Who’s got the winter blues? For me, the slide down begins after the New Year and steadily declines building rapid speed from there, falling into the pit of the dreaded dead of winter. It’s that time of year when getting out of your warm bed is not for the weak, and trudging through every day life seems monotonous, exhausting, boring, and well- just hard. For many people, winter is a very difficult season to muster the strength to feel joy and excitement about much of anything. SAD struggle is real, people. It’s real.
If you are in that place with a heavy heart, unmotivated and listless, just waiting for a flower to bud despite it not coming for months- I get it.
So let’s work this mess out. Let’s try to fight these bitter blues with some intentional steps toward finding light in the dark of winter, okay? I’m going to actively indulge myself with the following choices, and I invite you to do the same if you struggle from the winter blues.
Let’s do this.
Is winter getting to you? Beat those winter blues with these helpful tips…
Pick three things you can be thankful for in the morning and at the end of the day.
WRITE THEM DOWN. Seriously. Keep a little journal somewhere near you at all times to write down those Thankfuls- big AND small. There’s something about the act of writing them down that makes more of an impact on our well being. We all know that gratitude is one of the greatest antidotes to suffering, right? It’s the best used weapon we all have in our arsenal, to conquer feelings of sadness or hopelessness. So starting and ending our day with focusing on such a simple task will have immeasurable affects on our psyche. If I’m having a particularly hard day, I will dive into the gratitude well more often. Positive thinking truly makes a difference, and documenting it will validate the good in your life. Come this spring, wouldn’t it be nice to read that journal and realize how you were able to see the bounty of blessings while you battled the blues? (Gotta thing for B’s.)
Do something EVERY DAY to take care of yourself.
And I don’t mean the things you already do. Pick NEW things that would be a treat to you, that you wouldn’t normally do. Are you a quick shower girl? Then switch to a long bubble bath. Maybe dive into that book you’ve been meaning to read that’s been sitting on your shelf for months. Or indulge in a special splurge at Starbucks even though you usually make your own java at home. Perhaps taking an hour to browse the bookstore is your cup of tea. What if you rented a movie just for YOU to watch after you put the kids to bed. Meet up with a friend for lunch or manage to get yourself to the gym despite your busy schedule. Spend 15 minutes in the SUN if it’s out. Take a walk on your lunch break- get fresh air no matter how cold it is. Surprise your husband/wife/partner with a secret late night massage or take the kids out for ice cream, just because. I could go on and on with ideas… be creative, be random, be intentional each and every day to do something for yourself. Consider it a treatment program that you signed up for, and must complete.
Pick your people carefully and spend time with them.
We all have people in our lives that are a little tough to take. Sometimes, we need to steer clear of them, especially when we aren’t feeling our best. I know this isn’t always possible, but oftentimes we can control our exposure to how often we are around them. Do what you can to minimize your time spent with people that seem to affect you negatively, or at least plan times as best you can to communicate with them when you are feeling strong so you can handle the interaction better. On the flip side, we all have people that lift our spirits. THESE are the people we want to reach out to, spend time with and connect with as much as possible. Make those calls, plan those hang out times, and allow the positive encouragement to fill you and feed you.
Shake up your schedule.
In the dead of winter, the hum drum schedule can take a toll on our enthusiasm for life. It rolls out the same itinerary every day, and that gets excruciatingly monotonous and tiring. It putters along as we go through the same motions every day, causing us to carry on without any excitement or zest for our lives. SHAKE IT UP! Do you eat the same lunch every day? Try something new. Do you always drive the same way to work? Go a different route. Do you make the same recipes every week? Create a new one. It can be as simple as that. Or dare to venture out into some bigger changes! Instead of picking the kids up from school and going straight home, surprise them with an outing to your local indoor pool! Pull together a girls night out for you and your friends. Take a day off of work and go see a movie or if you have a night free, have an impromptu dinner date with a close friend. It can be SO refreshing to add a change- whether big or small- to our daily drudgery.
Start something new.
You may be tired, and have no motivation to do anything other than what’s mandatory to keep life’s wheels spinning during these slow moving winter months, but THIS is the time to try something new. Take a risk and go for it! Sign up for that class you have wanted to take. Go to that book club that you’ve heard about through a friend. What new hobby are you interested in? Go buy the stuff- read up on it, and try it! What is something you’ve always wanted to do. Can you sign up for lessons? It’s worth the cost. Learn how to play guitar. Take an art class. Maybe you’ve been meaning to join a bible study, a moms group, a support group… DO. IT. Try a new form of exercise at your local gym. You get the idea, right? The new route you take will be invigorating and add new excitement and energy to your life. Promise!
