For many people, this time of year is difficult and feels as though it drags on. It can be hard to snap out of the winter blues. Evenings are dark, cold, and long. Not only is sunshine sparse, but the excitement of the holidays is over.
Do you want some ways to cure the winter blues? Quite different from clinical depression, the winter blues are nevertheless a slow, downward drag on your spirit. You probably just want to curl up into a ball under a blanket, with a good book or bad TV show, until the flowers of springtime arrive.
But you can snap out of it. You don’t have to wait until springtime sunshine arrives to feel like there’s a flower in your soul. You’re going to have to override your natural, seasonal urges to hibernate indoors and eat melted cheese — but you can do it.
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1. Go Out and Socialize
There’s nothing that can remind you how great life is better than a night out on the town with your friends. Invite a few besties, and a couple of newcomers to the mix, and do something out of the box — a wacky improv show, winter beer festival, museum evening event, or acrobatic circus.
2. Book a Trip
Buying plane tickets to an amazing vacation destination will immediately lift your spirits — and February is actually the perfect time to book your summer vacation. Take advantage of the long, dark evenings to plan your next adventure. Create an image collage or countdown calendar near your desk for a daily reminder of your trip.
3. Take a Daily Walk
Rainy and cold outside? Get a raincoat if you need one. You won’t melt. There’s something wonderfully invigorating about strolling in the rain or snow and savoring every step while everyone else is running for cover. Resolve to take a daily walk, no matter what. It will make you feel alive — and will soon be the part of your day that you look forward to the most.
4. Organize Something
Organizing your space is a great way to cure the winter blues. The holidays and colder months often leave clutter around the home. Organizing your space, no matter how small, helps your mental health by feeling secure and productive, and also combats stress. Tackle that mess that you’ve been meaning to.
5. Play with the Kids or Dogs
Borrow a friend or relative’s dependents for the day and fill your afternoon with toys and games. It’s a great way to get back into the moment. Handing them off at the end of the day will feel relieving, and your dark, boring evening will feel like a luxurious indulgence.
6. Allow Your Funk to Exist
Give yourself one entire day to feel morose, eat chocolate cake, listen to sad music, soak in a hot bath, and think “FML” over and over again. At some point, you’ll start to feel a little silly and realize that, actually, your life is pretty good. But allowing your winter blues to “be” can often help them go away. Being happy all the time is not a reasonable goal. Your blues are natural, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling funky now and then.
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