Winter can be a great opportunity to stay cozy inside, with the fireplace on, or baking some goods, cleaning the house, thinking about your spring/summer plans. But it also can be a very difficult time. At least, that is how I feel it is for me.
There is a term called “winter blues” which is a mood shift that we experience because of the weather (when we have cold temperatures and dark days). There is also a very real condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a type of depression that many people suffer in the winter months. Luckily, in the two years that I have lived in South Carolina, we haven’t had that many dark days, where it’s raining, there is no sun outside, and/or is really cloudy and cold.
Yes, it’s nice to have some cold weather, especially after the really high temperatures that we have here in Columbia. Yes, it’s nice to put on some leggings and a sweatshirt and long for a warm cup of coffee or tea after you spend some time outside. But at least for me, I find it more difficult to dress my three kids in layers than to just let them wear a dress and sandals. Five minutes and they are ready to go!
I understand that South Carolina, in general, has mild winters (compared to many other states), but for me, the temperatures in the 50s, 40s, 30s and below are cold, and I prefer to stay inside. Since it’s cold and I have a baby, I don’t feel quite comfortable spending time outside, like at a park or going to the zoo (which are things that I love doing during the spring/summer and fall).
Here are three things I like to do to beat the winter blues.
1. Keep a count-down calendar
This can be something as simple or as sophisticated as you would like. Personally, I keep a “sticky note” on the desktop of my laptop, and every day that I turn my computer on, I subtract one day (or more if I haven’t turned on the computer in a longer period).
2. Try to stay active
I try to stretch for at least 10-15 minutes every day, and, if possible, try to exercise (using YouTube videos, doing regular simple exercises, such as jumping jacks or planks).
3. Try to enjoy the moment
Despite everything, I have really enjoyed baking treats with my girls, doing some crafts with them, and above all, I love that we were fortunate enough to get snow in Columbia this year (and twice!).
One thing I am sure of is once the warmer temperatures come, we are going to enjoy them very much!
