I saw a meme posted online recently that said we were about 30 days away from the sun setting at 7 pm. This is good news, friends! While I have not fact-checked this statement, it was a helpful reminder that winter doesn’t last forever, even though January and February feel like they last about 176 days. Winter is not my favorite season. I don’t like being cold, and I miss the longer days of sunlight. This year, however, I’ve been challenged to rethink the way I view winter. Living in Northern Illinois, winter can last a good one-third of the year. How much of the year would I miss because my attitude was poor? Here are a few ideas to help with managing winter stress and cold and to take care of our mental health.
Embrace cozy. The days are cold and sometimes can feel very harsh. So, instead of focusing on this, we can create intention with lots of cozy layers, warm blankets, and fun, warm drinks. Lighting candles, sitting by a fire, taking hot baths, wearing a warm hat - all can be helpful in feeling cozy.
Create intentional rest. I think we can take a hint from nature here. Bears hibernate, leaves fall off trees and plants stop growing. While I’m not suggesting we completely hibernate like the bears, we can embrace this practice in our lives too. We can embrace slowness and rest, allowing our bodies the rest they need. Snow days and winter weather can naturally slow us down, but embracing this season to rest is so important for our well-being.
Connect with the uniqueness of what the winter season can offer. We do better mentally when we have things to look forward to. We can use this mindset with winter Find seasonal recipes and foods best enjoyed during these months. We can’t ski or build a snowman in July, so enjoying winter sports and activities can help. Hot chocolate when it is 90 degrees?? Nope. But it’s delicious after a few hours of playing in the snow.
Finally, stick with rhythms beneficial to you outside of winter. The things that help you feel grounded in your days and weeks? Keep doing them! Meet up with a friend for coffee. Go on a walk outside. Stick with the ways you normally move your body. Pray. Show kindness to others. Don’t stop doing the things your body needs, just because the temps drop a few (or a lot of) degrees.
Changing our feelings is (nearly) impossible without changing a thought pattern or behavior. If I’m thinking about how much I hate winter, I’m going to feel miserable. If I shift my thinking and get curious about ways I can engage with the season, I’m more likely to experience positive emotions, even while shivering. If I choose activities and behaviors that are unique to the season, I am more likely to experience joy and pleasure instead of feeling grumpy when it’s gray outside. Even if winter doesn’t become your favorite season, what is one thing you can do today to embrace winter?
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