Spiritual warfare. Do you believe it? There has been an increasing amount of spiritual warfare happening in the world. Many walk around completely oblivious to spiritual warfare. This post is here to help you be aware of what’s going on around you. You’ll walk away with strategies for dealing with spiritual warfare.
For starters, look at movie trailers that pop up on TV. How many horror films are there compared to PG-rated films at the theaters? Video game violence looks normal, social bullying is the norm, and swearing in music is standard. These negative vibes are forced down our throats not to entertain, but to numb us and transform us to think that darkness is normal and okay. STOP! Get a handle on what’s happening around you and choose to change the course of your day immediately! If you take anything from this post, I hope it is this: experiment by blocking out the dark things and experience the Light it will have on you. First things first, let’s learn some strategies for dealing with spiritual warfare right now. Claim your life back today!
What is Spiritual Warfare?
Spiritual warfare is the invisible war between good and evil. Wikipedia defines it as, “…the Christian concept of fighting against the work of preternatural evil forces.” In the Bible, Ephesians 6:12, Paul says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
So how do we “manage” spiritual warfare? How do we know we’re being affected by it? Is it really true? These are all great questions. Let’s get started on answering them.
Is this real?
Yes, spiritual warfare is real. Please don’t be oblivious to this. There is Light and Darkness in this world. There is a world of lies, falseness, separation, self-focused, and scarcity….all lies. And there is a world of truth, peace, contentment, forgiveness, community, and healing….true love. Think about this: light overcomes darkness every time. Love releases a superpower in us to defeat fear every time. Jesus is light and love.
Jesus, the son of God, defeated Satan after dying on a cross and then 3 days later rising from the dead. This is Truth. And Satan is still pissed off about it. So what does Satan do? He messes with us (God’s children) to throw us off course and feed us lies in a slow, sneaky, and twisted way. Be on alert.
And yes, there is a heaven and a hell. Satan exists along with other fallen angels. And no, I’m not a crazy person. The depth of the spiritual realm is beyond my comprehension, let alone my being able to explain it in simple terms. I HIGHLY recommend Jennie Allen’s study The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe. She goes into depth that is critical for your freedom. Make sure you have a Bible handy, she’ll guide you and show you some mind-blowing connections. Let’s keep going.
Strategies to Claim Your Life Back
In no particular order, these strategies can help you manage spiritual warfare and claim your life back.
Strategy 1
The first strategy I have personally taken is to physically clean out my home of any objects that may have been subjected to evil doing. I know this sounds silly, but if objects can be blessed like a prayer shawl, objects certainly can be cursed too. Knowing this, be careful in the things you collect, including books; some of you might not like what I’m going to say, but it’s time to get rid of the Harry Potter books and Pokémon stuff…both are dealing with witchcraft. I’ve heard it more than once.
Also, be watchful of gifts you receive or have already received. Most things are probably fine, but if you question anything that may have been cursed or made with the hands of witchcraft or a religion that goes against Jesus, get rid of it. I know this sounds whacky, but remember who you’re dealing with…don’t entertain the enemy or test him.
This strategy in spiritual warfare is beyond knick-knacks. I personally went deep…into my old journals. Digging out my journals from high school, college, and my twenties was an eye-opener for me. First off, journaling is super healthy. It’s great to journal lessons you have learned, to write down prayers, to journal about great things and dreams, and to write about positive memories.
It’s also great to vent on paper; it’s better to beat up a pencil and notebook than to take it out on a person. Write it out. Don’t hang on to anger. Vent. Process. Then pitch it. Physically throw the journal entry away or burn it. When we keep our old journals, the ones filled with darkness and distress, in some way or form, our minds are still hanging on to them. Destroy those entries full of complaining, anger, bitterness, and foul language. Who are you saving those journals for? Why would you ever want to reread those things, ever? Get rid of that darkness.
