6 ways to beat the winter blues
photo by Tavis Beck
It’s not too cold, but we just had a bunch of dreary, rainy days in New York last week.
And even though “Punxsutawney Phil” (aka: the groundhog) did not see his shadow, it’s still not spring yet.
Many of us in the northern hemisphere get a little (or a LOT) depressed by February or March.
Oh yes, I’ve been known to—
not be as consistent in going out for my morning walks in the winter.
often skip my favorite yoga class because it’s at 6:15 in the morning — it’s still dark out!
think, Why would I leave the house? I work from home for a reason, and it’s cold out there!
and ya know…. all the other excuses.
Of course, that behavior leads to many evenings in early March with me snapping at my husband as we cook dinner together.
Cut to me, covering my eyes with my hands as I declare:
“I HAVE TO GET OUT OF NEW YORK. IT’S KILLING ME. I NEED SUN. REMEMBER, I’M FROM CALIFORNIA! I’M GOING TO DIE IF WE STAY HERE!”
(True story. Slightly paraphrased. Actually, it sounds pretty spot-on!)
When I feel totally depressed and isolated because I think winter is lasting too long and I’m not going out as I know I should, I recall a quote I read in a Patagonia catalog about 15 years ago.
It has gotta me through many New York winters:
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
I think it’s a Swedish saying.
The Nords are tough.
They go out in blizzards and it’s totally cool with them.
Because they know how to dress.
They know that they will be warmer and happier if they move around.
They know that winter is “cozy” and a time for skiing, drinking cocoa, or just chilling out.
And, clearly, they know how to manage their minds around winter.
Inspired by the Nordic way & things that work for me — I offer you...
Six (6) ways to combat the winter blues:
Invest in a great coat (one that covers your butt), a warm scarf/muffler, and quality long-johns (my favorite are made by Smartwool).
I used to work every Saturday at the Union Square Green Market, the winter’s were miserable until I actually invested in proper clothing. (Did you read my Nordic quote about the clothing above? If you had, you would have known this would be my first suggestion.)
Then, get outside and move your body. Exercise.
Don’t let the cold weather keep you cooped up with no oxygen. Not going out was always the thing that would have me yelling at my husband when he got home from work. Now, even if the weather’s bad, I don’t want to go on my usual hour-long walk, I’ll try to pop outside for 20 minutes here and there in-between clients or projects.
Make social plans. And do NOT cancel them.
Honor yourself and your friends and show up. You will be so happy you did. It’s hard to remember when we’re warm in our homes why we made those plans to meet someone last week, when clearly it’s way too cold to get in the car or hop on a subway. Just do it — you’ll feel so much more energized going than if you’d NOT gone, or worse, canceled.
Change your mindset. Find things you actually like about winter.
Maybe it’s that you can light more candles or wear your favorite wooly sweater. Maybe you can decide to like winter because the air is fresh and crisp and New York City finally doesn’t smell like garbage.
Stop complaining about how cold and long the winter is.
Remember that thing I published recently...about being “busy” all the time? Well, the same concept applies about complaining about the weather. Blizzards can be exciting to watch (if done safely from inside your cozy home), and the snowshoeing, skiing, or snowman-making after will be so much fun!
Plan a late winter vacation.
Know yourself. If you’re like me and go “a little crazy” by the end of winter, plan some time away. I just spent 4 glorious days in my hometown in northern California, where it was 70 degrees and sunny. Hallelujah. So plan a trip to your favorite winter getaway… I hear Jetblue flies to direct from New York to Grenada these days. ;)
Which of these 6 things will you implement right away?
If you do, spring will be here before you can say, Punxsutawney Phil!
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