When the days get longer and the air gets colder, the winter blues, or even Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) can start to kick in. Last winter was a tough one for me mentally, so I knew I needed a solid game plan coming into this winter. Below are my top tips for beating the winter blues, straight out of my own personal game plan!
The links in the post are affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me continue bringing you content! Thanks for your support.
7 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
1. Get outside
I know, it sounds counterintuitive that venturing into the cold tundra would actually help make the winter better, but hear me out! Something that I do as often as possible for my mental and physical health is walk outside. It gets my body moving, it gets me some fresh air and sunlight, and it gets me out of the house.
I aim to continue this even in winter because I know how beneficial it is for me. All it means is you have to bundle up more! Thick socks, layers, and a nice hat/scarf/gloves trio should do the trick. Just be extra careful when it’s icy out, and use your judgement as to when it is safe to walk on it.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation is essential because so many of us are deficient, especially those of us in parts of the world where the winter season is cold and gray. Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D (which is another reason walking outside is so important), but since people are getting outside less during the winter, it gets dark earlier, and it’s overall very gray, additional supplementation is often needed.
I really like the brand Country Life for vitamins because they use glass packaging, which is more eco-friendly. I take their 2500iu vitamin D3 year-round and I double up in winter. I also recently started taking magnesium as well, because the body needs magnesium to properly absorb vitamin D and it’s difficult to get enough magnesium through food sources alone.
3. Light therapy
We’ve established that you’re probably not getting enough sunlight in winter, and light therapy is the best way to remedy that! My family has used sun lights for many years now to help combat the winter blues. We’ve used Verilux “happy lights.”
They basically simulate sunlight by providing full spectrum light (but not UV rays). It is recommended that you use a 10,000 lux light, 24 inches from your face, for 10-30 minutes every morning to combat winter blues or SAD. They can even help with sleep disorders or jet lag! You should not use them later in the day, as it may upset your circadian rhythm and sleep cycles.
(Please use caution if you have lupus or any condition that makes you extra sensitive to sunlight!).
4. Embrace the season
While winter definitely has its downsides (dark, cold, icy, etc.), the season is not all bad! For many, snow is a highly anticipated luxury. If enjoy skiing or snowboarding, snow is a sign that the fun is about to begin! If you like to ice skate (like me!), freezing temperatures only mean safer ice. For the less athletic, simple activities like making snow angels, snowmen, or having snowball fights can bring back a childish sense of wonder!
Don’t worry, you can also embrace the season indoors! One of my favorite winter traditions is hunkering down and watching Hallmark movies (mostly leading up to Christmas, but there are plenty for Valentine’s Day too). Another great strategy is to order festive, seasonal drinks! Sipping on a nice warm hot cocoa, tea, or latte is a treat I reserve for the colder months. You can also try out new soup recipes or explore cooking with festive flavors like pumpkin, gingerbread, cinnamon, etc.
5. Hygge
I have a whole post on hygge from last winter that you can check out here, but here’s the lowdown:
Hygge (hue-ga) is a danish concept that can somewhat be defined as coziness. Picture: fuzzy socks, hot cocoa, and your favorite book. Hygge is all about warmth, togetherness, and hominess. It involves spending time relaxing and unwinding with the ones you love, and its the perfect practice for those cold winter months that can be extremely isolating.
You can focus on making your home or room a more hyggeligt environment by adding cozy blankets and pillows, soothing candles, books, photos of loved ones, yummy chocolates, calming essential oils, etc. You can also plan hyggeligt events, like a dinner with friends where you all cook a homemade meal together and enjoy each others’ company. Hygge is a concept that can be infused into everyday life as well as special occasions.
6. Stay social
It can be really easy to jump into your PJ’s and spend all your free time curled up on the couch alone during the winter…but it’s important to spend time around people too!
You can go out and embrace the season together by doing winter activities (my friends and I like to go ice skating), or have an intimate hygge get-together at someone’s house (we like to make & eat dinner together).
I try to schedule in at least one social event a week and hold myself to it! Like I said, it’s so easy to isolate yourself and use excuses like “it’s too cold” or “it’s too dark” to leave the house. But getting out (or having friends come to you!) and being social will make you feel so much better.
7. Talk to someone
I’m a huge proponent of therapy, and I think everyone can benefit from talking through their feelings with a therapist. If you don’t have access to therapy, though, just try to talk to someone. It can be a family member, friend, trusted teacher, etc.
If you’re feeling low, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone and ask for help.
Do you start to feel down in the winter? Let me know if these tips work for you or if you have other great tips for beating the winter blues!
