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Do you find yourself never wanting to leave your bed when winter rolls around? ( Especially after that post-holiday buzz is over?)
Every winter do you consider moving to a tropical island?
I did too. Born in Texas, I am a summer girl through and through. I feel my most confident and motivated during those long summer days. And when winter comes around, I make sure to keep my heater temp up high and stay cuddled in bed for just a minute longer…
Then once the sun goes down ( and a lot of the time the days are cloudy and dark) around 5:00pm I’m ready to hop back into bed taking with what little motivation I had left in me.
These 5 ways to overcome winter blues once & for all helped me to shift my reality of what I thought winter was ( 24/7 of cold darkness and gloom) into a season I look forward too!
1. Eat Seasonal
Eating seasonally gives you the nutrients you need to help you feel more in tune with your body and it’s actually easier ( and cheaper!) than you think.
In winter, for example, our body is craving that extra Vitamin C to boost our immune system. Incorporating citrus fruits ( such as in season oranges or grapefruit) have high levels of Vitamin C, helping to keep our immune system nice and strong for the winter season.
When you’re cold you burn more calories which is why we crave heavier meals in the winter like stews and soups.
Aligning our eating habits leads to improved nutrition, increased energy, and the power to see the positive of every season. I ( highly) recommended checking out the article linked below
“ A Guide to Eating Seasonally In Winter” written by Calico and Twine. It’s an easy guide that goes into depth about the health benefits and foods that are beneficial for winter. Their website is also filled with delicious seasonal recipes you can make!
2. Perspective
“Even if the environment in front of us looks like hell, we can always dream of another version and, if we really tune into the smallest, most beautiful details of our life, we can find evidence of that reality’s existence.”
Ester Perel
Think about perspective. Instead of viewing winter as a cold, rainy bubble of darkness ( like I very much did) consider if winter was actually a time of renewal and growth.
A time to look inwards and reconnect with yourself and loved ones ( even after the post holiday buzz!) We get stuck inside that one story our mind tells us, without thinking about any other possible narrative. But when you start to replace “cold” as a chance to bundle up and light up the fireplace, or “dark” as a motivation to spend time outside earlier or more time to relax, things start changing for the better.
3. Winter rituals
Who says winter can’t be fun? Having a ritual in place gives you the best memories to look back on, helps you to connect with family and friends, but most importantly it keeps you content all winter long.
The best part is there are multiple winter activities to try!
It can be as simple as getting a warm drink with a loved one once a week, family ice skating days, or trying something new ( and out of your comfort zone) like sleeding!
Maybe every year, you plan a small winter weekend getaway.
Whatever it is, your winter ritual is what keeps winter blues at bay by giving you things to look forward to.
4. Light therapy lamp
“In many cases, light therapy can replace medication for people with seasonal and nonseasonal depression, bipolar depression, and depression during pregnancy. In other cases, adding light therapy can boost the effect of drugs alone.” Michael Terman, PhD,
When it gets dark earlier, it can have a huge impact on our health.
Especially, if you live in a colder climate or the sun is long gone when you’re clocking out in the evening. That’s where light therapy comes into play.
The science behind it all?
Light therapy boxes copy natural sunlight by containing specific levels of light under controlled conditions. The best part is it doesn’t have to be expensive!
There are plenty of affordable options on Amazon for under $50.
By incorporating light therapy into your routine you will notice a massive decrease in winter blues symptoms, such as:
- Better Sleep ( insomnia)
- Improved symptoms of ADHD
- Reduces Dementia
- Overall mental wellbeing such as reduced anxiety
5. Plan for the new year ahead
After shifting your perspective of winter as a time of dark and gloom to renewal and growth, then you can really self reflect into the past year and set an intention for what’s next. Use this time to dive deep into what worked and what areas in your life need improvement. Therapy can be extremely beneficial and today there are plenty to choose from, if talk therapy isn’t right for you. Another tool that will up your self reflection game is Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author, Ester Perels, card game, “Where Should We Begin- . ” It’s a game that allows people to have insightful conversations by asking deep and interesting questions and is a great get together activity to get to know yourself and friends / family better.
So, which of these 5 tips are you bringing using to combat winter blues?