Winter is coming. This is the time when some people notice the diminishing light is affecting their habits and moods. Some people don’t want to go outside and want to hibernate in the evening. Some people notice a depressed mood.
These shorter and colder days need some serious coping techniques. This isn’t brief, this will go on for a few months. These are my tips for owning winter, celebrating and finding things to enjoy. They can help manage mood. Here are 8 of my favorites:
- Celebrate the changes around you and make them special and meaningful. The shortest day of the year is December 21.Some people celebrate the winter solstice with a special meal or ritual. December 13 is the day of the feast of St. Lucia. Even though it’s dark out early, plan to have some community on that day and go be around other people to celebrate. This was a Swedish pagan holiday but some churches celebrate it. You may have seen the little girls with wreaths of candles on their head. It’s quite beautiful and it means the shortest day of the year is almost upon us. And after December 21, it’s actually getting slightly brighter out every day.
- Vitamin D supplements may help. I’ve read that it is the standard treatment in Finland for coping with the shorter days and the blues some people feel with the lack of light.
- Full spectrum bulbs or light therapy boxes can help. One maker is called Verilux. If you are very pale, you might also want to wear some sunscreen as this is letting in rays that could cause skin damage.
- Get into some indoor and outdoor activities. Winter sports mean that cold and snow work in your favor. Ice skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing can be fun. When it’s extremely cold, you may not want to go out. Winter is the chance to dive deep into the hobbies that we push aside when we’re busy. I also recommend having indoor hobbies that you can really pursue when the weather is bad: cooking, baking bread, sewing, reading. In the past, I’ve also been on a winter bowling league. Getting out of the house and having fun, meeting new people can help you survive winter doldrums.
- Celebrate this time of year. Embrace coziness with slippers and fireplaces and robes and blankets. And cups of warm drinks. Maybe a January movie marathon is in order?
- If you are experiencing persistent depression, please do seek out a professional for support. There are many ways to treat depression. As a therapist, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and support people in managing depression.
- Give yourself something to look at when you look outside. Plant some flowers that come up in spring so you can look forward to the changes that happen. Try a bird feeder. Put out a winter decoration that you enjoy.
- St. Paul’s Winter Carnival seems to exist just to break up the winter. Maybe they could use some volunteers?
