When it’s cold outside we retreat like hibernating bears to our warm caves, except for necessary forays to the workplace and to gather food. Those caves can be awfully comforting when the weather outside is frightful, but indoor living can also lead to the blues or even depression. What to do?
The trick is to commit to doing something outside the cave. Something that you enjoy or care about enough to motivate you. Something that makes you want to get up and out of your cave and participate in the vibrant, real world. Here are some tried-and-true ways to fight back against that winter inertia and expand your mind/life at the same time:
- Be a temporary dog or cat owner: There are organizations that match volunteers with dogs and cats for various periods of time (called “fostering” – here’s more on that). This can also afford you the chance to find out if you would like to have a pet of your own, and meaningfully help out a local shelter. Research suggests that pet ownership leads to better mental and physical health, and the popularity of cat and dog videos on social media reveals how much all our hearts are opened by these furry beauties.
- Join a club:Â Doesn’t matter what kind – book club, knitting circle, music lovers, birders. Anything that you enjoy sufficiently to motivate you to leave your cozy cocoon. Being part of a group involves a commitment to that group, and the guilt about not showing up might be enough to propel you through the door of your cave. Or start a club in your own cave so you don’t even have to leave.
- Move your body:Â Yoga is a great indoor activity to help you stay in shape over the winter. For those who can’t or don’t want to yoga, tai chi is a marvelously graceful, meditative form of exercise. And if you crave something more aggressive, tai chi has a martial arts side you can gravitate to.
- Take a class: Find a seminar, talk or class in something that you’ve always wanted to explore. Jazz, female writers, movie making, screenplay writing, jewelry making. Take it seriously and it might lead to a whole new career. At the very least, you’ll meet people who share your interest and expand your social circle. If you’re in NYC, The Center for Social Innovation and the 92Y are both really good places to start looking.
- Volunteer: Local hospitals welcome volunteers to read to the elderly or children. Churches and community groups are eager to recruit people to help out in soup kitchens and take elderly folk to appointments. Animal shelters need help to walk dogs and socialize potential pets so they have a better chance at getting adopted. By helping others you will also be helping yourself, and the rosy glow of your cheeks will be matched by the rosy glow of your virtue.
And a few more just for New Yorkers:
- Explore NY: This wonderful city of NY has an ever-changing roster of events on offer daily, many of them free. Every Friday, the Weekend section of the New York Times lists a variety of things to do in all five boroughs. Concerts (rap, pop, classical – take your pick), movies, museums, comedy clubs, plays, walking tours – they’re all here. Arrange to do them with a friend so you don’t chicken out.
- Check out the new Whitney Museum: It’s crammed with young and interesting looking people and the art is amazing. Then walk the High Line to see your city from a whole new perspective.
- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge: Why? Why not? It’s a fun thing to do that many tourists enjoy but locals don’t think to experience. And Brooklyn Park at the other end is awesome. End up by taking the ferry back to Manhattan and see your city from the water. It will make you proud and happy that you live here.
When all else fails and the winter blues persist… Count your blessings, plan a spring trip, and remember what the poet said – “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
Greatly helpful post. I had that last Monday, where I took the day off, and a little bit every day since. It’s difficult because I know if I make it to the afternoon my day will be fine. Feels an impossible thing in the morning though.
I use a full spectrum lamp (now marketed as a ‘happy lamp’) each morning while I eat breakfast & read Urbanette. I take a fairly large daily dose of Vitamin D3 (all year, not just in winter, but I live in the far north). I eat more veggies and fruits than in spring & fall, so I don’t feel bogged down by the food. I get outside every day while it’s light. I go to the gym. I hope for lots of snow because the reflected light makes it seem less dark here.
Yes, it’s good to take your diet seriously. I think there are dozens of underlying conditions that can lead to depression and a horrible diet is one of them. There can be a “spiral” effect, where you can’t be bothered to prepare healthy meals. This may be crazy, but I think of the “Zen of meal preparation” – a form of meditation that takes the mind off of the destructive thoughts that go with depression. If possible, don’t let somebody else “feed you”, and do the cooking yourself. 🙂
Thank you Frederica for this article. The last few days I’ve been feeling down and I really needed to read this. I usually feel anxious during the transiton from winter to spring but this time it’s come early. It’s also comforting to know that I’m not the only one.
This is a great post, I especially love the suggestion about taking courses and classes. I live in Monterey and most of the year, we have a lot of fog and overcast skies. It’s incredibly dreary weather that can make it hard to stay positive and cheerful. So going out and socilasing and meeting new people is such a great idea.
I’m so happy to see this article about this very real and scary experience called Winter Blues, which is actually a very heavy phase of depression due to seasonal change. Thanks for writing about it, Frederica. I’ll be sharing it on FB, and Twitter, and bookmarking it for myself.
I love this!! Very helpful tips. Something to consider year-round. Not only during winter 🙂
Great article and so many choices! For me, my favorite is inviting my friends at my place to watch chick lit movies. Did that this past Saturday for a half day and it was awesome!
I like the idea of checking out Thai Chi. Always seemed like such a relaxing and artful way to spend some down time : )
I still love to jog and go for a walk in the winter if it’s not too cold and if it’s a sunny day.
Thanks for this article. I think drinking a nice,hot cup of coffee while listening to classical music would cheer me up and beat the winter blues.