Fighting the Winter Blues Year Round

Despite my efforts to try to stay positive, I actually struggle with a lot of depression and self loathing, especially during the winter months. There’s something about winter that makes me feel sadder than usual. Maybe it’s the lack of sun, the end of another year of my life, or the few extra pounds that I gain from the cookies that were probably meant for Santa.

Most days I struggle to get out of bed, to get ready, or to see anybody but my dogs. My anxiety is through the roof.

I have a lot of tricks for combatting my depression and anxiety year round. I realize that I can’t just put my life on hold because my depression and anxiety want me to. As controversial as it may sound, I don’t believe in chemical medications to treat my vices. So instead, I look for ways to help me beat my depression and overwhelming anxiety naturally. I’d like to share those with you today.

1. Exercise

This one is SO hard for me to do. I wish that I was someone who was addicted to the gym, but in all honesty, I dread it. Good news! Exercise doesn’t have to be “the gym”. I’m learning to rethink how I exercise to make it much more enjoyable.
Here are some things I like to do:
-Walk with my husband + my dogs
-Go for a bike ride
-Shoot hoops or hit tennis balls with my husband
-Rollerskating
-Longboarding
-Hiking to a great view
-Snowboarding
-Sledding (Walking up those hills is great for your legs)

Your exercise doesn’t have to be super intense – especially at first. Just get moving!

 

2. Call Your Mom

I’m lucky to have a really great relationship with my mom. When I am feeling down, I give my mom a call just to chat. There’s something about talking to your mom that brings you back home for a minute and gets you back in touch with your roots. If you aren’t able to talk to your mom, try your dad or an old friend. Anyone who’s conversation will take you back to a simpler time.

3. Take a Milk & Honey Bath

These baths have become my new favorite thing. You can find lots of recipes on Pinterest for these super moisturizing baths. It’s so relaxing to have a long soak after a day of battling your depression and anxiety. Dim the lights, light some candles, and turn on some Explosions in the Sky for even deeper relaxation. Add some flowers to feel fabulous. Cleopatra used to bathe in milk and so should you!

4. Have an at Home Spa Day

Treat yourself! You don’t have to go to an expensive spa to be pampered. You can make a lot of great spa recipes right in your own home. Get on Pinterest to find one that looks interesting to you. I have a mini spa day at least once a week to ensure that I am taking care of myself. If you like the way you look on the outside, the hard days don’t seem as hard. I religiously treat myself to homemade hair masks, facials, milk baths, and skin treatments.

5. Carve Out Time for Your Favorite Hobbies

This is SO important. You need to schedule time to do the things you love. I really love to paint, play guitar, dance, and write. However, it never seems like there is enough time in the day or even week to do these things. Schedule out time to focus on one of your hobbies. Treat it as an appointment that you HAVE to make. If you spend time on doing something you love, your overall mood will be lifted.

6. Cuddle

With your man, with your pets, with yourself – It doesn’t matter! Just take some time to hold something close to you. I believe in energy and cuddling is a great way to transfer energy from one thing to another. Two energies are better than one at taming your vices.

7. Write a Thankfulness List Every Day

My depression and anxiety often comes in the form of unthankfulness. I wonder why my life can’t be different or why my body or face doesn’t look a certain way. A thankfulness list brings you out of a covetous mindset and allows you to focus and look for the blessings in your life. Write down everything you could possibly ever be thankful for that day – and I mean EVERYTHING. Be thankful that you didn’t get hit by a bus, that your feet didn’t grow over night so that none of your shoes fit, or that you didn’t wake up this morning outside of your body. It may sound silly, but it’s all about rewiring your brain to look for the good.

8. Paint Your Fingernails + Toenails

This is a small thing, but it makes me happy when I see a little pop of color before I put on my socks or as I am typing on my keyboard. I don’t paint my nails as often as I should, but when I do I feel more put together.

9. Shave Your Legs, Pluck Your Eyebrows, etc

It can be tempting to let it grow during the winter months especially. However, grooming yourself can have a very positive impact on the way you feel. Like painted fingernails, it helps you to feel more put together and like your life is in order. Plus, you don’t have to deal with any self consciousness when your legs are exposed or someone gets a little too close to your face.

10. Plan Your Outfit the Night Before

This makes getting out of bed in the morning a little easier. Sometimes I get anxiety about what clothes are going to look good on my body and it makes it hard to get dressed at all. If I lay out clothes the night before, it takes away the time that I have to think about what I am going to wear that allows my anxiety to creep in.

11. Take Vitamin D & Other Vitamins

Especially in the winter months. Your body may be lacking in certain vitamins. Vitamin D helps to fight depression as well as a lot of other illnesses. I take vitamin D, fish oil, a probiotic, and a multivitamin each day.

12. Cut Out Sugar

Sugar comes in many forms. In the winter months (and year round) I try my best to cut out as much sugar as possible. Sweets, bread, refined carbs, packaged foods, fast foods, etc. It makes a huge difference in stabilizing and lifting my moods. You may see your waistline shrink as well!

13. Listen to a Good Book, Podcast, or Comedy Channel

Find an uplifting book, an intelligent podcast, or funny comedy channel that will allow you to focus your mind on something good and lift your spirits at the same time.
Notice I said LISTEN not watch. While you listen, check off things on your to do list.

14. Make a To-Do List and Start Checking Things Off

Ever ended a day and felt like it was a complete waste? It makes me feel like a failure, a loser. To combat this feeling, I start every day by making a to do list. I even add things like “Go to work” or “Take out dogs”. These are things that I would do no matter what, but it still feels good to check it off and know that you accomplished something that day. Sometimes going to work is half the battle.

15. Put Yourself in a Service Mindset

Service is great. I highly recommend you volunteer for a cause you are passionate about. But what I want to focus on is putting yourself in a service mindset. I’ve talked about this in one of my earlier blogs, but a lot of times I get so wrapped up in how I am feeling, how things are going for me, what people are thinking about me, how people are treating me, etc that I don’t actually think about others. How do I make others feel? What can I do to help others feel more at ease? When you stop focusing on how people are seeing you and start focusing on how you can lift others, you’ll notice a change in your life. Give sincere compliments, ask someone about their day, or give a smile to someone. Little things make a difference.

16. Meditate & Pray

I’m not a very religious person by today’s standards, but I am a deeply spiritual person. I have a very strong belief in God and I believe it is important to stay connected with Him. Take some time each day to be still. Take 5 minutes to meditate and clear your mind. You can find many guided meditations on Youtube and Spotify to help you when you are first starting out. Once you’ve meditated, take some time to thank whatever God you believe in for the things that you have and ask for help wherever you feel weak.

18. Get Ready Every Day

It can be tempting to throw on sweatpants, an oversized sweatshirt, and rock a messy bun every day. However, I find that when I dress lazy, I feel lazy. When I put thought into my clothes, my make up, and my hair, I feel a lot more put together and like I can accomplish more things.

 

 

Depression and anxiety are hard vices to battle – especially around the holidays. If you are feeling depressed or are struggling with the day to day, I encourage you to try some of these tips. You are not alone in your struggles!

Comment below to tell me how you cope when things get tough.