What motivated me to destroy these entries was that I didn’t want my family to ever read them or for me to read them again. Toxic. I have no idea why I hung on to them for so long! So…I tore out the bad stuff and burned them. Yep! I burned them in our portable fire pit, kind of like breaking up with a boyfriend and burning his things. It was so liberating! I didn’t want to remember that junk, so again, why was I hanging on to it?
Strategy 3
This strategy is huge, again these are in no particular order. This isn’t legalism. Repent of your sins. I wanted all negative ties broken. Asking for forgiveness for all my wrongs was humbling. You may think it’s no big deal, but to have a fresh start, this needs to happen, and happen daily. In the past, I had asked God for forgiveness, but this time I was more thorough, and I continue to this day to ask the Lord if there is something I missed for Him to bring to my attention. I don’t want any sin holding me back from what God wants to do through me. Again, this is a daily practice, I sin all the time without even knowing it!
In Psalm 139:23-24, David asks, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This is a GREAT verse to add to your prayers.
Check out Psalm 51, too. This is when David is asking God for forgiveness after the whole Bathsheba deal. However, this isn’t just about adultery; you can use this passage for your own sins, big and small.
Strategy 4
Take a deep breath. This strategy is critical for your freedom. Let’s get to it. Forgive anyone who has wronged you, including yourself! Let me clarify, I didn’t say forget, and I’m NOT saying the offense was okay, not at all! Jesus said to forgive. I am not a Bible scholar, nor am I trying to be one, but I do know that you must forgive those who hurt you…yes, this includes everyone.
In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” As hard as it is to forgive, do it for your own sake. Again, I didn’t say forget; give this person to God and let God deal with them. What they did to you is not for you to carry. It doesn’t define you, it doesn’t rule over you, it has no authority over you. Give them to Jesus. And forgive daily as many times as you need!
Strategy 5
This strategy is to renounce, refuse, and reject any lies or fears that are holding you back. The Enemy is sneaky; he only wants to hurt you. When you hear a lie like, “You’ll never succeed at this.” Get on top of it immediately and say, “That’s a lie Satan. I am complete in Christ!” In Ephesians 6, we are given the armor of God, and one vital piece of that battle gear is the Sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Memorizing has been a powerful experience for me. Granted, I only know a handful right now, but when I use them, I can feel it. Fighting off the Enemy is a daily thing, along with repenting my sins and forgiving others. Just remember that in John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Here is a site that is full of scriptures to memorize and use to fight spiritual warfare: hopefaithprayer.com
As for putting a layer of protection over your home, read aloud Psalm 91. Read it aloud in every room if you want. Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your home and thank Him for His protection.
Strategy 6
Super critical! What am I putting into my mind daily? Am I listening to gossip? Depressing music? Lies in the news? Am I watching trashy TV? What are my conversations full of? What am I watching on YouTube or what video games am I playing? How are these horror shows and movies going for you?
I’m not perfect, I have temptations, but I do have a mind. And if I want to live a life of joy and peace, I am going to try my best to control the things I put in my mind. Did you hear that? “What we put in our minds is in our control.” We have a choice here. No one is forcing you to watch TheSilence of the Lambs. The Bible teaches us what to put in our minds and Philippians 4:8 gives us an idea: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, what is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”(NIV)
Play praise music in the background all day long, put the Bible on and have it speaking, or listen to things that are pleasing to Him. Be careful of what you listen to AND what your family listens to. As a parent, you are responsible for your kids and raising them.
Side note: Nightmares
Nightmares are deliberate spiritual attacks. Some stem from an open door in a horror movie/tv show, books, music, people, or unexplainable things. When you or your child has a nightmare, get up out of bed, go to the bathroom, or walk around for a minute. Immediately name what’s going on, command it to leave now in the Name of Jesus, say this out loud. You can also say, “Stop it! In the Name of Jesus. Leave me now!” Simply saying, “Jesus. Come. Help me.” Sometimes I keep saying, ” Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.” Pray over your child. Pray over yourself. Teach your child what to do when a nightmare happens.
