Banishing the Winter Blues!

Welcome to winter – a time of fresh, crisp mornings, moody storms, cosy fires, comforting soups, and stacks of books, magazines, movies, and crafts … only this is not how it is for everyone. In fact, for many of us, winter can trigger the arrival of ‘the blues.’ We’re not talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a more serious and well-recognised form of depression related to the onset of the colder, lower-light months ( if you suspect you are suffering from this, see your GP right away). We’re talking about a general low mood that can see us skipping our usual, healthy routines such as daily exercise, cooking nutritious meals, going out and about to enjoy the company of others, or socialising with friends and family at home. In short, winter can see us staying in bed for much longer than is good for us, or curling up under a rug and becoming a couch potato. These sorts of habits create vicious cycles whereby the less active we are, the less we do to look after ourselves. Fortunately, self-discipline can come to the rescue in the following simple but effective ways:

Shake it up

Wintery days can be wet and cold but if you’re not a hardy soul when it comes to the weather, you can still exercise. Look for indoor exercise routines that suit your ability. The internet is full of them, and choosing is half the fun! Once you’ve found some goodies, share them with friends.

Seek out the sun!

Even winter days are seldom without bright spells of sunshine. Take note of the sunniest spots in your home and turn them into little head-to havens with a comfy chair, a bright throw, a small table with a vase of flowers, and a basket of treat items such as small packets of fruit and nuts, a squeaky squeeze ball, an adult’s colouring book, a mini Zen garden, a magazine, and a puzzle book.

Book ahead

We often want to socialise, but when the day is grey, we can so easily change our mind about heading out for a meet-up. Help yourself stick to your intentions by buying the movie ticket, booking the cafe table, or setting up a meeting with your friend, in advance. This way, you’ll be less likely to back out!

Sign up

Inventing ways to keep active and social doesn’t have to be all up to you. Instead, let someone else do the hard yards by signing up to a course or class which will keep you engaged. Contact Age Concern for suggestions, or look online for a writing course that could start you on the path to writing your own memoir!

Creative in the kitchen

Instead of reaching for instant foods, head to the library or search online for recipes to inspire you to create new dishes. Set yourself the challenge of cooking one new recipe each week of winter, and invite a friend over to share it with you. If you want to be sustainable, choose seasonal ingredients to cook with.

Keep a winter journal

In winter, it can be easy to lose track of the days, and the hours in the day. To keep to a healthy routine, pick up a diary, and note down your waking and sleeping times, and what you’ve achieved each day. Keep a record of the time it takes you to complete your daily walk. Write a daily haiku, or note the birds you see from your breakfast table. Set daily, pleasurable, as well as challenging goals, and tick them off as you go. Turn your journal into a winter scrapbook by gluing in brochures, tickets, and receipts from classes or events you’ve been to, samples of your creative writing, a completed crossword or puzzle, or a dried leaf found on your walk. As winter progresses, enjoy reading back over your diary!

Keeping mentally and physically at your best during winter can be a challenge for many of us. If you think you lack the self-discipline to make it happen, talk about it with friends and family. Be honest, and ask for their encouragement!