It’s very normal to experience the blues after the holidays. Covid has diminished our celebrations, but the holidays are still a much-anticipated break that give us the chance to listen to festive music, to indulge in treats you only make once a year, to strengthen bonds with friends and family (even if at a distance), to enjoy family traditions, to reflect, feel gratitude, etc, etc. All this can create quite a high so no wonder when it’s all over, we feel we’ve had too much to eat, too much to drink, spent too much and returning to our normal routines feels a little blah. And if you live in the northern hemisphere, add the expectation of 3 months of cold weather before a glimpse of Spring.
Everyone feels at least a little bit of the Winter Blues. It’s normal. But there are lots of things you can do to beat them such as:
1. Give yourself an extra does of close friends and family.
Pick up the phone or write an email when you feel low. Make a weekly “date” with a favorite. Organize a group you haven’t seen for a while for a Zoom catch up.
2. Get lots of sunshine.
Preferably outside. And if you don’t get much sun where you live, take Vitamin D or get a sun therapy lamp.
3. Move your body.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Even just brisk walking and a few minutes of stretching will make a difference. And if you already to that, add some online yoga. If you already do that, add Tai Chi.
4. Smile at strangers.
Make eye contact. Exchange pleasantries in the coffee line up. I met Margaret Atwood that way. Who will you meet?
5. Don’t sleep too much.
Get enough sleep and keep regular hours but more sleep will make you want more sleep and will slow you down.
6. Develop a new hobby.
Wordle, jigsaw puzzles, genealogy, study Welsh online. Pick something—be it practical or quirky and exercise your brain with something new. Do a deep dive on something. Or just give yourself some complete distraction.
7. Plan things you can look forward to.
Research the perfect potted herb garden to plant this Spring, plan an elaborate picnic with friends for that first really warm day, plan six books to read, six shows to binge on and six documentaries on topics totally new to you.
8. Those are all about you but the thing that might help you the most is to help someone else.
Join your neighborhood Facebook group and post that you’d love to spend a few hours a week helping a senior with errands or tutoring at risk kids or collecting donations for the local food bank. There are many people and organizations that need help. Spending time doing that is a guaranteed spirit-lifter.
What are they ways you beat the Winter Blues? Share your ideas and stories below.