These are things I will be doing to help battle my own winter blues. I do want to encourage you to reach out and seek help if you are suffering greatly from Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a real thing, and I know people who suffer severe depression during these months. Please take good care of yourself, by looking into the treatments offered for this! There are many options that have proven to be beneficial. Don’t be alone in your battle, okay?
Here’s to making it through winter, my friends!
Be grateful.
Take care of yourself.
Find your positive people.
Shake up that schedule.
Start something new.
We can do this!
I love all of these Chris. For me, surrounding myself with positive people is a big need. Thanks for the nudge!
YES! Oh thathelps so much Katy! DO IT. It’s so worth the effort. 🙂
Love these suggestions. It’s good to know I’m not alone in the bleak winter months.
Oh Christine, you are definitely not alone! I’ve been doing these things, and it really does help! But I’ll NEVER want to get out of my warm and cozy bed in the early morning dark and cold hours… I don’t think anything will ever change that. lol
We can!
It’s hard for me to chime in effectively, because we’re going to sunny Florida on Saturday. So maybe I need to comment again when we’re back and winter is looming before me!
I’ve been exercising lately, even in the winter. Getting outside is awesome and I’ve been getting some sun too, however cold. And breathing in some brisk air.
It’s changing me!
FLORIDA!!! YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY RIGHT NOW!!! WOOHOO!! HAVE FUN!!! 🙂
(I’m so proud of you for exercising regularly! LOVE that Tamara!)
Oh how extraordinarily helpful, hopeful and positive! Yet another reminder that I simply must go to that do tonight that I’m sort of dreading as I only know one person and it’s a kind of salon, where we all sit around and chat. I’m going. Thank you, thank you.
Off to share.
I’m SO glad you went and had a great time, Kelly!! I can’t tell you how many times I ‘opted out’ to just stay in my own comfort zone. Sometimes we need a little nudge. 🙂 GOOD FOR YOU for going for it, my friend!
I have been so intentional about taking care of me during the winter months that I’ve dropped just about everything else. I need to take your advice about DOING something different. Reading books and drinking coffee and indulging myself aren’t paving the way to feeling better this winter.
Oh but drinking coffee and indulging in good books? That sounds delightful to me! But yes- SHAKE IT UP! I find that helps tremendously. I’m feeling more ‘productive’ since starting this Pinterest course, and that feels GOOD. 🙂
What great advice and although I have never suffered from full blown SADD, I can honestly tell you I am not a fan of the winter and cold. So this time of the year is definitely my least favorite and usually counting down the days until spring and warmer weather arrive. Still, as much as I complain I think as I am getting older, I am getting a bit more tolerant of the winter time and yet I will never fully love it though. So, thank you though for putting a bit more positive light on this for all of us.
This winter isn’t as bad for me, because the weather hasn’t been too terrible- so that’s a perk! 🙂 I’m with you Janine. NOT my favorite season- but thankful I don’t dive too deep to be diagnosed with SAD. I feel for those that do. I know it can be terrible.
Oh Chris! Thanks for this much needed reminder that we can get through this, together. As a perennial sunshine seeker, I too struggle greatly with SAD every winter. I love all your ideas and they’re so good to hear because sometimes we just need that prompting that it’s okay to give ourselves permission to take special care. I also love your suggestion to consider it a treatment program that you signed up for and must complete, because no doubt a handful or more of those suggestions put together would bring results much the same as any other treatment program we’d be paying for 😉 Thanks for this, friend. xoxo
EXACTLY Sybil!! Why not sign up for our own ‘treatment program’? I think looking at it that way really does shift things. 🙂 I LOVE the way you described yourself- “The perennial sunshine seeker” SO love that! Yes yes yes. Me too!
Hi Chris! You are right, SAD is a real thing. I am fortunate not to suffer with it, but we all can have a streak of ‘blues’ and your tips work well for that too.
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been thinking about a facial…but it seems so indulgent and silly. You know, maybe I should just be nice to me and get one anyway. Treating myself with respect and joy is needed!
Thank you for this uplifting post 🙂
Ceil
GET IT!! We deserve to treat ourselves, right? A little indulgence goes a long way… 🙂
These are great suggestions and so easy to apply! I’ve been thinking about getting back to the gym but it feels like such an extravagance, both in time and money. I have to remember to take care of myself! Thanks for the inspiration friend.
