There are a lot of reasons why some people tend to feel a little gloomy during the winter months. The days are shorter, it’s cold outside, and it gets dark early. All the excitement and hustle and bustle that came along with the holidays have passed and many people are heading back to work or school after a long break. It can become a little harder to get out of bed in the mornings and there may seem as if there is less to look forward to. You may be feeling low on energy, unmotivated, and just sad in general. While this time of the year can be tough, there are things you can do to make the most of it and regain your positive mindset.
Finding Things to Enjoy About Winter
Even if winter isn’t your favorite time of the year, you can still work on finding things to enjoy about it.
- If you live in an area that gets snow, make the most of it. Gather up some friends and go sledding, tubing, or skiing. Finish off the day getting cozy with hot chocolate and a movie night.
- Visit an ice skating rink, either indoors or outdoors.
- If you enjoy taking pictures, consider doing your own mini-photo shoot to capture the beauty of new-fallen snow.
- If you don’t like being outside in the cold, consider picking up a new indoor hobby like knitting, yoga, or painting. You may even consider taking a class to learn this hobby so that you’ll be able to connect with people and may even make some new friends.
- Make the most of long days spent inside by doing tasks you would typically put off when it’s warm outside. This could mean going through your closet and pulling out clothes you no longer wear, decluttering your home, or finally organizing that junk drawer you always avoid opening. By keeping yourself busy you’ll have a better chance at avoiding the winter blues.
- Take this time to connect with others. When was the last time you called your grandma? Reach out to those you love in any way you can, even if it means doing so through social media, Zoom, or a handwritten note.
- It can be helpful during this time to focus on positive things to look forward to. Spend some time planning fun activities that you’ll partake in during the spring and various projects you’d like to accomplish in the new year.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
If you struggle with the winter blues, making sure you’re doing everything possible to take care of your mental health this time of the year is critical.
- Speak with a therapist, if necessary. Doing this regularly can help you work through different emotions you may have and learn how to cope with stress effectively.
- Try keeping a gratitude journal to remind yourself to focus on positive aspects of life and not fall into a spiral of self-pity.
- Make sure you are eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep. When you are taking care of your physical health, your mental health will benefit as a result.
- Take vitamin D supplements. This supplement can help restore some of the benefits that you would typically be getting from spending time out in the sun.
- Consider getting a light therapy lamp. This device can be purchased at many stores as well as on Amazon. Its goal is to mimic the effects of the sun on the brain. You simply turn it on and spend about 30 minutes a day sitting close to it. You can do this while reading or while doing your work.
- Figure out what is draining your energy. There may be certain things that you’re doing daily that are harming your mental health without you even realizing it. Consider when throughout the day you are feeling your lowest. Is it after spending an hour scrolling through social media or binge-watching television? Consider spending that time in more fruitful ways that will make you feel a greater sense of fulfillment. Perhaps, the main energy sucker in your life is a person. They could be someone who is frequently negative, complains often, or talks badly about other people. You may find that their energy is rubbing off on you after you spend time with them. If this is the case, consider limiting the time you spend with them. Try to spend as much time as you can with positive, supportive people who will lift you up.
The winter months can be a rough time for a lot of people. The days are shorter, it is dark out earlier and the excitement of the winter months has passed. It is easy to fall into the winter blues and become depressed and unmotivated. If this is a hard time of the year for you, consider doing little things to make the most of this season. This could be going outside to enjoy the snow by sledding or tubing. If this isn’t your thing, consider taking up a new indoor hobby. During this time be sure you are taking care of your mental health by doing things like keeping a gratitude journal, avoiding negative people, and going to therapy if necessary. When you keep busy, spring will be here before you know it. If you’re struggling with a mental health problem, our team at Achieve Concierge can help. Call (619) 393-5871 today to learn more.