The days are shorter and the dark evenings are longer. It’s never a surprise when this time of year rolls around but that doesn’t make it any easier. January through March have always been the harder months for me. The high of the holiday season has worn off, even the momentum from New Years and new goals loses its appeal after a couple of weeks. And then we are left with dark skies at 5pm and the cold and ourselves.
In recent years, I have found ways to love winter, even after the holidays. It quite literally used to be the most depressing time ever, and felt like there was nothing to look forward to. But I’ve come to learn how to appreciate every season of life and that the darker ones make the bright ones even brighter.
But there are also countless ways to make the darker days themselves brighter, and to feel like yourself despite the cold and lack of vitamin D.
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1. Put your eyes in the sunlight whenever possible.
Getting sunlight is wonderful for your circadian rhythm and your mood. We have limited time with Mr. Sun in the winter but that doesn’t mean he is completely MIA. When you’re making breakfast, look out the window as much as you can. When you walk to your car, glance at the sun. During your lunch break, bundle up and go for a walk outside if the sun is out. Getting the sun on your skin helps it to produce essential vitamin D. And nature is a natural mood-booster.
If you live in a more overcast climate or it’s not possible to get outside during the hours of light, try getting yourself a light therapy lamp for your office or home. I don’t have much direct experience with these but see Health.com’s top 7 light therapy lamps here.
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2. Find a new hyperfixation.
A great way to combat any kind of sadness is to find something to be obsessed with. Right now, my fiance and I are searching for a new home to purchase. I spend most mornings and a lot of evenings sifting through Zillow and making financial charts. We’re also slowly but surely packing up our current space. For me, this is fun (for now) because I am looking forward to a huge next step in my life. It also distracts me from the fact that it is pitch dark by 6pm and that I haven’t gotten to lounge in the sun for a few months now.
Maybe you made a New Year’s resolution. Make that your hyperfixation for these winter months. A few examples of things for you to get obsessed with in winter:
- Starting your own business.
- Decluttering your WHOLE home.
- Start writing a book.
- Create a gym regimen.
- Start an obsession-worthy book series.
- Find a new hobby, like crocheting or rock climbing.
- Redecorate or refurbish a part of your home.
- Plan your next vacation in detail.
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3. Eat seasonal food.
Eating seasonal food will look a little bit different depending where in the world you live. Seasonal food means seasonal fruits, veggies, grains, and other whole foods. Nothing wrong with the indulgence of hot chocolate or sweets, but eating healthy is implied here.
Certain foods naturally flourish during certain times of year. This means they will have the most amount of nutrients when they’re actually grown in season, rather than manufactured in an artificial environment. The food will also taste way better than if you are eating foods out of season. A winter strawberry for example, either had to be shipped from far away, or grown in a non-traditional way.
The more nutrients we have, the better we feel (for the most part), so beyond eating “healthy,” eat seasonally. An easy way to do this is to visit a local market – trust me, you can find them even in the winter – and see what is for sale there. You can also simply google foods that are in season for winter. You’ll find things like potatoes, carrots, oranges, and beets.
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4. Stay connected to others.
We are naturally social creatures and need human connection to thrive. I know winter is more of a hibernation season, but that doesn’t mean we should isolate ourselves completely. Even if you are in your “lock in” era or trying to catch up on your routine or your sleep, it is important to make some time for people-ing.
After hanging out with friends or family members, I almost always feel so good. That’s the community we need. If you don’t have family nearby, try making plans with a friend this winter season. Another idea is to join a type of local community, like a run club or a book club. Just being around people will lift your mood. It doesn’t have to be every single day or even every week. But it does help to bring comfort knowing we’re all in this life together!
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5. Tweak your routine to enjoy the little things.
Day in and day out, if we aren’t enjoying the little mundane things, how can we enjoy the winter? All of the other seasons have big things going on for them, like beach trips, holidays, fun events, and more. But in winter, we really see our life for what it is. It’s a great time to make sure you’re actually enjoying your day to day life and not just living for the weekends and holidays.
Some specific things to look at here are: what you listen to on your drive to work, the food you eat each day, shows you watch or the book you’re reading each day. Look even smaller at things like the water bottle you drink out of, or your phone background. I love my water bottle! And I love my phone background, it makes me happy every time I check my phone.
Search for things that seem super small in your day and for ways to tweak those super small things to make them as enjoyable as possible. Another phrase for this is romanticizing the little things <3
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Winter is often painted as long, cold, and dark, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, it might take a tiny bit more work to find your spark or motivation, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are lots of big and little things you can do every day to beat the winter blues; you just have to make the decision to try <3
