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: 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: 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?”
These are great choices to keep the winter blues at bay. However, the only thing that can truly beat it aside from these activities is your own perseverance in helping yourself feel better. No amount of activities can surpass the feeling of blues until you’re ready to change your mindset. ? These too, shall pass.
Volunteering would be a nice way to end the blues. When you make other people happy, you’ll feel twice as uplifted. It’s also great to be helping those who are in dire need while reaping the benefits of being happier.
I just recently joined cooking classes and it’s really nice. I’m not bad at cooking but it’s just really fun to know techniques in the kitchen that I didn’t know about before. Not to mention that my kids are loving the chef-like plating that I do know. Eating together is like a sacred thing for our family and the house has been lively because of that cooking class I’m attending. Definitely beats the winter blues when you’re having fun and you’re around your family. I would also like to encourage everyone to try the tips in this article because it’s highly effective to be engaged outside of your homes.
That’s really nice to hear. Cooking classes aren’t listed here but they do sound nice to do.
I’ll feel like a grandmother going to knitting class but honestly, that seems so relaxing to do. I’m actually interested in macrame too. Thank you for sharing this article. I would love to knit my own blankets for this cold weather and also be able to learn a new hobby.❤️ Plus, it’s so fulfilling to be able to see that your home is slowly filled with things you made by yourself!
I hope I’ll find an idea or two from the list above that feels like the good place to start moving towards more energy, happiness, and peace of mind. Thank you urbanette for always coming up such related topics.
For me, January is the most depressing month of the year. Where I am getting the post-holiday blues and then there are the holiday weight gain and credit card bills that start to roll in. It makes perfect sense that I feel down in January and winter blues are at its peak this time of the year. Thanks for the wonderful tips.
I love dreariness of winter and I thrive off those rainy days spent cuddled up by fire. I don’t understand why people hate winters and for the majority of them, the lack of sunshine can cause a decline in their mood.
How would I explore NY when I live far far away from NY. But wish to visit NY one day. Anyway, I’ll try other tips to get rid of winter blues.
The problem is I can’t do any of these because I have so much work and all I do is sleep and sit in front of my books not doing anything. I am gaining so much weight!
All these tips are great!! I think these will help a lot of people.