6 Ways to Overcome the Winter Blues
WELLNESS & SELF-CARE

6 Ways to Overcome the Winter Blues

Have the winter blues settled into your life, yet? You know, those periods of being moody, sad and feeling sluggish. Now, I’m not talking about severe depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder, but instead just not wanting to do much. Since all the planning and activities in November and December,  I find January and February hard times for me to get going. Of course, the winter months bring colder temperatures and cloudy skies which compound my tendency to want to do nothing.

We all know feeling down can soon lead to feeling sad and depressed. Then before we know it, pessimism has consumed our outlook. Before we get to that point, there are some action steps we can take to cope with the winter blues.

Here’s a list of six ways you can do to overcome the winter blues:

  1. Bring In Natural Light. Open your curtains, shutters, and shades and let the natural light inside your home. You will immediately get a mood booster. Turn on lamps in rooms so you’ll feel a warm glow as you move from room to room. If you have dark curtains, change them to lighter ones.
  2. Don’t become a recluse. Now is the time to reach out to family and friends. More than likely, it’s going to have to be you to make the effort to round-up a group of friends or family. That’s okay since you’ll engage in the planning process. If a social event is not possible, then send someone an email. More than likely they’ll respond, and you’ll get that social contact that minimizes isolation. You will feel much better after spending time with people we love—in person or electronically.
  3. Listen to lively music. A 2013 study at the University of Missouri showed that listening to upbeat and cheery music can improve your mood. Don’t know what music is upbeat? Visit your favorite online music source and search “upbeat” or “happy” and you’ll soon have a playlist to improve your mood.
  4. Exercise. I know exercise is always on every list, but it is a good pick-me-up. Experts advise that this doesn’t mean running a marathon, just bundle up and go outside for a walk. Oh, yes, don’t forget your sunscreen!
  5. Plan a vacation. A Dutch study showed that the mere act of planning a vacation increase our overall state of happiness. And, the same survey suggests that we get more happiness from two or more short breaks throughout the year. So, it’s not necessary to plan a month-long trip to Europe, a 2-3 day break will help boost your winter emotions.
  6. Volunteer. Our blues get darker when we start focusing on the sad parts of our lives. But when we place our focus on helping others we leave our pity party. Our attention moves from it’s-about-me to it-s about-you. You can perform a short volunteer gig—I recently helped set-up a training room and staffed a professional development event for a local community organization. I met some new people, learned new ideas, saw a new environment and got out. If volunteering is too much, then try out a new cookie recipe and give your baked goods to a neighbor or co-worker. You do this for no reason other than wanting to share the handiwork of your hands.

These tips are meant to let you know that there is a better way to spend your Winter than hibernating and feeling lonely. Even if we do only one of the suggested tips we might a little sunshine enter our lives. Here’s a spiritual quote that can put is in the proper frame of mind.

 

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Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Personal Development to WELLNESS & SELF-CARE on 09/14/2023.

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