Waiting on the Winter Blues

Dear Maggie

Jan 10

Written By Tabitha Lord

Dear Maggie,

Do you suffer from the winter blues? If yes, do you have any tips on how to weather them?

Sincerely,

Snowbound in South Bend

Dear Snowbound,

I totally get the winter blues, so much so that my husband used to plan warm weather trips during the coldest months when our kids were younger. I live in New England. On any given year winter can last from mid-November to April. The snow is pretty, but by late March, it really gets old. For me though, it’s honestly less about the cold or snow and more about the lack of sunlight. I can’t exactly fix the Earth’s titled axis, but for those months with shorter days, I’ve learned a few tricks to help me manage.

First, I acknowledge that everything feels more labor intensive in the winter, and I think it actually is. Digging out the walkway just to get to the mailbox, adding extra layers of clothing to go to the grocery store, making sure the plow-guy is on speed dial, and planning extra time for anything that has to happen outside the house makes the winter season a bit more exhausting than its fair weather counterparts. Couple this with the fewer hours of daylight, and I run out of energy much faster. So, my solution is simply to plan for this. In the winter, I pare down my to-do list and really focus on the essentials. Self-care, like yoga and hiking, counts as essential. Getting outside every day also goes a long way to improving my mood, even if it requires extra planning. Candles, snuggly blankets, and a full cabinet of good wine helps too!

For those of us who live in a seasonal climate, I think it’s okay to slow down a little when necessary in response to the cues from our bodies and minds. In the long run, we’ll be better off for it. Hey, if animals can full-on hibernate during the winter, we human animals can at least get a few extra hours of sleep!