The days are pretty short here now. It’s been cold, gloomy and raw and winter isn’t even here yet. Many of us, yours truly included, struggle when daylight is at a premium. My vitamin D levels take a nosedive and so does my mood. Others are affected more severely. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can sap your energy and spiral into full-blown depression that lingers all winter long. Let’s talk about ways we can head-off that winter lethargy.
Seek sunshine by getting outside, even when it’s cold. Even a brief walk or run out in natural surroundings does a body good.
Create natural light indoors. Light candles, kindle a relaxing fire.
Top up vitamin D levels. Have your levels tested and take a supplement if they’re low.
Seek interaction. Humans are social animals. Now’s a great time to nurture relationships. The more connections we make, the better off we are. Find the balance of togetherness and solitude that best suits you and enjoy it.
This Moroccan Style Acorn Squash is one of my favorites right now.
Eat well. Celebrate autumn’s bounty by coming together around a good meal. Enjoy roasted root vegetables, winter squash, hearty soups, chili and stews.
Toast the holidays with a festive drink. One of my family’s favorite holiday traditions is to take a walk after dinner then come back and enjoy hot spiced cider around the fire. I had the opportunity to try Nektar Naturals recently through my affiliation with Sweatpink. Nektar Naturals is basically honey in crystal form, so there’s no sticky mess. It’s all-natural, non-GMO and gluten-free. I use it wherever I’d use traditional honey: to sweeten my green tea, in desserts or recipes. I incorporated it into my holiday cider recipe and it was more delicious than ever.
Hot Spiced Cider
| Hot Spiced Cider | | Print |
- 16C Apple Cider
- ¼C Nektar Naturals honey crystals
- 1t Ground allspice
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- 2t Whole cloves
- 1 Orange
- Cinnamon Sticks for garnish
- Combine first four ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer. Stick cloves into the skin on the orange and add to the cider. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve garnished with cinnamon sticks.
Confession: I may have brewed up some of this cider today and enjoyed it after a very chilly run! I love that Nektar Naturals comes in a handy easy-pour bottle. You can find it at Walmart, or if you’re feeling lucky you can win some right here!
WIN IT! One lucky reader (U.S. residents only please) will win a bottle of Nektar Naturals Honey Crystals. One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Nektar Naturals through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner.
There’s still time to get in on my $280 Under Armour giveaway too!
I’m linking up with Deb for the Wednesday Word, which is Tradition.
I love this kind of cider when it’s cold out! We had something similar for our signature drink at our wedding. We have a fireplace in our new house and have already been using it all the time!
Last night I was teaching piano lessons after work. I was just getting done with my second lesson and it was just 5 o’clock and my student exclaims, “Woah it’s dark already!!” It was. 🙁 How depressing. Turning on Christmas lights make me feel happy and cozy even when it is dark. I suppose in just 3 weeks or so we will be past the darkest day of the year!
I like the idea of honey crystals. There’s always a sticky circle in my pantry from the honey jar. Now it’s migrated to my coffee container. And to my hands…
I love honey in my hot tea!
I would use this to flavor plain Greek yogurt.
Mmmm…. The Captain would love this drink… will have to make it for him as a special treat. We up our Vitamin D3 in the Winter too and do try to get out every day. Thankfully our windows mostly face East and we get lovely morning sun filling our rooms.
That cider sounds heavenly right now!! Would love to curl up by the fire with a big mug of it!! I keep seeing these honey crystals all over and I really want to try them!
I’ve been trying to get myself to drink more tea, and this would help me so much!
You’re absolutely right, it gets tough to stay upbeat this time of year! Those are great tips. I love hot cider and now I’m inspired to make some!
I like to make Wassail during Christmas. I think the Honey Crystals would work perfectly in the recipe!
I would use this on my oatmeal
These are awesome tips. I am fortunate in that winter never really seems to bring me down…I actually enjoy grey days and lots of darkness! Maybe I’m just weird…
I know a lot of people who struggle with seasonal affective disorder though and supplementing with Vitamin D has been really beneficial for them!
I’ll tell you what will keep spirits up: All of us need to meet up. We’ve been trying to get this going but now we are at an impasse. But it must happen.
I think I have SAD too which kicks in mostly in January. I am doing everything I can to avoid it this year good tips
I’m with you on missing the sun! By the time my work day is done, the sun is long gone 🙁 Seeing friends and drinking cider picks my mood up though!
Yes, on the vitamin D, I hear so often from people they don’t like to take supplements. I ended up with a stress fracture when my D was low, supplements have really helped!
I love a cold sunny day 🙂 15 or 20 minutes can make a huge difference in how good you feel!
I agree with Susie – what would fend off the winter blues is for all of us to get together in person and catch up!!!
I’d like to try it in no-bake energy bars!
YUM! That looks like something my family would love. Since the move to Idaho I’ve been trying to be more proactive in fending off the winter blues.
That cider sounds amazing! I love a good hot cider!
Oh, the cider sounds good. How about using it in mulled wine?
That hot cider sounds good right about now, well first it needs to dip to at least 50 degrees 🙂 My Dad has that disorder and he still lives in Indiana, it is sunny here! I like he idea of the crystals – no sticky mess!
I would use it in my coffee or tea.
I have never tried honey crystals but it would def avoid the mess in my pantry when the honey leaks! I def struggle with SAD this time of year too….running outdoors helps me!
Hot cider sounds delicious. I like the less mess idea of the honey crystals.
Ugh this is my life! I have SAD and I’m deficient on vitamin D so winter is pretty tough sometimes. Thanks for bringing awareness to this and for sharing some tips that make it better!
My mom loves hot cider and I love the smell of cloves, apples and oranges. Perfection!
I LOVE the sun and not looking forward to the winter and the darkness. I am so glad that my new job has 2 windows to let in natural sunlight. I have recently found out that I am Vit D deficient and need to get some supplements :(. Anytime I can be in the sun…I am on it!! It warms my body but more of my spirit and soul for sure!
That cider sounds delicious and perfect for after a cold run!!!
The honey crystals sound like a perfect combination.
Great tips! The cider sounds delicious!
Oh another great post!! I’ve been having a rough time with it getting so dark so early.
All great tips!!!!! I love being warm and toasty (with a hot chai’), but I love being outside, too. The sunshine sparkling on all the snow is breathtaking. The cold air takes your breath away, but it’s also very refreshing. And, the amazing peacefulness on a clear, starry night is so tranquil. 😉
An evening walk in the snow followed by a warm beverage sounds so relaxing! Since our snows are usually either a heavy wet snow or freezing rain, it’s not as enticing for me. 🙂
Thanks for linking up!
These are good tips for the winter but also good tips for me now that I’m working from home! I spend most of the day on my phone and I need some real social interaction!!
Mmmmm, I’m a sucker for hot apple cider, especially this time of year!! I will definitely be making some!!!
I’d use it in yogurt
I saw on the Nektar Naturals FB page a recipe for honey garlic roasted brussels sprouts, oh my my mouth is watering just thinking about that. I think I will try this but for sure in my coffee. 🙂 Thanks for this giveaway Marcia! 🙂
I would use Nektar Naturals to sprinkle on cereal and oatmeal.