How to avoid the winter blues
Fresh Utah Snowflake, a Stellar by U.S. Forest Service (source) is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0
The cold months are approaching us, and cooler weather has already started to creep in. With that comes darker evenings, later sunrises, brisk wind, and the inevitable snow! Being from a desert, the winters in Northern Utah certainly aren’t my favorite time, so here are three things I have done to avoid the winter blues.
The first being finding a new hobby: For me, I love to sew. What better time to pick up an indoor hobby when all I want to do is stay inside? Other indoor hobbies could include trying out new recipes, finding a fun new workout plan, or something simple like coloring by number. Outdoor hobbies can be great, too. Activities like skiing and sledding have been great ways to embrace things I wouldn’t necessarily love on their own. Also, doing these hobbies with friends helps to fill feelings of loneliness or homesickness if you’re away from home.
The second is getting outside in the sun. Though it is miserably cold, bundle up and get in the sun! The sun is needed for vitamin production, but it also improves mood, reduces inflammation, and boosts your immune system. I have seen such a difference in my day-to-day life between being cooped up all day in my house and going outside for even just 15 minutes. Walking in the sunlight can also give you time to think and a second to step back from the business of day-to-day life.
The last is connecting with people. Human interaction and connection are so important, as they cultivate feelings of belonging and help people cope with stress and other heavy feelings. For me, being around people I love is so rejuvenating. It helps me know I am not alone in what I am doing and that people are cheering me on in my endeavors. These don’t have to be hosted or complicated interactions; instead, they can be casual and simple. Just being with people has helped me find joy in simple things when everything around me is so cold.
Though we cannot stop winter or do anything to slow it down, we can take action to help ourselves continue chugging along in the coldest months. We’ve got this.
