What To Do When You’re Over the Winter
Where Point A is January 2026, and Point B is the Spring 2026 - How do I get to Point B in one piece?!
I’ve had it. I’m done. I am over the winter, officially!
Winter had its moment. The crisp air, the fluffy snow fall - gorgeous. A shiver running across your skin, dark and cozy nights, and a warm mug of your favourite hot beverage by the fire - all very aesthetic.
And I’m ready to move on.
Let me be very clear - I absolutely loathe sweating. So, am I ready for it to be the type of glaringly sunny day where as soon as I step outside my retinas are burning, it’s 30+ degrees Celsius, and I feel like I’m stepping into the world’s biggest and nastiest fully clothed sauna that nobody asked for each time I step outside? No.
I’m dramatic, and because of that it may seem like I live in extremes, but really I’m just looking for a cool middle of the road. 15-20 degrees Celsius, a warm breeze, and my arthritic bones not to seize up in the cold!
If you - much like myself - are a young millennial who is giving old queen, you probably like things how you like them, can get set in your ways, can be (don’t worry - safe space) a little bit crotchety, and are in search of exactly what that lead line up there says - a way to get from January 2026 (Point A) to Spring 2026 (Point B) in one piece.
Surviving Until the Spring
1) Move your body. (😒)
Physical health and mental health are actually very closely related. To a certain extent, one relies on the other, and so bringing movement into your body can help to ease the symptoms of things like Seasonal Depression by balancing out your hormones to help you feel better, and less stressed.
Trust and believe - I’m not going for a run either. It can be something as simple as stretching, walking, standing up at your desk - movement is movement!
2) Do what feels good.
Plan self-care activities that pour into you, and bring you joy. It’s a lot easier when it’s frigid outside to convince yourself to only stay inside wrapped in your warm blankets. That can can self-care, but when it’s not done with the intention of self-care and becomes more of a monotonous wintertime habit, it ends up not feeling so good.
Cuddle your pet for 10 minutes, trick your partner into giving you a massage, book a massage! Make space for what feels good.
3) Be in community.
Something happens when you’re around people who love you. Again, it can be really easy at this time of year to make like a bear and hibernate in your house. But if bears were humans their therapists would probably tell them that they need to get out more too.
Community helps to reduce isolation, build purpose, and create shared meaning.
Spring will come - it is right around the corner! We’re already 4 Mondays through January, and crushing winter more than winter is crushing us.
Spring comes with longer days, more exposure to sunlight, and thus that ever valuable Vitamin D that helps to regulate mood, and increase mental clarity.
Winter had its moment and it’s almost up. Hopefully these tips will serve as a reminder for all of us as we get through this last push.
