Well it may not be a surprise to some that my #2 tip for surviving the winter blues is

Put on some music!

Sing like no one is listening and dance like no one is watching.

Of course, being a singer myself, music is central to all I do. I listen to music while I’m cooking, cleaning, painting, walking, running, driving, well- most of the time! I listen to all kinds of music depending on my mood but the genre that lights me up the most in winter is Jazz. There’s something so magical about the big band era - Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald…..so many classic songs that resonant with my soul.

It’s uplifting, toe-tapping , ‘let’s dance around the house’ music!

What’s incredible is that these songs have continued to live on through the ages and nothing makes my heart smile more than when I hear my 16 year old son crooning “Strangers in the Night” at the top of his lungs. (There’s also plenty of songs that are played at full volume in our house that make my face contort…mmm)

One of the first things I do every morning is walk down the street to my favourite coffee shop and order a skinny cappuccino. It’s a daily ritual (no I don’t have a decent coffee machine at home) and even if I did I’m not sure I’d break with this routine because it’s how I engage with the world.

There are several reasons why I love walking into this coffee shop on a cold winters morning~ the decor is warm & inviting, the staff are always super happy to see me, the coffee is superb and they ALWAYS have great jazz playing in the mornings! It’s a brilliant way to start my day.

There is a lot of scientific research out there that recognises the benefits of listening to music, it really is good for the soul!

There’s nothing like turning the music up loud at home, singing like no one is listening and dancing like no one is watching! (although I do think my dancing gives my dog anxiety). When was the last time you did this?

So to help you get in a happy mood this winter, I’ve created a Spotify playlist with some my favourites - just for you.

What are the songs that light you up and make you want to sing & dance?

Here are some other ideas for you to incorporate music into your winter days:

• Why not start your own ‘Surviving Winter’ playlist on Spotify or Itunes

• Instead of sitting down and watching Netflix, grab your phone & bluetooth speaker & play some happy vibes or if you still have a stereo….pump up the volume!

• Do you love singing? Have you ever thought about joining a choir? A great place to meet new friends as well. Music can also increase our social bonds

• Music somehow makes things easier. Next time you have some annoying housework to do, put on your favourite tunes and watch that work get done at light speed!

• It’s never too late to start learning how to sing or play a musical instrument! You only live once…do it now! And HEY I just might be able to help you there if you’re interested in singing lessons :)

• You may also enjoy some uplifting music from Sancha & the Blue Gypsies. We’re not on Itunes or Spotify but you can listen to our music on Soundcloud or You Tube

The wonderful illustrations in this post were created by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar and you can find more of their inspiring work at lastlemon.com

Some of my favourite quotes about music: