By Winter may still be in full swing, but the cold weather doesn’t have to keep you down. Holidays like National Puzzle Day and Inspire Your Heart with Art Day are great opportunities to challenge your mind and unlock creativity. Your wellbeing will thank you!
Of course, there are excuses to indulge too, like enjoying homemade pancakes and chocolate pudding. Below you’ll find a collection of mini holidays to celebrate and fun ideas to make the days even more special.
Tuesday, January 28: National Blueberry Pancake Day
Celebrate today by whipping up a batch of homemade flapjacks. The secret to perfect blueberry pancakes: Freeze the berries for at least 15 minutes before adding to your batter, or opt for frozen, says chef Cynthia Christensen of ButFirstWeBrunch.com. “This helps prevent them from breaking apart during the mixing process, turning your batter an unattractive purplish-gray color.”
For extra flavor: “Grate lemon zest directly into the sugar you’ll be using in the recipe,” she says. “Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar, releasing its oils.”
Wednesday, January 29: National Puzzle Day
Today’s the perfect day to tackle a puzzle with loved ones. To make it easier, Cynthia Smith, former winner of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Jigsaw Puzzle Competition and current chair, suggests sorting pieces by color first. Then, to avoid crowding with your co-puzzlers, work on a section outside the frame. To move it into the puzzle, grab the edges of the pieces on opposite sides of the section and pull gently so there’s a little tension. “Then you can pick up that whole chunk and carefully bring it over and plop it into the frame.”
Friday, January 31: Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
Engaging in an art project today can do more than just release stress—the creative process will also give you a hit of happy! Researchers reporting in the journal The Arts in Psychotherapy asked participants to color, doodle or free-draw and measured brain activity during the art sessions. The result: During all three activities, there was an increase in blood flow in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (the reward center of the brain) compared to periods of rest. Even better, previous research shows skill level doesn’t matter when it comes to the feel-good perks!
Saturday, February 1: National Get Up Day
This holiday is all about bouncing back from any setback! The first step to picking yourself up again: “Pause and acknowledge your feelings without trying to immediately ‘fix’ the situation,” advises licensed therapist Christine Baker, Ph.D., founder of WayfareCounseling.com. “Taking a few deep breaths helps calm your nervous system, allowing your brain to move from a reactive state to a more balanced one where you can think clearly.”
To help improve resilience: Establish daily routines that help you feel grounded, such as taking a morning walk. Also smart: “Breaking down larger goals into manageable steps helps your brain register each smaller win, which will gradually rebuild your confidence,” she says.
February 1–28: National Chocolate Lovers Month
Satisfy your sweet tooth this month with a rich and creamy chocolate pudding.
To make Banana-Chocolate Pudding: In a blender, puree 1 ripe, mashed banana with 1 cup of milk until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and add 1 (3.9 oz.) pkg. of chocolate fudge instant pudding mix; whisk 2 min. Stir 1 cup of the pudding into 1⁄2 cup of melted semi sweet chocolate chips until smooth. Stir back into remaining pudding. Fold in 1⁄2 cup of frozen whipped topping (thawed). Divide among 4 dishes. Cover; chill for at least 30 minutes. Garnish as desired. Serves 4
Help a Hero
Donate toys!
If you have new stuffed animals (battery-free and under 20 inches), send them to Project Smile! The nonprofit organization shares the toys with emergency responders, who use them to comfort children who have been through traumatic events. Mail donations to Project Smile, P.O. Box 336, Hopedale, MA 01747.