Strategy 7
This strategy is a massive one. Pray. I’m not just talking about prayers of “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food.” Prayers for protection, love, and to do His will have power behind them. The Lord wants to hear from you, He wants to talk with you, and He wants to bless you. But the first step is to pray.
Prayer is the MOST important part of your life! Let me reiterate, prayer is SO incredibly important. It is a gift that Jesus gave us when he resurrected. The more you know God personally, the better your prayer life will be.
Pray before a crisis happens, pray in the morning before your day starts, and pray at night before your body, heart, and mind rest. Stand firm in Christ.
When you pray, know that it is a weapon against the Enemy. Find a place that is your secret place to pray, where there are NO distractions, and a place where you can be your total and true self. Your prayer place is a place where you can cry, sob, yell, and sing without the world looking at you and judging you.
More Prayer Tips
Play instrumental music in the background. Invite the Holy Spirit to come and guide your prayer.
To close your eyes or keep them open? It doesn’t matter. I do both. The Bible doesn’t say you have to close your eyes.
Memorize scripture and recite it back to God in your prayer. This is so powerful and impactful.
The Lord’s Prayer is a great example of how to pray. You can find it in Matthew 6:9-13. Although any prayer without format works! When I pray, I like to go in this kind of order:
Praising God and telling Him how great He is.
Thanking Him for everything big and small that comes to mind.
Confessing my sin and asking for forgiveness, getting right with God.
Asking for the Holy Spirit to come into my heart.
Asking for protection over the Enemy, and using God’s armour to stand firm next to Christ.
Other prayer requests, praying for people, situations, and myself according to His will.
Asking all in Jesus’ name. Sealing the prayer in and through Jesus. For instance, I end the prayer something like this… “thank you Jesus, I ask all this in your name, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Sometimes, on challenging days, I simply talk to Him, I lament, cry, and get it all out. He is full of truth, love, mercy, and hope. He is the only One. Pour into Him, trust Him. Ask Him. Love Him. He is the ONLY living God who loves you back.
Resources
Along with reading the Bible (Ephesians 6:10-18 is a good start), I also recommend these books.
Whether you are dealing with physical pain, relationships, weird moods, nightmares, or just feeling off, I hope that you’ll take a step back and see WHO is really at fault here. By all means, don’t discount your medical professional; just add some spiritual fighting power to cover your bases. I recommend going through these strategies so you can get clarity in your everyday life and fight spiritual warfare like you mean it! This isn’t a one-shot deal; it should be done as often as you need.
The Enemy wants to distract us and interrupt the line of communication between God and us. Let’s remain diligent and focus on God. I hope that you’ll understand more about this spiritual warfare stuff, so you know how to recognize it and fight it off! Blessings to you.
Planting a tree is a simple act that has a big impact. However, before you get dirty, there are some tree-planting tips you’re going to want to know! Whether it be Earth Day, Arbor Day, National Tree Day, or an ordinary day there is always a reason to plant a tree. Let’s learn some must-do tree planting tips along with some tree terminology you must know!
What do trees do?
With global warming on the rise, there IS something we can do about it. Plant more trees! Trees gobble up all those bad emissions; they actually filter the air. They also help clean our water and provide so much for us to survive and thrive like food, shade, natural medicines, furniture, lumber for homes, maple syrup, and even clothing. Seriously, the human race would not be able to survive without trees.
Did you also know that trees can help reduce stress and bring happiness? Whaaat? Yes! This post is going to be a game-changer for you and your family. Learn some amazing tree facts, get wiser with tree terminology, and understand these 4 tips on planting trees that everyone else forgets!
More than just a tree
Trees surrounded my childhood. That’s probably why I love them so much. They were my friends when I didn’t have anyone to play with, they were my listeners when no one else would listen, and they were my entertainment when I didn’t want to watch TV.
