for a wide range of ailments for many generations, Epsom salts can be found in pharmacies, as well as in many grocery and health food stores. Light some candles and place them around your bath, put on your favorite relaxing music, and simply immerse yourself.
Candlelight dinner
The magic of candlelight is unmatched. And every time you make the decision to be fully present, something as simple as cooking and eating can become a ritual of love. Choose and prepare your ingredients carefully. Plate them as beautifully as you can, light some candles, and eat slowly with purpose.
Build a campfire
Whether in our own backyard or abroad, gathering around a campfire awakens something deeply rooted within us. Hot dogs or marshmallows on a stick, instruments, and good stories. There's really nothing else you need to create lasting memories.
Story night
Speaking of stories, do you have memories of a parent or other adult reading to you before bed when you were a child? If so, it's probably a fond memory, and if not, it's never too late to create new ones. Before Netflix & Chill, there was a time when people would gather and read to each other as a pastime.
There are many good reasons to bring back this form of socializing! If you are one of the lucky few who has access to a wood stove or fireplace, go ahead and light it. If not, candles, and why not incense, will do the job of creating a cozy reading atmosphere. (Also make sure you have a good reading light so you don't strain your eyes.) Gather family or friends, choose a good book full of adventure, and start reading.