I am not a fan of winter. The coldness is especially harsh this year. My day is set when waking up to unplowed snow when I need to leave for work. Not to mention I dislike the restrictions when bundling up in layers. I start to feel depressed when winter comes along. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love the first snow fall, snow capped trees, and a white Christmas, but when January hits, I long for spring.
January represents new beginnings. After all it is the start of the new year, New Year brings hope and takes your mind down the path of expectancy of positive change! Yet when the snow keeps falling and the roads aren’t plowed as fast as I would like, it just seems better to stay warm and cozy in my home. Which would be fine if I didn’t have to “adult”. My children still need to be fed, and I rather enjoy having a roof over my head,so off to work I go.
It just hits differently when the nights come by fast, especially with the early dusk. So what are some ways to push away the winter blues?
Create a family night.
When the weather is so cold and everyone is stuck in the house, it is a great opportunity to create an impromptu family night.
- Grab the popcorn and find a movie for all to enjoy and cuddle up under the living room blankets and enjoy,
- Dust off the games in your cupboard and play a game that can spark the child in all of you. Who knows maybe this can be a new staple in the household
- Feeling nostalgic? Put on the snowgear and dress warm and take the family outside for a building a snowman contest. Or divide and conquer with a snowball fight.
- Head to your book collection and pick out a favorite. Make it a communal reading night. Let the snow fall as the winter tales come to life.
Self-Care
- Perfect time to run a hot bath with all of the healing essentials. Grab a glass of wine or coffee, a favorite book or binge-worthy show, and some candles, if you please, and give yourself a much needed relaxation night.
- Let the kitchen stay clean tonight and order in for the night. Treat yourself to your favorite take out and wake up to a clean kitchen.
- Take yourself out for a mani/pedi. The blues often disappear when we feel pretty. I know getting my nails done always hits the spot!
- Go through your closet and re-organize, find your winter gear and possibly get excited about wearing your favorite pair of boots, with that winter dress you love. Feeling better can be just an outfit away.
Exercise
- When we start to exercise, it does release endorphins. It helps us feel refreshed and ultimately puts us in a better mood.
- Youtube has many free options for a quick workout.
Change your mindset
- Start to think about all the ways that you love winter. Reframing how something looks and feels is a sure fire away to create those positive neural pathways.
- Write down all the things you love about winter. When we hand write things, it becomes something that our brain realizes we need to memorize so it will hold the information in our brain. This may change the way you think in small ways.
The shorter days and colder temperatures can affect us all, but for many, it goes deeper than just a seasonal slump. While the winter blues are a common feeling of lethargy or low mood, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a more serious, clinical form of depression triggered by the change in seasons. If your winter blues feel overwhelming and it is affecting your sleep, your appetite, or your ability to enjoy daily life, we would love to help. We have many great counselors here at Olive Branch Counseling and Associates who are available to offer a safe place and support you need. Please call (708) 633-8000.
We are located at 6819-167th St. in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477,
Jennifer Hauser, Undergrad Intern,2026
Reference
Scotti, J. F. (2024, January 8). 10 ways to beat the winter blues. Psychology Today. (psychologytoday.com in Bing)
CounselingMatters.live 
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