No, I’m not a major tree-hugger. But I do my part. In fact, on my vision board, I have a ‘tree farm’. About five years ago, I started my little tree farm in our backyard. I bought pots, dirt, and saplings of Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, White Pine, Sugar Maple, and Burr Oak. There has been so much joy in watching and caring for my tree babies. And I’m happy to say they are all now in their forever homes. Note: I did this on less than an acre, so if you have any kind of space, you can do this too!
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
Trees have many benefits as mentioned earlier, but here is a little more perks; they reduce air pollution, enrich habitats, bring beauty to the eye, shelter us, provide food, provide material, and comfort us in many ways. The book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, is a must-have! Did you know trees communicate with other trees through their root system? That they ‘scream’ when they need water? Even if you don’t have an interest in trees, you will after you read this book!
There are about 3 to 6 billion trees cut down globally per year. That’s a lot of trees! No wonder our atmosphere is so polluted. Mahatma Gandhi has a valid point: “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” Again, if you asked me what would reverse global warming, let alone our well-being, I’d say to plant trees! This is such a simple task with huge rewards. And it’s incredibly EASY!
Nature heals us in many ways, not just by providing medicines, but by other means that are unexplainable. What is it about walking through a forest or a path lined with trees? Trees reduce stress and lift our spirits. It’s amazing how something so simple has so much power. Prepare yourself for the outdoors with these amazing nature quotes.
Tree terminology: Get to know the lingo
When talking about trees, there are a few words you might want to familiarize yourself with. Here are the most common terms you’ll run into: ‘thank you, to the State of Maine’ for this reference.
Conifer: Cone-bearing trees; the “evergreens”. I get this messed up with Deciduous all the time!
Crown [of the tree]: Branches, twigs, buds, leaves, flowers, and fruit. This is the big part on top.
Deciduous [leaves]: All leaves drop in the autumn; not evergreen. Think of ‘dead’, as in dead leaves, to remember this one.
Fruit: The seed-bearing part of a tree
Habitat: The place where a plant usually grows, for example, dry, wet, rocky.
Hardwood: Term used to describe all broadleaved trees. These tree species are deciduous, retaining their leaves only one growing season.
Inner bark: Conducts usable food from the leaves to the cambium (tree cells) to nourish it or to storage areas in the wood.
Leaf: Stalk and blade of hardwoods, needles, and scales of conifers.
Leaflets: Smaller leaf units or leaflets that together form a compound leaf.
Outer bark: The area of the tree trunk composed of dead cells. It insulates and protects inner tissues from disease infections, and drying.
Photosynthesis: This is the process that occurs in the leaves. From energy produced by sunlight, the leaves combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce carbohydrates. Oxygen is released in the process. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are the plant foods necessary for the growth and respiration of the tree.
Roots: Root hairs absorb water and mineral salts from the soil. Larger roots anchor the tree and store nitrogen and carbohydrates.
Softwood: Term used to describe all needle-leaved trees. These species are typically evergreen, retaining their leaves through two or more growing seasons.
Plant a tree to represent an important time in your life. You’ll take better care of it knowing there is symbolism behind it. I’ve been known to give my trees a fun name, like Bruce the Spruce; my son named our freshly planted Sugar Maple, Kevin. When I had my tree farm, I named every tree…silly sounding, but people loved it!
When planting a tree in the ground, make sure to dig a wide hole and only as deep as the pot. Carefully remove the tree from the pot and spread out the roots. We want to try and save the dirt it is used to and gradually introduce the new dirt. Carefully fill in the hole with dirt and then put a 2-inch layer of mulch surrounding the tree. Water the tree every day for two weeks. And wrap the trunk in the cold winter months to protect it from sunscald and rodents. Do this until it’s big enough to thrive on its own, probably when the trunk is at a 4-5 inch diameter.
Don’t know where to get a tree? Try a local nursery and opt for native trees, trees that thrive in their environment. For instance, White Spruce is a native tree to Michigan, but Blue Spruce is native to Colorado. Your local conservation office should have trees to buy. You can also get a tree on Amazon! Seriously, you can get a Sugar Maple and many other types of trees.
