THE WINTER BLUES

I am not feeling very holly jolly right now.

Disclaimer: Winter blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are different experiences! Please seek professional help if you are experiencing severe depressive symptoms. This blog is aimed towards coping with mild feelings of lethargy and sadness.

Every year, as the temperature decreases, I get a bit more sad.

I tend to wake up later in the day, get less done, and complain a little more. While nothing is inherently wrong with that, I do not enjoy it. I prefer to live an energetic and purposeful life. So let's discuss how I attempt to cure my winter blues.

01. Tough love. This may not work for everyone, but it works for me. I am forceful when it comes to waking up early. Post-daylight savings time, we all know sunlight is a limited commodity. Waking up past 8am is simply not an option I give myself, especially in the winter, as I need to soak up as much sun as I possibly can. I know I am a better person, and have a better day when I wake up early.

02. Being kind to myself. This might sound contradictory to point one, but there is a balance in tough love & showing yourself kindness. For example, I may let myself sleep in if I had a particularly rough night of sleep or stayed up later than normal. While I aim to wake up early everyday in the winter, I am not perfect. It is ok to feel sad sometimes. Feel the feels, soak it in, then move on.

03. Movement. In the winter, I am more lethargic and more easily fatigued. I combat this by moving my body every single day. Sometimes, that looks like a 55 minute pilates session. Other times, it is a 10 minute walk around my apartment complex. Each day is different, but making time for movement helps.

04. Cooking at home more. While I am your favorite restaurant connoisseur, cooking at home, especially in the winter, hits different. Cooking may seem cumbersome, but will give you a great sense of accomplishment. I love cooking soups in bread bowls, chickpea curries, and basically any other hot comfort food in existence.

05. Fuel your soul. This will look different for every single person, but find something that gives you a great passion for life, and incorporate it into your everyday life. For me, this is learning. I am a nerd ok. I love listening to podcasts ranging from art history to physics just for fun. Again, not for everyone, but this truly brings me out of my sad bubble. Find what lights you up & make time for it.

Wishing you a merry season!

xx Maya