6 Tips for Surviving the Winter Blues

After the holiday season has passed and winter has settled in earnest you may notice a dip in your mood. You may experience winter blues, especially if you live in a climate that is cold and gray.

The glitz of the holidays, as well as the intense busyness that accompanies them, can easily be a distraction from depression in the early parts of winter. But now January and February drag on, with all the normal mundane moments. The joy of first snows wears thin as shoveling and layers become the norm. How do you manage to keep sanity and joy in this dreariness?

6 Tips for Surviving the Winter Blues

Let’s look at some strategies for coping with the winter blues.

Move your body.

The benefits of exercise are numerous, but in the winter anything that makes you sweat and raises your heart rate is beneficial. The cold and dark can make you feel sluggish and tired. While your first thought might be to crawl under a blanket and veg out, moving around gives you more energy. You do not have to form an elaborate routine or get up at five in the morning. You can simply take a walk on your lunch break.

Of course, you can also take up a winter sport, such as skating, snowshoeing, or something with skis. Be a beginner and start with a sport you have always wanted to do. Get on a stationary bike while watching a favorite show. Incorporate a few stretches in the morning and evening. Get your blood moving and you will feel better.

Eat and drink well to dispel the winter blues.

Wintertime is citrus season, so find ways to incorporate oranges and grapefruit into your diet. The grocery store variety will even be better than you may think. Try out more exotic tropical fruits as well. Squeeze a wedge of lemon into your water to make that hydration more exciting. In addition to the fresh taste, citrus has added vitamin C, which bolsters your immune system against cold and flu germs running wild.

Consider adding extra vitamin D to your daily vitamin to cope. Lack of sun, a strong source of vitamin D is missing and will contribute to the winter blues.

You might be tempted to load up on coffee with rich flavors, but that level of sweetness will make you more tired than caffeine gives you a boost. Try out some green and herbal teas with honey for an afternoon boost that is warm and comforting.

Make plans with friends and create a cozy environment.

Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. – 1 Corinthians 16:6, NIV

It is easy to become isolated with winter storms and roads becoming more impassable. Living life with other people helps combat loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Socialization may not look the same for everyone, so here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Make easy plans for game nights with friends.
• Have a pizza and movie night in.
• Plan a video call with someone dear to you.
• Join a book club within your interests.
• Find a new movie to see.
• See what events your local library is hosting.
• Keep an eye out for community calendars sharing events on minor holidays.

An environment of rest and comfort is also important. Creating a space that you feel cozy and comfortable in can be instrumental in combating those winter blues. This can be done with art, music, pillows, and blankets. Check out the Scandinavian concept of hygge for creating cozy homes in cold places.

Lighting can make a huge difference in your mood. You can find special lamps that mimic the effects of sunlight, giving you much-needed vitamin D. Lightbulbs have a spectrum ranging from cool to warm. Find the tone that you feel is most comforting and put them in every lamp in the house.

It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. – Jeremiah 36:22, NIV

Twinkling lights and candlelight don’t need to be only for Christmas. Hang some strands of twinkling lights or put battery-operated ones into a glass jar for a charming effect. Battery-operated candles are safe and give a flickering light to enjoy. You can find a crackling fireplace for any television to add ambiance to your room.

Whether you gather with others or create a cozy space in your own home, you will find comfort in the darkest and coldest days of winter.

Take up a hobby to take your mind off the winter blues.

Winter is an excellent time to take up new hobbies and crafts. Embrace being a beginner and learn something new. There are myriads of online tutorials and classes to teach you just about anything. If you know an expert, make plans to learn with them.

• Buy a cookbook and try out new recipes.
• Get some coloring pencils and a grown-up coloring book.
• Write letters or notes to your friends and neighbors.
• Check out books from the library.
• Take a chocolate-tasting class.
• Head to the craft store and browse for ideas.
• Try out knitting, crocheting, or embroidery.
• Take a dance class (which doubles as movement and exercise).

Remember a hobby should bring you joy. It is tempting in a capitalistic culture to make everything “productive.” You don’t need to monetize a hobby. It can be a slow process that brings you great satisfaction at the end of the day.

Remember God made all seasons.

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. – Genesis 8:22, NIV

Winter is a good time for journaling, prayer, and meditation. Savor a season that maybe is less demanding and busy socially, by focusing on time with God. Read a book on spiritual practices or find some poetry to accompany your devotional time. If you find the darkness depressing learn how other saints have coped with dark seasons, whether literal or metaphorical.

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. – Hosea 6:3, NIV

The cold and dark may be discouraging, but they are part of Creation, part of the good work of God. Much work of the Holy Spirit happens in dark seasons. Learning to appreciate this time will help you cope with hard times in your life. There are seasons of lament and grief, as well as seasons of rejoicing and happiness.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. – Matthew 10:28-30, NIV

Spring will come, followed by the sunny days of summer. Yet God cares for you throughout all the seasons. Learn to trust in His presence in the darkness as well as the light.

Winter offers the chance to lean into the darkness and slowness. So, make a few plans, eat good food, and move your body. Learn new things and check in with other people. Bundle up and find the good things even in the cold and the snow.

See a counselor for winter blues.

If you find that you are struggling with winter blues, don’t hesitate to talk to a counselor. The counselors at Vancouver Christian Counseling can help you navigate seasonal depression and help you with other challenges you are facing in life. Call our office today to set up an appointment. We are here to support you.