Winter Survival Guide - Best Ways to Fight the Winter Blues

Christmas is over. The days are still pretty short, with sunlight lasting only 9.5 hours. The weather is cold and blustery, and it is often snowing. Snow covers the ground. There is nothing green or flowery, just a frozen wilderness. It can get pretty depressing if one is not prepared to combat the cold and the dark. So I'm here to give you a winter survival guide that will help you get through those winter blues and make it to green and sunny spring time a few short months away.

If You Experience Seasonal Depression

My first advice is to seek medical attention if you are feeling more depressed than usual, or you are having suicidal thoughts. I have been there, and I know what that's like. Here's the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. Or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Relief From the Winter Doldrums

Here's a few things you can do to combat the mild depression you may feel in these winter months:

Get outside. Regardless of the weather, get outside for at least a half hour per day. You need sunshine and vitamin D. "The sun is your best source of vitamin D. There's good reason why vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. The sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur." From Healthline. The fresh air is good for you too.

Exercise. Getting up and getting moving is a great antidepressant. Of course, check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen. But you don't have to have any established routine if you don't want to. Just getting up off the couch is better than being sedentary all the time. Go for a quick walk outside. Get up and dance to your favorite music. I find that vacuuming is great exercise: It gets my heart rate up, and I get sweaty, but my house is clean when I'm done.

Mix it up. If you are doing the same routine, every day, all day, it can get pretty boring and you might find your morale sinking. Put something to look forward to in each day. Drop everything at 10am and go to the coffee shop. Take a different route to work. Do your tasks in a different order. Instead of listening to music on your way to work, get some audio books. Find something different and exciting to do that you can look forward to everyday.

Eat mindfully: I used to get caught in this rut, of eating the same breakfast and lunch over and over again. It was because it was easy. But it caused me to not get all the nutrients I need to sustain a healthy outlook. So now I have a meal plan that includes a wide variety of foods, including vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and good sources of protein. I plan my meals and make a grocery list every week. There's nothing more interesting than looking forward to your next meal, rather than having the same old, same old, day after day.

Drink your water: Keeping hydrated fends off all kinds of issues you don't need right now. It helps keep your digestive track functioning properly. It keeps you from getting a headache. It keeps your skin from drying out, so you feel more comfortable. But drinking glass after glass of plain old water can be boring too. So mix it up. Add a lemon or lime wedge. Use an infusing bottle and add strawberries or cucumber flavor to your water. Use a SodaStream, and make your water fizzy. Or drink green tea.

Get plenty of sleep: "In winter, the nights are longer and we get less light throughout the day and at lower intensity. This limited light exposure helps explain why we may feel like we are more tired and need more sleep. The brain doesn't get the same signal to stay awake and alert as it does in summer during the day." From Patient. Getting enough sleeps helps with our outlook as well as your overall health.

Get a UV light box: Doctors often recommend that people get a UV light box to sit in front of. several times per week, to fend off seasonal depression. Because it's UV, which can be bad for you in large doses, you should ask your doctor about this type of treatment, and follow his/her instructions.

Light a fire: There is nothing more cheerful than a crackling fire in the fireplace to give you warmth and light. For those of you without an indoor fireplace, there are some pretty convincing electric fireplaces you can buy, that give off warmth and have the same lighting effect. Or bundle up and use your outdoor fire pit. Or, for those of you who have NO access to any kind of fireplace, light some candles. Of course use caution with open flames, and follow all manufacturer guidelines.

Surround yourself with people: If you live alone, go to where the people are. Coffee shops and libraries are great places to hang out in the winter. There's usually a lot of people around, and a comfy chair where you can sit and read, or enjoy your coffee. Spend time with people you love. Catch up with a friend. Call a relative you haven't heard from in a while. Host a winter pot luck, and invite people over to play games or do a puzzle. When you interact with people, you have a tendency to forget your problems, even for just a little while.

Get away (if you can!): Winter is a great time to head south. If you have the means and the time, find yourself a beach somewhere in a sunny locale, and enjoy getting away from the cold and the traffic and the stresses of your job. It's a wonderful mood booster, first of all, to look forward to the trip, and talking about the trip after the fact, as well as actually being on the trip.

Read a book: I love to lose myself in a good book. Winter is a great time to catch up on your reading. It expands your mind and allows you to escape to another world or time. Snuggle up in your favorite chair with your slippers on, your blanket thrown over you, and your hot cocoa waiting for you to sip, and tackle that reading list.

Volunteer: Nothing helps you more, to quit feeling sorry for yourself, when you see others who have much greater problems. Find a homeless shelter where you can help serve a meal. Go to the food bank, and help put together meal packages. Talk with veterans organizations and find out what they need. Do care packages for our military personnel serving overseas. One winter, when I was on reduced work hours, I went to the local Elderhaus (a senior citizen daycare that catered to Alzheimers and dementia patients) and I played the piano during their lunch hour. I think the people really enjoyed it, and it got me out of the house and out of my mopey attitude.

Journal: Every day, write down 10-15 things that you are thankful for. It can be as simple as "I didn't spill my coffee today" or as complicated as "I'm thankful for the science of Astronomy, which shows me that I'm one tiny piece of stardust in a universe of millions of stars." Be thankful for your family, your home, the food on your table. You will find that you have a lot going for you, and much to be grateful for. Use colored pens or pencils, and write in a fun notebook. Make it colorful and cheerful. Refer back to earlier pages on days when you are particularly moody.

Blog: Write about your favorite hobbies and past times. Write about something you want to learn more about. Pass the time researching what interests you, and share it on our blog. Chances are, there're bunches of people out there that wish there was more information about your favorite subjects, and you can create a community of like-minded people to pass your winter with.

Play happy music: I find the mundane tasks and the boring schedule go much quicker and easier if I have some good tunes running in the background. I generally have instrumentals or movie sound tracks playing while I'm doing heavy concentration work like writing. Or I have some great old 70s Rock playing while I cook and clean. Jamming along helps lighten the mood, for sure.

Watch comedy: A really good belly laughing session always helps chase the blues away. YouTube has a huge selection of any type of comedy you would want to see. They have solo comedians that are fund to watch. I myself love to watch stuff like America's Funniest Videos, or TV bloopers. Going to a comedy club is the ultimate in watching great comedy, so check your local listings. Also, streaming services have tons of comedy movies. I recommend "Love Actually".

Get out: Don't barricade yourself in your house and mope around all winter. Go out and do things. Take up a winter sport. Go shopping. Take a drive. Have coffee at the coffee shop. Go to sporting events and concerts. Run your long-overdue errands. Nothing fights "cabin fever" better than getting out of the cabin.

Do Something.

One of my favorite songs is by the Eagles, called "Do Something." You can hear a cover band version, which is really spot on, by clicking here. ( I think the original isn't licensed for YouTube; it's on the Long Road Out of Eden album from 2007, in case your are interested.) The song lyrics talk about the fact that it's never too late to "do something", and that we should not just stand there taking up space. I think the song applies here. If you are depressed and moody, and feel like this winter is never going to end, don't just sit there in your mopey mood. Get up and Do Something. You will feel better once you do.

What do you do to fight off the winter doldrums? I would love to see your ideas.

Please put your comments and questions below, and thank you for reading!