5 tips to banish the bleak this winter and your chance to win!

Winter is upon us in the Southern Hemisphere – and while it has taken it’s sweet time getting here, the chill is definitely settling in. Winter provides us a wonderful opportunity to take things at a slower pace, to sleep-in, to curl up and to hibernate. Honouring this season is vital to our flow of energy – giving us a chance to rest and recuperate before the arrival of spring. 

The sun is loosing it’s strength and on days like today where grey clouds fill the skies, it can be a challenge to keep our moods elevated and our energy flowing. Taking things slowly is not always going to work if it lasts for a few months and there are things to do.  



So how do we keep up our energy and banish the “bleak” feeling when we need to get stuff done?



Add some summer colour – that’s how.



I recently wrote a post about the energy of different colours (read here) and the colours we are looking for to boost our energy range from red, through oranges to yellow and some greens. Don’t forget pinks too.  While the other colours of Blue, Indigo, Purple and Violet are traditionally more calming and cooler, rather than banishing them – add them as well if they make you feel great and alive – keep them bright if you can – it will raise your own spirits and see you through to spring.

Let me share with you 5 easy ways to bring colour into your life this winter and banish the bleak – look out for #5 – it’s where the chance to win comes in!

1.   Fill your space with live colour







– nothing beats fresh flowers – and while Spring and Summer are overflowing with flowers, you can still get your hands on some gorgeous blooms during winter. Shout yourself a bouquet from the florist to adorn your desk or your home, or get some pots and seedlings and create your own living rainbow. Flowers to grow yourself include pansies, daisies, camellias, poppies, orchids, Anthurium (also know as Flamingo flower), and Hyacinths. The ones that are a bit tricky to grow and best left to the florist are tulips and Iris. Check out the glorious colours – and if you don’t have a green thumb, or don’t want to part with your cash at the florist, surround yourself with images of bright colourful flowers – in fact feel free to print out my collection below.

2.   Drink in some colour 

– hot beverages of all kinds will be consumed during winter so why not get your self a bright colourful mug or cup to drink from.  Whether your choice be chai, hot chocolate, coffee or herbal tea, wrapping your hands around a colourful cup and drinking in the colour with your eyes will warm you right to your toes.

3.   Infuse Your Interior

– add colour to your home to create invigorating warmth. Painting the walls in warm colours may not be such a great idea once summer hits and the western sun is blazing in through your windows, but adding warm colours to your decor can be fairly simple.



Cushions and Blankets are an easy item to add/replace/rotate through the seasons. Add some yellow or orange cushions to your sofa or even rainbow coloured ones – or maybe one of those gorgeous mexican blankets – so colourful and so warm.



If you feel like getting creative – try some do-it-yourself artwork. Blank Canvases are available in most discount stores at affordable prices, and with some bright paints you could create a masterpiece for your walls. If you don’t fancy your skills at free hand painting try this simple technique.

1. Using your lightest colour (e.g. – Yellow) paint the entire background and allow it to dry completely
2. Use masking tape to create stripes on your canvas and use your other colours to fill in the stripes. Allow to dry completely.
3. Gently remove the masking tape and there you have it – Masterpiece complete and ready to hang

4.   Paint yourself a different colour

– winter is the time to get creative with your make-up – try some brighter shades of eyeliner, lipstick, blusher, bronzer and eyeshadows to add some extra glow to your skin now that your summer tan has long gone. And of course my very very favourite – paint your nails – bright warm colours – there is an unending array of colours available – try some sunshine yellow or fiery oranges to bring a pleasing visual punch to your hands.



Next visit to the hairdresser – warm up the tone of the colour you usually put in your hair – go a shade brighter and dare to shine that bit brighter. A new look can put a spring into your step that will have everyone wondering if the season has changed and winter is already over.

5.   Wrap Yourself in colour

– out come the scarves, beanies and winter woolies to envelop you in thick cozy warmth. So why not make these items bright and colourful. Banish the greys and get with some brights. If you need to get yourself a new jumper or scarf this winter – go out on a limb and steer away from the safe neutral – get stripey or dotty –  but definitely get bright. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing really vibrant clothes, get some bright footsie socks to wear under you boots – or to bed – for your eyes only. Something to bring you a little moment of colourful joy at the end of the day when you take off your shoes or at the start of the day when you emerge from under the covers.



Once again get creative if you like – knit or crochet your own in fabulous bright colours. So many yarns and wools available at craft stores and so many free patterns available on line. Knitting is a great hobby for winter – almost meditative once you get into the swing of it.  Let your eyes absorb the bright colours.

And now it’s giveaway time…did anyone pick up on that “footsie” sock reference back there? I have 8 gorgeous pairs of colourful quirky footsie socks from the gorgeous Gorman label to give away! Gorman is an australian fashion design label that certainly celebrates all things colour. That’s right – just leave a comment below with how you like to #banishthebleak in winter and bring some colour back in. Make sure you have subscribed to the tribe as the winners will be notified by email. Or you can also upload an image on Social Media with #banishthebleak and tag @colouredinlife. Entries close Sunday 15th June 5pm and winners announced via email. Entry available Australia wide only.