4. Check out Arbor Day Foundation
Go to the Arbor Day Foundation for more facts and information about trees. If you need to purchase some trees, they can handle that too. You can donate, and they’ll send you free trees as a thank you. They have loads of information on caring for your tree, along with more planting tree tips.
Don’t have a place to plant? No problem. The Arbor Day Foundation is happy to accept donations, which will then plant trees where they are desperately needed. Please note that I do not work for Arbor Day Foundation nor get monetary benefits from mentioning them; I simply am a supporter helping to spread the word. They are the experts.
Trees are the best monuments that a man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery, and they are blessings to children yet unborn.
Lord Orrery, 1749
Wrapping up planting tree tips
Don’t be afraid to plant a tree. With too many forest fires to count, plant as many trees as you can, either by donation or by getting your hands dirty. Let’s make the world a better place for ourselves and future generations. Make Earth Day every day in some way or form. Don’t forget to get your tree printable for your kids! It’s super fun and educational. Thank you!
Jesus says the truth will set you free. Is anyone else hungry for truth? Truth in knowing who you really are? How about truth in knowing what is actually real, compared to lies, fake news, AI, or simply human manipulation? What about gaslighting and how the effects of it leave us questioning our own identities and self-confidence?
What would the world, your community, school, or your home look like if we all lived in the true identity that God gave us? Think about that. There would be no more comparing, no more competitive “keep up with the Joneses”, no more judgment or gossip. We would all be living in the identity of who God calls us, confidently, courageously, and full of peace, radiating Joy!
Let me reiterate, we would be completely satisfied with how we look, walk, talk, and what we wear. Our identity would shine through our work and relationships. Our place of employment would not define us or what we do; our identity of who God made us to be would sparkle in our everyday happenings. We would complement each other in our talents and gifts, cooperating as one. No more jealousy, no more envy, and no more shame.
This sounds a lot like Heaven. Friends, it is. Heaven does exist on earth, and it starts with you pursuing your identity. Ask God personal questions, and listen to what He says about you.
How to get started!
1 Read
Get to know Jesus. Why? Jesus is the one who can set us free and who can show us how to live a life of truth. He is your refuge. Jesus is the source of life. He is Truth. Read the Gospels (New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), then read them again to get to know his character and how to love.
2 Watch
Watch The Chosen to give you the idea of what life was like in the years Jesus walked this planet. The Chosen is a combination of Biblical truth with some Hollywood theatrics to show you how the Bible is timeless in our modern times.
3 Study
Another tool is the Life Application Study Bible. This Bible can also be useful for studying verse interpretation. It has a helpful concordance to look up specific topics or emotions. Detailed charts, maps, and biographies are interesting to read in this Bible as well.
Use your imagination and visualize Jesus with you. We call this your “Safe Place”. You choose a place where you feel free and safe, like a beach, meadow, the woods, your living room couch, or so forth. Close off all distractions. Close your eyes and visualize this place. What does it look like, smell like, feel like, and what are you hearing?
From there, ask Jesus to join you and look for him in your safe place. Is he walking toward you on the beach? Sitting next to you on the couch? Handing you a cup of camp coffee while sitting next to the campfire? I think you get the picture. Simply ask Him what you need to know about _____. “Jesus, what do you want me to know about ______?” What is Jesus telling you or showing you? Ask him any question, be real, raw, and bluntly honest. “Jesus, who do I need to forgive? Please bring that person to my attention. What does that look like?”
This is your sacred space and place to be with Jesus. “Jesus, what lies am I believing about myself, about that person, or the event that happened to me?” He will show things your heart has been longing for. “Jesus, what is it that you want me to replace that lie with?” This is truly a transformative experience with our living God.
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5 Go
Go to church! It truly is best if you can attend in person. The Church is the bride of Christ. If you can’t attend in person, find a Christian church online and grow a connection with online small groups or Bible studies. Here are some of my favorites with solid doctrine that I have attended.
