Yes, I know it's
still September and no one wants to think about winter yet. But,
whatever you call it (Winter depression, winter blues, seasonal
depression, seasonal affective disorder, etc.), it affects a huge
percentage of people, including myself. And in this post, I want to
explain some things that I do to combat it.
Let me start off by
saying, this post is not intended to take the place of the opinions
of a health care professional. They may recommend light therapy,
medication (there's no shame in needing medication to keep yourself
in tip-top condition!) or something else. I'm just sharing what has
worked best for me when the autumn blahs set in.
#1. Festival lights
Who says colored
lights are just for Christmas? Not me! Colorful strings of lights
give your home a bright, cozy atmosphere, and they're so easy to put
up! Drape them over doorways, wind them around windows, or loop them
along walls. They're so pretty, and they add a splash of color that
illuminates even the most depressing space all year 'round!
#2. Indoor plants
One of the things I
crave the most in the winter is the sight, smell, and feel of green,
growing things. When the trees are bare and the ground white, turn
your gaze inwards and cultivate some houseplants. Pick something easy
to start with. Snake plant is one you see growing a lot in banks and
offices, because it can thrive 'most anywhere! Ficus' are tough,
hardy, and difficult to kill if you have less than a green thumb.
Christmas cactus is lovely because it blooms in the middle of winter!
Plus it doesn't take much watering. Spider plants are also easy to
care for, and because they propagate themselves, they're great for
sharing!
Pictured here is
Happiness, which is what I've named my Anthurium. They're also
relatively easy to grow.
As you gain
experience in the care of your houseplants, you may want to try
something a little more complicated, like succulents, orchids, or
even elephant ears!
Plants make good
companions. Name them, talk to them, play music for them... you may
find yourself getting quite attached to them!
#3. Sounds of Nature
Two years ago, I
lived a basement apartment with exactly two windows. They were both
located above my head, so I looked at blank walls all day. When I
stretched on tiptoe to look out, all I saw was a wooden deck and
people's feet walking past. To add insult to injury, the walls were
all painted grey. (What a bummer color. Who in their right
mind paints a place grey? My apologies to anyone who likes
grey but really, unless you're going for the "hospital"
look, I can't see how anyone finds it attractive.)
Needless to say,
that winter was easily the most depressing for me. That is, until I
discovered the eighth wonder of the internet world. (I'm not sure
what the other seven are... if you know, please tell me.)
I discovered...
long-play nature tracks. And, speaking honestly, they helped me
regain my sanity. I constantly surrounded myself with the sounds of
lapping waves, birdsong, softly pattering rain, thunderstorms, leaves
rustling in the wind, crickets... I could close my eyes and feel
summer.
I found that these
long-play videos, playing in the background while I was reading,
writing, cleaning, or just relaxing, made me less stressed and more
hopeful. It was company for me on those long, dark, quiet nights. I
also find that listening to nature sounds all night helps me get a
more restful sleep.
I plan on sharing
some of my favorite relaxing and sleep tracks with you all, so keep
your eyes open for those! And here's one of my favorites for you all.
It was recorded in Thailand, and features 8 solid hours of a hot
spring; water splashing, tricking, and bubbling, exotic birds
calling... and you may even hear someone whistling or humming as they
pass by! There are different "locations" to enjoy, with a
variety of scenes and sounds, so it never gets boring! I personally
wouldn't recommend this one for sleep, as it can get quite "watery"
and loud at points, but it's perfect for playing during the day.
#4. Cooking
This one may come
as a surprise, but cooking can be very therapeutic. It's healthier
than staying curled up in bed and eating noodle soup and potato
chips, which is probably what you'll end up doing a lot of when the
winter blues kick in. Cooking requires you to get up, get dressed,
and go out shopping for ingredients. Pick some fresh veggies and
fruits, because eating healthy will help boost your mood!
Experiment with
different ingredients, and don't forget to splurge on a little treat
for yourself! Then come home, get into your pajamas if that makes you
feel more comfortable, and play around. Don't worry if you screw up,
just remember to be mindful and don't forget the stove on or lose
track of what you're doing. And when you sit down to a hot, hearty
bowl of soup or some chicken and dumplings, you'll feel really groovy
that you got something accomplished!
#5. Get outside!
This might be the
last thing you feel like doing, but really, a breathe of fresh
air will do you a world of good. If you're limited in your ability to
go out, just stand outside your door for a few minutes, or even open
the window for a blast of clean air. It will get your cheeks glowing
and make the warmth indoors even cozier and more inviting! Obviously,
don't feel you have to go out in a blizzard... but on those calm,
not-too-cold nights when snow is drifting down in clumps, go out.
Stand under a streetlight and watch the snowflakes whirl around like
butterflies. Catch them on your tongue. Let them fall onto your
mittens, and admire their pretty shapes. Blow a handful of them into
the air. Make a snowball, or, if the snow isn't sticky enough, just
scrunch it in your hands and listen to the sounds it makes. Make a
trail of footprints. Get a stick and write your name in the snow.
Make a snowperson. Make a snow angel. Just lie down in it and relax.
Enjoy it like a child; after all, we are all just children of the
same world!
What are your
thoughts? How do you fight off the winter blahs? Feel free to comment
below!
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