It’s a worthy investment, but I get the ‘self indulgence’ aspect of it, Stephanie. But the pay off is our own health and wellness… 🙂
I moved to Denver for sunshine and it really does help. I love all of your ideas…but particularly surrounding yourself with people that fill you up instead of empty you out. It is tricky but so so so worthwhile.
I totally agree Anna. It IS tricky, but oh so worthwhile. 🙂 *I’ve always wanted to move to Colorado… I know it would help!
The winter months can be so so long, Chris! I love all of these ideas and now I’m trying to think what type of class I might like to try. Hmmmm… I’ll let you know!
Yes do let me know, Kristi!! I am taking Pinning Perfect right now. Learning SO much. Wow.
Love these suggestions! I’m a weirdo who actually likes winter, but I think we all get stuck in a rut from time to time. The are great tips for all year round!
You like winter? Girl, I wish you could come hang with me!! 🙂 Great point about these tips helping for any time we are stuck in a rut. That’s such a great thought to share, Lisa! Now go enjoy the dark cold mornings and the freezing air. LOL
That is what I was looking for Chris. I never saw winter as a “down” period. But I can say I’m right into it these days, maybe because I am in touch with myself a bit more.
I take your precious advices with me, I keep them next to me. Thanks a million for these precious ideas.
Oh Marie, I think maybe that’s it! I love that you have such insight now, my friend. And yeah- the more aware of our feelings we are, the more emotional WE BECOME! lol At least that’s been MY experience! 🙂
I love all of these suggestions! I have learned not too push myself too hard during this season as well, and take care of myself in little ways like indulging in more fiction reading, and taking afternoon naps (without guilt). A vase of yellow, fresh flowers is helpful too. Knowing it is just a season is helpful, and the spunk of spring is around the corner!
Oooh- I just love that you care for yourself in such beautiful ways, Lynn! You inspire me. 🙂
Lordy, I have the Winter Blues – bad. And I live south of the Mason-Dixon line! I really like the idea of writing down what we’re grateful for – and the do something for your self each day. I’ve been trying to make exercise a priority again, and I do think it’s helping…a little.
Good for you for making exercise a priority, Allie! (I need to do that. I REALLY need to do that.) Hang in there hun. Wish we could meet for coffee and sugar and fill each other up. <3
I’ve had serious winter blues in the past, less so in sunny San Diego..but either way, life has it’s challenges and we all need these Fantastic ideas to brighten our days, help loosen the hold on our struggles. I like the shake up the schedule one..I’m a creature of habit and was so bored doing my regular work out this morning..I need to get back into yoga! And I want to invite more friends over..missing gathering with friends! Blessings dearest Chris!
I am a creature of habit too, Kathy! The schedule shake up is really refreshing to do. 🙂 And I am making more ‘dates’ with friends that fill me… It really makes a difference. I’m also taking an online Pinterest course! GO ME! LOL Still hard to get out of bed in the morning. Ha! That will never change.
I dream of living in sunny San Diego. I really do!!
I’m Canadian. I don’t think we are allowed to get the Winter Blues. We are supposed to be proud of our hard winters and fortitude. They may kick me out if I admit to dreaming of sun and surf!! LOL
But, I did have a Starbuck’s yesterday. SSShhhhhh…. don’t tell on me. 🙂
HA!! Yeah… I couldn’t do Canada. You guys are STRONG PEOPLE. (I promise I won’t tell a soul…just send a Starbucks gift card my way please.) 🙂
“Pick your people carefully.” Oh, is that ever speaking to me in the moment. Yes, to that! Sadly, I’m sensing myself trusting people a little less lately, disappointed by the actions and subtleties of people I thought were good, loyal friends I could count on. The flip side of that, it turns me closer to my spouse, such a good guy, and to that place within me that’s only restored by letting go and letting God. Thanks Christine:)
Oh friend, I have BEEN THERE. Sigh… It’s incredibly painful and frustrating and disappointing. Cling to your people. Let go- let God. Oh, I can’t tell you how many times I have done those very things to find my peace and feel comfort. <3 I love how you said that--> “to that place within me that’s only restored by letting go and letting God.” Your captured it so beautifully, Julie.
Oh, this was so good. Our winters are pretty amazing here, but rain does this to me if it goes on for too long. It’s crazy how hard that can be on me. This is such a good list with some great ideas. I especially loved the last one about starting something new, but they were all great ideas! ❤️