Ask Jesus into your life. Pray and ask Jesus to come into your life. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, that you need Him every day, you believe that He died and rose again, and to fill you. Please know that Jesus will help your unbelief every step of the way. He will meet you where you are.
7 Do
Do what the Bible says to do. Get baptized! All the churches listed above will guide you and dig deeper into the significance of baptism. Jesus even got baptized by John the Baptist! He did this for you to follow Him. It was the beginning of his ministry. It’s a new beginning for you.
Truth will set you free. The truth about you and who you are in God’s eyes will unlock heaven on earth. First things first, get to know Jesus, the Son of God. It is through Him that you will find freedom, true identity, joy, peace, and true love. Jesus goes before you. He actually went WAY before you, all the way back to Eden. Trust Him. Stand firm next to Him. Follow Him. In Jesus’ Name.
Your living spaces have a direct impact on your well-being. Your physical health matters, and even more so, your mental health. When you feel good about your living space, it affects your mood, choices, and relationships. If you want to be a happier person, take a look around and change the room! Check out my easy, inexpensive tips on how to brighten a room. I’ve got 8 great suggestions you can do today to transform a room.
There is greatness in DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects. For one, it helps your mind work more creatively. You have to pay better attention to what you’re doing, which makes your brain work a little harder and smarter. The second benefit of DIY is that it builds confidence. If you can make something happen with your hands and skills, it magically gives you more self-esteem!
The third plus with DIY is personal gratification. It’s okay to say “I did that!” When you transform a room, an object, or a landscape with a little sweat and hands-on, you’ll instantly feel fulfillment! We all need a bit of that in our everyday lives.
Let’s get to work and make a space more cheerful! For where there is light, darkness can’t reside.
8 Amazing Tips on How to Brighten a Room
1 Clean up
First things first, clean up. Sure, you can pay for a cleaning service to clean your house, but it can get pricy. When you clean your own home, you not only get instant gratification but also a workout! You might also find some things you misplaced, including money in the couch, pants pockets, or laundry. Do yourself a favor and take charge of your living space by cleaning it yourself. Cleaning the House: 5 Factors to Understand
2 Open the shades
Draw back the curtains, twist open the blinds. Natural light is healing to the soul. It improves your mood, helps your natural clock sync with nature, encourages you to be more productive, and natural light even helps us focus. The absolute beauty of this tip is that it’s $0.00.
What if you don’t have a window? A nice-sized mirror can help! A mirror’s reflections mimic a window’s feel and make the room feel bigger than it really is. Shop around for a large mirror; garage sales, secondhand shops, and discount stores are good places. You can even purchase smaller mirrors and create a design like the picture below.
3 Buy yourself some flowers.
This doesn’t need to be a $40 bouquet. There are great flower deals at ALDI’s, Trader Joe’s, and even Costco. Don’t forget about your local roadside flower stands! You can get some amazing flowers for under $10. Why flowers? Flowers brighten a room immediately. They bring bright colors or softness into your home. A vase of flowers is a welcoming centerpiece. Grab an old mason jar and arrange a little sunshine for your kitchen island or end table.
4 String lights
String lights aren’t just for Christmas. String lights bring light to the darkness. How to brighten a room without windows? You got it, string lights! String lights are inexpensive for what they do. You can get your standard Christmas lights for around $12, if you purchase after Christmas, you can get some amazing deals! I like to string them in a faux tree or along the fireplace mantel. You can also decorate around a window, line them vertically on a wall, or outline them along the ceiling. There are endless options for string lights. There are, of course, the LED moving lights; those are fun, but they are not what I am talking about. I’m talking about the standard simple white NON-LED Christmas tree lights.
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5 Get some greens
Add some plants or faux greens. Putting a touch of green in your room brings the outdoors inside. Even if it isn’t a real plant, there is something about green leaves that presents freshness and peace in a room. Plants can lower stress and anxiety, they can boost healing and energy levels, and plants can improve your mood. You can get some great faux ferns or pine boughs online or even at the dollar store.
