December’s coming! This could mean snow, cheer, holidays, and more! Although, for a lot of us, it means isolation, cold weather, and a deep feeling of sadness that we can’t quite shake from ourselves. Seasonal depression, or just winter blues, can be really hard on yourself, or the people around you. It’s really hard to stay positive and keep your head held high when all you want to do is curl up in your warm bed and head off to sleep. If this resonates with you, stay and relax while you read about 5 ways to keep yourself grounded this winter time.
Stay Connected with Light:
With winter days starting our sunlight a lot later, and ending it a lot earlier, we can see our mood go into a dark place itself. Our body needs sunlight to reduce stress and help us feel calm and focused. When you’re going around the day, try to expose yourself to as much light as you possibly can. Open blinds, sit near windows, or just sitting in a sunny place can be the first step into brightening up your winter season.
Make a Bucket List:
When the cold weather hits, a lot of plans get cancelled and rescheduled to fit the crummy weather. Staying home and relaxing is nice once in awhile, but once it goes into weeks without plans, we can feel isolated and alone.
When you don’t feel well enough to brave the cold weather, you are not alone. Look around your community or neighborhood for any winter events scheduled. With holidays coming up, there are many markets you could find yourself at to support local vendors, or sales going on with fun activities like ice-skating and other fun outside entertainment, or just walking around public places like the library to have a cozy day of reading. With plans in the future, it gets harder to self-isolate and the winter blues are kept at bay.
Stay Creative:
There are many ways to keep your mind flowing when the snow days are keeping us in. Bake or cook a recipe you found online, make a snowman outside and have a competition with some friends or family, or simply make a winter craft. Gingerbread houses are a fun and easy way to be artistic, and have a fun treat afterwards to help yourself to. Keep your mind busy. Winter is designated for fun, creative days when you just feel the need to create something beautiful.
Build a Cozy Routine:
It’s hard to stay in a schedule when the weather is changing it every single day. The little things in a routine matter. Wake up every morning with a cozy playlist, read before bed, or journal about your day! These habits can help us keep grounded. If you miss a day, don’t worry at all. The most important step is being able to start back up again, and stay in your personal routine for as long as you can.
Set Goals for Yourself:
Goals don’t have to be big things that you put yourself to. Having an unachievable goal can make us feel unmotivated and helpless if we don’t succeed. Instead, try setting yourself little goals around the day. Setting a “Read for 10 minutes” goal every day will help you keep motivated for everyday tasks, while also helping you build skills and keep your mind challenged. Some examples of simple goals could be making your bed every day, going outside, reading, journaling, and/or making a healthy meal. These goals aren’t meant to be strenuous, just motivation and good habits to keep your mental health positive.
Seasonal depression can come out of nowhere and attack when you least expect it. Please find help if you are in risk by talking to family, friends, or a counsellor. These habits can help prevent a crisis, and build healthy routines for every day. Hopefully this article just gave you the motivation to help avoid the winter blues, before the seep in.