4 Ways I'm Tackling The Winter Blues

Photo courtesy of Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

At this point, I sound like a broken record when I say that I do not like Winter. So it is no surprise that Winter can cause me to feel a little down at times, especially as seasonal depression is actually quite common in the wintertime.  Which also comes at no surprise. The weather is often on the crappier side, it's cold, and days are short. Plus, not only are the days short, but daylight is often limited even more by clouds, so it might as well just be dark all day. It can be hard to get motivated on a gray and dreary day regardless of the season. But add the fact that it's cold and it'll be dark by 6:00 PM, and you'll find yourself just wanting to stay in bed. Perhaps this is why so many people have a hard time sticking to their New Year's resolutions. At least in the northern hemisphere.

But Winter is here for a quarter of the year, and winters in Ohio don't end when the calendar says they do. You're often looking until at least mid-April for the weather to be consistently pleasant. So I simply can not allow the winter blues to get me down all winter. I mean, I could just wrap up in my blankets all day and mope about the weather, but that often makes me feel even else. I don't want to be feeling tired, unmotivated, crabby, and unproductive for a quarter of the year. Who does? So I can't allow a season to make me feel like poo. I can't let Winter win!

Photo courtesy of freestocks.org

Up until this year, I have never willingly gone for a walk during the winter months. Nor have I spent any significant amount of time outdoors in the winter. Even when the weather was gorgeous, and it was fairly warm out, I would still hide in my cave. I couldn't fathom going for a walk in January. Why would I go out into the elements if I didn't have to? Usually, when I'm outside in the winter, it's because I have to be to do unpleasant tasks such as shoveling the driveway or putting salt down. So why would I choose to go outdoors when I don't have to do either of those tasks? But one day it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, that's the point. Why not choose to enjoy the weather on a pleasant day and make the most of it? Beautiful days can be few and far between in Ohio during the winter. So this year I've decided to make the most of those days. 

I was actually surprised at how good I felt after taking my first "Winter" walk. It was about 35ºF, so it was a little chilly, but keeping my body moving kept me from feeling cold. I actually think the crisp air helped energize me a little bit too. As much as I don't like the cold, it still felt refreshing. Although, I think that getting out into the daylight played a role in that as well, especially as the sun was shining when I went out. But even if it had been cloudy, I'd still be getting more sunlight than I would if I were just sitting in my room. So I think that even on cloudy days, as long as it isn't too cold and it isn't icy, I'm going to try to make the most of it and go for a walk. Even if it's a short one. 

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