6 Paint!
There’s nothing better than a coat of fresh paint. When some people think of cheerful colors, they might pick red, yellow, orange, or purple. But in all honesty, simply go with white. If you want to know how to brighten a room with paint, especially without windows, choose white! White flows with the seasons and gives you a sense of cleanliness, freshness, and peace. Painting can be a bit more expensive, so it depends on the size of the room and the type of paint you buy. When you DIY, you’re saving even more money and honing in on a skill!
Music is a great way to set the tone of a room. Play some music that will lift you up! Find your go-to tunes that will bring peace and calm to your heart. Music is essentially free if you have a radio. I know that’s old school, but it’s free. There are, of course, Spotify, iTunes, Sirius XM, and other music subscriptions, but when it comes to managing money, know what subscriptions you have!
8 Wall prints
Need some simple yet powerful wall art? Head to Etsy and download some awesome wall prints. There is nothing more powerful than the Word of God. Displaying His truths sets the tone. When something feels off in your day, speak the Sword of the Spirit and command the darkness to flee in Jesus’ name! Seeing His promises daily helps you live out His promises, not to mention memorize them. His presence is with you all the time. Why not display it on your walls? You can easily download scripture art at the Do More Than Exist Freebies. Dig out an old frame from your closet, and you’re good to go!
Love the space you live in, it matters greatly! Brightening a room is a fun transformation you can be proud of. And when you carry out the do-it-yourself mojo, anything is possible, not to mention money-saving! Try these simple tips today and lift up your well-being in a bright and beautiful space.
Come January and February, the winter blues gradually sneak up on us. Winter blues disorder is a thing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, having the “winter blues” is actually normal. You’re totally fine to feel a little down during the colder months. They refer to it as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Um, yeah, I know I get it. No matter where we live, we’re bound to crave sunlight. But it’s not all about sunlight.
What can we do about the winter blues?13 Tips
Here are the best 13 ways to naturally reduce the ‘winter blues’. The bonus tip is HUGELY important, please read through them all. The list goes from the most common tip to the most unique. My personal favorites that are most effective are #9, #13, and the BONUS.
1- Get Outside…even if it’s cloudy.
There is power in the outdoors even when it’s cloudy. Stepping outside to get the mail can even help fight off the winter blues sad symptoms. Stepping out in nature helps you feel like you did something today, and that, in itself, a feeling of accomplishment can mend the blues of winter. Do yourself a favor, and give yourself a change of scene, even if it’s a stroll in your neighborhood. Get some fresh air. Yo, getting outside may even help you sleep better at night. Here are a few nature quotes to get you motivated.
2- Open up the shades and pull back the curtains.
Increase the amount of sunlight in your home, again, even if it’s cloudy. Open the shades and curtains! Being closed off to the incredible beauty of creation is depressing. Stop it! Simply opening the curtains or shades during the day is so incredibly healthy for your mind and well-being. This little act makes a huge impact on your psyche. Say goodbye to the winter blues disorder!
3- Take Vitamin D
There are many benefits to vitamin D. One is that it improves mood. Taking vitamin D3 also reduces upper respiratory infections. Other vitamin D benefits include bone health, helping the immune system, managing blood sugar levels, fighting heart disease, helping regulate hormones, contributing to memory, supporting skin health, and more. Dr. Axe has more info here. “D” gives you a dose of goodness.
4- Exercise
Beating the winter blues means working hard and outsmarting it! Who cares if it’s cloudy and gray outside? Bundle up and get out there. A bit of fresh air does a body and soul good. There have been studies on how exercise can boost mood. Have you heard of a runner’s high? It exists. But what if you don’t run? Lace up the walking shoes or slip on the biking shorts! Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes; an hour would be fantastic. Winter blues sad symptoms have no room in your everyday minutes when your heart gets pumping. I like to visualize the negativity leaving my body as I work my body.
