I don’t like winter. Actually, I spent a long time complaining to Jeff about the cold and gray weather, it’s quite miserable to me.
Unfortunately for me, we have cold gray weather for a month or so every year, and every year I get the blues. I won’t go so far as to call it depressed, but I’m certainly not happy about it.
Recognize when you’re getting the blues
For me it’s always mid-January it starts. Winter has well and truly set in, there is no Christmas decorations to distract me from the cold, and it’s gray. Did I mention the gray weather? It’s horrible.
And the kids are cooped up, everyone is snipping at each other and we are tired of being in the house together.
Whenever I notice a propensity to cry for the silliest of reasons or to just want to curl up and do nothing that’s when I need to do something.
What causes the blues in you? How can you realize it’s’ happening to you? I don’t always realize it early enough to stop a full on mopey Ticia, but sometimes I do.
Take steps to defeat the winter blues
What can cheer you up? My list isn’t going to be the same as yours. Here are some of my ways to defeat winter blues:
- work on a sewing project, it always cheers me up to create something
- sweep my kitchen, for some reason having a clean floor, is cheerful (generic cleaning does not work)
- reading a comfort book, is a book I’ve read dozens of times, and I know my favorite parts
- a hot bath, or a warm fire
- a short walk, getting my blood flowing can really help
- reading my Bible, sometimes I just need a reminder of how much God loves me
Some things that don’t defeat the winter blues for me
Some things I think will work to defeat the winter blues, but they actually make it worse. This may not be the case for you, but stop and think if you are making the problem worse.
- mindlessly surfing the internet. I’ve caught myself clicking between email, Facebook, and Pinterest in an endless cycle that depresses me further
- cleaning bathrooms, I don’t like to do so in the best of times, when I’m feeling down it’s even worse. The same goes for dishes and laundry.
Actually, it’s mainly the things that seem to never end that I find horrid to do. Horrid. If it seems like I’ve actually accomplished something then it cheers me up.
Hmm… I don’t think I have winter blues, especially here in California, but generally speaking doing something physical with specific goal in mind does help. That or a glass of wine and talking to my husband in the evening.
It’s amazing what a drink of your favorite beverage can do for you and talking with your husband.
Great list! I need to bust some of these out! I am starting to feel the winter blues.. I think I am going to go organize the craft supplies. That will help me feel like I have accomplished something!
Craft supplies is one that always need organizing in my house.
Nice help list!
I have definitely had my share of winter blues and we barely even have a winter here. I know for me I have to force myself to get out in the sun every day during winter. I have found that makes the biggest difference.
We don’t have much winter either, but you’re right getting out in the sun is a good idea.
Winter does not exist in Silicon Valley, but I find getting creative and getting active to be really helpful when I’m feeling down.
Isn’t it amazing how much getting creative helps?
You’re so right. Feeling like you’re accomplishing something is so good; mindlessly circling through webpages makes things worse. I can’t complain this year – learning Spanish in Spain is a pretty good way of keeping the winter blues – but it’s probably not one I can justify every year…
If only we could justify something like that every year.
You’re bang on right about mindlessly surfing the net (and I’d add watching tv) – I think we think mindlessness will help, but it just quietly bogs you down more. I suppose having said that, the opposite could uplift you? Mindfulness? I’ll have to give it a try!
Mindlessly watching TV, you’re right that does make it worse too.
Mindfulness, I like that.
When it’s dreary outside, I forget to exercise. Exercise really helps me to feel better and less blah.