Our Family Recipe for Kicking the Winter (and Covid) Blues
Almost seven years ago we took a leap of faith, moving our family from Sunny California to Newcastle. While house hunting, people warned us that it was expensive here! To us it wasn’t all that bad given we were accustomed to California prices – you pay for the weather after all! While they warned us about the prices, they didn’t seem to mention the tough winters with an abundance of rain and grey. When someone finally warned us, we cheerfully replied, we’re not worried at all, we grew-up in Minnesota and there’s nothing quite like a Minnesota winter where temperatures often fall well below zero!
Well, that first winter in Seattle was pretty tough. We didn’t realize how important Vitamin D and having the right rain gear were to survive the winters here. But we quickly learned…we purchased sunlight lamps and started popping massive amounts of Vitamin D. Then we got the best advice ever, take a trip to Hawaii during mid-winter break. We did just that and so it seemed that we had figured out how to survive the winter months. We haven’t looked back since and have been especially loving our amazing Emerald City summers!
Although, fast forward a handful of years and a new more daunting challenge arose – COVID-19! We, humans, are just not meant to be in isolation and couped up in our homes. We’re in the home business so, of course, we believe in loving where you live, but not 24/7! A few months into the Corona Virus and we started getting what we un-affectionately called the “Covid Blues.” As we started to get phone call after phone call from friends and family members struggling similarly and failing into the “valley of despair,” we started thinking, “what if we created a recipe to Kick the Covid Blues?” Well, we did just that and it worked like a charm.
1. Strive to reach 10,000 or more steps every day
2. Don't skip meals, eat well and enjoy guilty pleasures (in moderation)
3. Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night
4. Listen to positive, uplifting music and podcasts
5. Develop a vision board and envision your future - today!
6. Keep a daily gratitude journal and thank people every day
7. Find reasons to laugh and smile, because as the late, great Ed Foreman said, "Life is for Laughing, Loving and Living.
With the seasons changing and more social restrictions likely on the way, we thought you’d appreciate this little recipe. It absolutely works, we guarantee it! And if you have any questions, like “what music do you listen to” or “what tips do you have for better natural sleeping” or “what’s a vision board and how do you make one” you have two options: 1. You can do what we tell our kids to do when they ask us to help them with homework we don’t understand – “GOOGLE IT,” LOL! OR 2. You can reach out to us and we’d be happy to share our thoughts. We’ve never met a stranger and it would be our pleasure to help you “Kick the Covid or Winter Blues.”
We hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving filled with all of your favorite people and things! Until next time, may your home be filled with WARMTH, LOVE, and JOY!
Cheers!
Matt & Christina
Matt & Christina are Team Skally, top real estate agents in the Seattle Metro with expertise in luxury homes on the Eastside including Bellevue, Newcastle, Mercer Island, Renton and Issaquah. Their client testimonials say it all - they deliver exceptional service and record-breaking results. Recognized as top agents on social media by Property Sparks, Diamond Award finalists for best client service and regularly featured in online and print publications including Newcastle Life Magazine. In addition to serving clients, Matt and Christina love family time with their two boys and Leo, the Goldendoodle, as well as volunteering in the community.