Winter is my least favorite season and I’m not the only one. The shortened days and lack of light tend to bring everyone down. For others, it can develop into full-blown depression. There’s even a name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Further proof that some names are made with the acronym in mind just to screw with people.
I don’t know what it is about winter, Doc. I’m just sad.
It’s possible you’re SAD.
What?
There are plenty of reasons to find winter depressing:
- It’s cold and I hate being cold. (Yes, I live in the South. Yes, I consider anything under 70 degrees to be cold.)
- Everything is dead: the trees, flowers, bushes, my will to live.
- It starts out with my least favorite holiday: Christmas.
- December is Paul’s busiest time at work. He works long hours and he’s completely shot by the time he gets home. For the whole month, I know that I’m going it alone as far as parenting is concerned.
- It’s dark.
I used to have a hard time keeping my spirits up every winter. If fact, I would fail miserably and be a mess by the time spring finally rolled around. Last year, I finally shook it off. I thought I’d share what works for me.
Here are 10 ways I overcome the bleak depression of winter:
- Cut down on holiday stress
- Start a savings account
- Plan a vacation
- Avoid New Year’s resolutions
- Bring some color into your home
- Pick a project
- Spend time with friends
- Get outside
- Change your winter milestones
- Stay warm
Each week, I’ll pick one and go into more detail.
What’s keeps you going through the winter months?
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One comment
We badasses get through winter by being badass.
St. Louis isn’t the winter wonderland it used to be, but we still get the few weeks of slushy crap around Jan-Feb. This winter has been really mild. Eh.
Winter is a great time to go out! All the sissies are at home actually thinking they WANT to live in Florida. All the attractions that are crowded in the summer are waiting; bar patio areas remain open and are a great place to be without being shoulder to shoulder.