5- Set a sleep schedule
When you’re on a sleep schedule, your body will naturally flow with it. It takes a little time, but within a week or two, you should be feeling the positive effects. Stick to all-natural ways to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Things like avoiding electronics an hour or two before bed, dimming the lights, taking a hot bath, setting a routine, reading before bed, exercising in the morning instead of the evening, and avoiding caffeine after lunch hour. I went as far as changing out my LED light bulbs to incandescent; yet, it’s hard to find those light bulbs these days.
6- Look at what you’re eating.
A special diet to help with the winter blues? Yeah, kind of. Change up your diet and eat more Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts, flax seeds), berries, dark chocolate, and bananas are beneficial too. Source: Healthline. These types of foods give off happy vibes. I’ve got a great recipe for salmon in a skillet. Find my recipe here. What you put into your body does affect how you feel. Get clear with cleaner foods and reduce inflammation with foods that calm. If you have digestive issues, be sure to check this post out. It has great information coming from someone who knows! (me).
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7- Try Light Therapy
Light therapy also helps manage the winter blues, but talk to your doctor first. There are a few lights to look at on Amazon. Here’s one that’s inexpensive to try: Miroco Light Therapy Lamp.
6 More Fun Things to Calm the Winter Blues
8- Add plants to your indoors
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Some other fun things we can do to brighten our blue months (January and February) are to bring green plants into your living spaces. Having plants, even if they’re fake, gives off a fresh feel to the room. Try putting a houseplant or two in your kitchen. If you don’t do well with plants, and what I mean is keeping them alive, head to your favorite hobby store or hop on Amazon and pick up some fake greens. Find other ideas on how to brighten a room here.
9- Light it up inside!
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Move your Christmas lights from your tree to other areas of your home. I have a fake tree in my house; year-round I put a string of white lights on it and turn them on in the evening and early morning. The fireplace mantel is also a great spot to have a string of lights. A few lights can go a long way! If you don’t like the typical dark green string, get the white one! You can find them on Amazon.
10- Turn on your sniffer
Fill your home with lovely smells. Honestly, I don’t know what it is about the smell of banana bread baking, but it brings warm hugs to my soul. Chicken soup does the same thing. Whatever your childhood favorite smell, make that smell happen! This is a low-cost method that goes a long way.
Play nature sounds. There are a lot of great nature sounds you can download. My personal favorites are the ones with birds, something that mimics my backyard in the warmer months. If the ocean is your favorite spot, tune into the sounds and close your eyes.
12- Embrace the season
Welcome the stillness of the winter. Every year, I find myself craving time alone when it’s snowing outside. Since I live in Michigan, we get our share of snow. The snow has this magical way of quieting life down. Enjoy the silence of nature. One of my favorite places to be in winter is sitting in the snowbank at night…especially if it’s snowing!
13- Warm up the bones
Don’t forget to warm up your bones. If there is ever any sunshine, grab a camp chair and camp out in front of the window or door where the sunbeams shine through. I did this just the other day, and my soul immediately felt better. No sun? Try your fireplace. No fireplace? Light a candle. No candles? Take a hot bath. No bathtub? A cup of dairy-free hot chocolate or tea works too…with a pair of cozy socks.
BONUS – Pay attention to what you are watching
What you put in your mind affects what you think. Your mind is where you think, and what you watch is, of course, going to affect what you think and believe! Your thoughts affect what comes out of your mouth, not to mention how you make choices. Please, please think about this. Better yet, experiment with how you feel and what you think about after watching particular shows. Are you numb to violence? Foul language? Do you think that it’s okay? What about your kids watching those things? Your kids’ behavior might not be stemming from the red dye they just ate, but it might be coming from the show they just watched. Do those shows or reels energize you, get you angry, freak you out, fill you up, make you feel depressed, give you joy? Be watchful and aware!
Victory over the Winter Blues
Let’s beat the winter blues at its game. Shine light where you can and warm up your soul using all your senses. Be aware of your surroundings and how you can change them. You got this!
