Sometimes winter seems to smother me like a weighted blanket of chaos. I go to work when it’s dark and I get home when it’s dark. The kids have become petri dishes with shoes. There are school events every other day, school projects due before the break, and don’t forget the “Crazy Sock Day,” with a pair to donate. Because I love digging through the sock drawer at 6am.
I am usually pretty good about keeping the winter blues away, but she rears her head every now and then, usually right when I’ve run out of patience, coffee, and sunlight. But there are a few things that give me hope right when I’m about to give up and hibernate till March.
Get Warm. No; Warmer.
I am cold everywhere I go. Cold at home, cold at work, cold outside. By the end of the day, I can feel the cold in my bones. I’ve noticed that being able to relax in a warm (almost scalding) place saves my sanity some days. I have a little Amazon-special sauna in my bedroom now and that is AMAZING. But I’ve also found myself in a gym sauna, at the bottom of the shower, and sometimes baking just to feel the oven heat. Because warmth fixes things.
C.O.F.F.E.E.
Winter is basically a three-month caffeine binge, but it doesn’t have to be mundane. Romanticize it. Make it an event. Get a pretty cup, froth your milk, and pour in the syrup. This is the first thing I do when I arrive at work every morning. Half the time it’s decaf, but just the act of doing it wakes me up and gives me just enough hope to make it to lunch without crying into my keyboard.
The Favorites.
Surround yourself with your favorite blanket, your favorite movie, your favorite snacks, your favorite music, and of course, your favorite people. Winter asks so much of us, and our patience, energy, and immune systems. Declare your house a “Favorites Only Zone.” The kids will breach the line often, but at least something that brings you joy will be within reach.
Make Errands Social.
My neighbor and I often take turns riding with each other to do the dumbest things. “Want to ride with me to Costco to get a sweater?”
“Sure!”
“Want to ride with me to pick up a Facebook marketplace lamp and make sure I don’t get murdered?”
“Absolutely! But we’re getting tacos on the way.”
Be A Main Character
Main characters are easy to find. They have a vibe. They walk with purpose, even if it is to the Mucinex isle. It doesn’t have to be glamorous. But it can be if you want it to be. Winter is a thief of light and a demanding of energy. Don’t let it take your presence too. And when it is an exceptionally good hair day, photograph it. Because that’s what a heroine with good genes does.
These aren’t big life altering solutions. The winter blues don’t just vanish in a burst of sunshine in February; they fade because of the little choices we make every day. None of the things above seem powerful on their own, but together they can create an insulation that will keep you till the spring. Maybe you’ll even feel more yourself then. Choosing you tends to do that.
