MARY-LISA RUSSO
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  • About The Author / books
  • Living Your Feminine-Inspired Best Life- The Blog
  • Blog Archive- Quick Links
  • Website Quick Links
  • Newsletter Sign-Up

How to Keep the Blues Away in Magical Winter

11/3/2025

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Mary-Lisa Russo
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Autumn leaves strip away from trees, and frost and snow blankets the ground like glistening crushed diamonds. Cozy nights sitting by the fire under a warm blanket while sipping on a hot chocolate. Magical winter has much to experience in all its blustery essence... it's enchanting, a time to reset and retreat, full of hope and anticipation.

Despite all the coziness this season offers, the shorter days, minimal sunshine, heavy gray clouds, piles of snow and icy temperatures can trigger the winter blues. It's easy to start feeling sluggish and gloomy, especially after the holidays as winter fatigue can set in. We start longing for beach weather, patio evenings and barbeque parties.

​It is important to stay on track mentally and physically to keep your spirits elevated. You are a woman of substance, strong and inspiring... nothing must stand in the way of your shine!

Got a few more moments? Let's dive into some suggestions for keeping the winter blues away!
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Indulge in Cozy Self-Care Rituals

Boost your seasonal wellness! Winter is the perfect time to indulge in soothing self-care activities that calm your thoughts and nourish your body. Pamper your beautiful self regularly with a luxurious spa ritual complete with a hydrating face mask, warm bath soak, manicure and pedicure, and body cream application.

Dry skin is a nuisance that plagues you during this season and requires special attention to keep your skin looking and feeling vibrant. It's my winter pet peeve! My weakest links are my hands and face! The cold air literally zaps all the moisture my skin contains and turns it into a desert! I slather my skin with thick creams containing lipids and hyaluronic acid to protect and treat my skin. I find that the key to maintaining smooth, comfortable skin in winter is to nourish it daily before seasonal dryness sets in. Don't wait until you resemble an alligator to start your pampering routine!

Experiment with seasonal makeup to boost your features with a feminine glow! I like to sport a dark lipstick, rosy blush, mascara and a shimmery rose-gold eyeshadow to bring out my features. When I doll myself up in winter, I feel ultra feminine and filled with a sense of vitality. Perking my features perks me up too! Haha!

Self-care acts help you feel good about yourself during the chilly winter. Incorporate nightly beauty rituals into your schedule and thrive! 

Visit Your Doctor for Health Assessments

It's a good idea to periodically visit your medical practitioner and check to see if you may need any supplements such as vitamin D to give you a healthy boost. Winter colds and flu are prominent during this season, so staying healthy through exercise, rest and nutrition will help you thrive and keep your spirits up. Drink lots of fluids, dress warmly, stay active, go to bed early and get plenty of rest! Keeping in touch with your physician for preventative advice and to quell any budding ailments will ensure you thrive and stay in good spirits physically and mentally.  
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Get this book
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get this book
Cozy-themed lifestyle books to celebrate the enchanting winter season!

Attend Winter/Christmas Festivals & Markets

Cold winter temperatures surrounding you don't mean you have to hibernate and cut yourself off from being physically social. Dress warmly and gather your loved ones for some quality time! Experience the magic of community by attending seasonal festivals and markets that lift your spirit. You can get terrific Christmas ideas, too! These events emit joy and positive energy, which boost your own well-being. Being social keeps feel-good thoughts flowing. Check your local bulletins and see if any events pop up that interest you. I enjoy arts and crafts markets and outdoor winter concerts. If you prefer, create your own little seasonal get-togethers with your tribe and enjoy each other's company. 

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Find your calm, clarity and inner serenity in this 22-page (PDF) Calming Your Mind Journal! Inside you'll find calming journal prompts, breathing prompts, work sheets, gratitude reflections and more! ​
get my journal

Enjoy Holiday-Themed Films

Because winter and Christmas are closely intertwined, holiday films saturate this feel-good season. I start watching holiday-themed films from mid-October well into February. The enchanting stories and happy endings are endearing and flood me with positive thoughts that uplift me during this cold season. These are some of my favorite films I watch yearly:
  1. It's a Wonderful Life
  2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  3. Home Alone
  4. Christmas with the Kranks
  5. Love Hard
  6. Last Holiday
  7. Fred Klaus
  8. Last Holiday
  9. Four Christmases
  10. ALL Hallmark Romantic Holiday Films!!!!
​These movies make me laugh... believe in love... fill me with the wonder of the holidays... It's very difficult for the winter blues to bring me down when I watch uplifting films like these.
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Keep Yourself (creatively) Busy!

