Beat The Winter Blues
Burn Fitness Co. Photo by Elliot Tanin Media.
It’s normal to feel the winter blues — days are shorter and colder and darker. Luckily in Colorado, there are still plenty of sunny days to be had and a plethora of outdoor sports to satisfy activity levels. But this winter is unlike any other before; the past two seasons have felt like one long month of April. Routine outdoor walks and patio meals were the only things upholding any notion of normalcy. This winter, there are definitely challenges to be had — but don’t disregard the joys of holiday season, knowing we can still stay connected with our loved ones, even if from afar. Despite it all, there are many ways to ignite that inner sun and push through this time of year with zest.
TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME
1. Set Up Your Workspace
Whether you’re working at your kitchen table or have a dedicated office space, set yourself up for success by creating a harmonious setting. Whether it’s a certain candle scent or just having a freshly cleaned workspace, have something that serves as a cue to yourself to enter work-mode. Distractions are inevitable, but try to protect your workspace like a sanctuary — keep it peaceful and light.
2. Work In Designated Time Slots
Many companies are sticking to normal work hours supervised by routine video meetings and phone calls. Others have a more relaxed schedule just as long as the day’s work is completed. If you’re the latter, make sure you bookend your days with a start and end time to separate your work and home life. Follow some resemblance of a morning routine to get ready for the day (even if that means exchanging sweatpants for loose athleisure pants), so your brain starts to prepare for the day’s work ahead. Stop at a reasonable hour so your evenings don’t blend with the rest of the day’s happenings. Remind yourself that you deserve to wind down and have a calm night; leave your computer charging in a room away from your main living space if possible.
3. Take Dedicated Breaks
Be kind to yourself. Staring at a computer screen for most of the day is taxing on the mind and body, so it’s normal to feel sluggish. Try taking frequent breaks, particularly those that involve movement. If the weather is not allowing a walk outside, take a stretch on your living room floor or on a yoga mat. Or, check out these awesome virtual fitness class recommendations from local studios to help keep your body moving and mind happy.
WESTERN COLORADO ONLINE FITNESS CLASSES THAT ROCK
• Barrelosophy, Grand Junction
Barrelosophy is a boutique studio devoted to providing a full body workout. Their classes combine yoga, Pilates and ballet to practice small, isolated movements that exhaust muscles and then stretch them back out. Their online membership rate is available on their website.
• Burn Fitness Co., Grand Junction
This contemporary fitness studio offers Burn Fitness On Demand, featuring creative workouts — from barre to HIIT — for 30 dollars a month. Videos range from 10 minutes to an hour and can all be modified with whatever equipment you have available.
• Mountain Soul Yoga, Edwards
Flow and release. Mountain Soul offers on-demand and livestream yoga classes that are unique in style and spirit. Located in the Vail Valley, it’s an exciting opportunity to be able to try one of their renowned classes from anywhere. Outside of yoga videos, they have an array of virtual events centered around wellness you can sign up for. Drop in to try a class for 20 dollars.
• Pilates Durango, Durango
Pilates Durango is offering unlimited monthly access to recorded classes for 25 dollars a month. Expect to see experienced teachers who offer techniques perfect for releasing tension and realigning the body. Some props are suggested on their website, but mainly you’ll need a mat or towel to lie on.
• Thrive Yoga, Crested Butte + Fruita
Commit to a physical, mental and spiritual practice. Try one of Thrive Yoga’s livestream classes before or after work, or even as a break during lunch hour! Because the classes are in real time, it’s a great way to keep yourself accountable if you’re one who easily clicks out of videos and likes the structure of a live follow along. A single class is 16 dollars.
DEVELOP POSITIVE HABITS
1. Stay Connected With Your Loved Ones
Zoom happy hour anyone? If one’s not already in the works, take the initiative and schedule it yourself! Now is a great time to reconnect with friends or family you may have lost touch with. Plus, social time is essential, even if it means using your phone or computer for a few extra hours on some days. Or, try writing a letter to add a meaningful touch!
2. Start A Creative Project
Keep the creative juices flowing and look into a passion project you have always been interested in but never had the time to start. The Palette in Grand Junction sells “take home kits” filled with paint for specific projects — perfect for the kids or a much-needed date night. Or, build your own website, learn how to code, read a nonfiction book, write a poem, bake cookies, try cooking an octopus, etc. Challenge yourself, and the results may astound you. In fact, it has been proven that creative pursuits as such actually strengthen your overall wellbeing and can influence job satisfaction.
3. Honor The Good + The Bad
Invite gratitude and reflection into your headspace on a day-to-day basis. Honor your productive days and take hours or days off when you need it. Remember, we’re all in this together.