To keep a positive frame of mind, get busy with hobbies you love and tasks that elevate your well-being. Being creative is a fantastic way of focusing your thoughts and energy into self-fulfilling activities. Staying idle can invite gloomy thoughts to settle in your mind. What interests you? Painting? Knitting? Writing? Drawing? You can indulge in a hobby alone or join a class or event that offers you an outlet for your creativity. If you enjoy creating with a group in a more private setting, invite some of your family and friends over to a hobby event.

I enjoy writing and coloring in my adult coloring books. I own several of these books, and depending on my mood, I have a creative outlet that brings me inner serenity.

Stay Active!

When the cold temperatures creep in, the urge to cocoon yourself under a cozy blanket in your comfy chair is enticing! Day after day, this can make you feel sluggish and unmotivated. Incorporate physical activity to boost your physical and mental health! Here are some suggestions to stay active during this chilly season:
  1. Go for a refreshing outdoor walk.
  2. Join a gym.
  3. Join a dance class.
  4. Join an indoor sports team.
  5. Watch fitness videos on YouTube.
I stay active by taking brisk outdoor walks in the morning. The fresh air invigorates me and infuses me with energy. I start my day with positive intentions and calm serenity, keeping the winter blues at bay. If there is too much snow outdoors or the temperature is too icy, I exercise to a YouTube fitness video. Even half an hour gets me fuelled with energy and lifts my spirits. When the weather is very wintery, and I am feeling extra energetic, I put my athletic clothes on and dance to lively music. I work up a hearty sweat, get my heart pumping and elevate my mood! 

Whatever form of physical activity you choose, plan to be active 3 to 5 times a week, at a pace you can easily sustain. Get moving, lovely lady!

Some Final Notes For You!

Hope this blog post brought you some positive, wintry inspiration. It's easy to fall into the winter blues but it's just as easy to keep them at bay with activities that keep you busy and grounded. Stay connected with others, indulge in self-care acts, get creative.   

Read more about cozy living and self-care in these blog posts:
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Simple Self-Care Acts to Boost Your Well-Being
Budget-Friendly Tips on Creating a Cozy Autumn Aesthetic


If you enjoyed reading this winter-inspired blog post, consider reading my book, HOW TO CREATE A CHIC & COZY WINTER, available HERE. 

Book synopsis:

Winter blues, chilly temperatures, gray skies, falling snow, slipping and sliding on ice, hibernating indoors...
I don't know about you, but I don't want to lose my sense of style, inner peace, and grace just because the winter season rolls along. We can either think negatively about this blustery season or we can embrace it with positivity, thereby elevating our winter spirits and enabling our inner, chic goddess to flourish.


Written in a conversational tone, this beautifully written book will discuss the contents within each chapter on a personal level. Topics include self-care, beauty and style, achieving living space goals, winter activities and much more.
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For All You Christmas Lovers!

For some (including myself), Christmas is the magical part of winter that brings joy to our hearts and ignites the spirit of love and peace that illuminates our souls. THE LITTLE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS is a seasonal keepsake inspiring you to create Christmas traditions for you and your loved ones. You can grab your copy HERE. 

Book synopsis:

​Spending time with family at a tree lighting ceremony… decorating your Christmas tree with heirloom ornaments… baking grandma’s beloved holiday cookies… watching holiday movies in Christmas pyjamas and sipping on hot chocolate...

These are priceless activities and moments we never forget as they speak to our need to connect with the wholesome goodness this time of the year represents.

Holiday preparations and activities become so profound, they morph into yearly traditions we look forward to experiencing with great anticipation. Yes… Christmas is a grand celebration, but it is our deep yearning for the familiarity of traditions and their meaningful significance that speak to our heart.
The human spirit instinctively seeks inner peace and nurturing connections with loved ones and knows that Christmas is a time to pause… and light a divine spark in the hopeful heart of humanity.

The Little Book Of Christmas Traditions: A holiday keepsake inspiring you to create Christmas traditions for you and your loved ones is a keeper for anyone seeking to elevate the spirit of Christmas through traditions.

You will find many suggestions in this book for you, your loved ones, children only, including a chapter on self-care to help you navigate holiday stress. Choose only the ideas that are simple and meaningful for you. You are not obligated to do everything.

Create your Christmas traditions with a humble heart and deep appreciation for this enchanting season! Gather around with your loved ones during the holidays and keep hoping, nurturing and believing… May the miracle of Christmas light a glow within your heart that continues flourishing throughout the new year.
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About Mary-Lisa

Mary-Lisa Russo is a blogger and author of lifestyle books who believes in the power of slow/intentional living. She is keenly aware of women’s unique life journeys and seeks to bring elegance, confidence and classic charm to their daily routines. She writes to inspire her readers with advice on living a simple, feminine-inspired life featuring discussions on self-care, self-growth, style, home décor, health and well-being, seasonal living and much more. ​Embark on your wellness journey with Mary-Lisa’s inspiring self-help books by visiting www.marylisarusso.ca.

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