What’s Saving Me Right Now?

Winter is my least favorite time of the year for many reasons. I don’t like the cold, the plants die, and the days are short. As a result, my mood is affected. It’s commonly referred to as the “winter blues”, but the technical term is Seasonal Affective Disorder. This occurs for many reasons, depending on the specific person, but for me it is triggered by lack of sunlight, lots of group interactions for holidays, and the overall bleakness of the season. 

I read a blog post about making a list of “what’s saving me right now?”, with the intent to post your individual list on January 21st, the exact middle of winter. To me, this sounded like such a great idea, a way of fighting the winter blues. I chose to do it a little differently, and I took the last three months (January through March) to find specific things, big or small, that have helped my mind, body, and soul, essentially saving me! 

10 Ways to Fight the Winter Blues

1. Routines

   1. Morning and evening routines
   2. A daily skin care routine: This was the habit I built in January and February.
   3. A loose routine while I’m at work

2. Making a plan

   1. Using my planner consistently: While our class is discussing the calendar, I take the time to look at my monthly calendar and weekly schedule.                                                                                                                                                                                             
   2. Todoist app: This app is great for daily to-do lists!
   3. Google calendar: I share a calendar with my husband and my close friends, and it has been a life-saver! It has made scheduling events and keeping up with how much I am doing much easier!
   4. Getting ahead with my blog posts: I created a spreadsheet to organize my blog content calendar.

3. Yogurt

   Yogurt contains probiotics which are great for your gut health, which, in turn, is great for your mental health!

4. Exercise

   1. Participating in our daily P.E. class
   2. Going to the gym and doing yoga each week: This is the habit I am building in April and May.

5. RE-FRAMING my perspective

   Thank you counseling!

6. Reading

   I use three lists to help me determine what books to read each month. I use the Friends and Fiction 2023 Reading Challenge, an A-Z list (that I am continuing from last year), and a list of 12 books that were recommended by people on social media.

   

7. Keeping a gratitude list

   I am currently reading One Thousand Gifts Devotional by Ann Voskamp. Part of the devotional includes listing out things I’m thankful for. This has helped me look for beauty all around me each day, increasing my gratitude and joy. (For another post about gratitude and joy, read “Even So, It Is Well”.)

8. The funny times in our class at school

9. Candles

   

10. Seeking out quiet and/or alone time

    1. Eating breakfast in the classroom instead of the cafeteria: By doing this, I am able to start the day in a quiet environment and I can take the time to read my devotion.
    2. Being intentional with my commute: I start with around 5 min of quiet time and then I listen to what my mind and body need for the rest of the ride. This could be more quiet time, music, or an audio book.
    3. Monthly “me days” and a night alone each week: I am trying to be more intentional about how I use my time, and this includes taking time to rest. I schedule a “me day” each month, a day where I go somewhere and rest and do things I want to do with no time constraints. I also use one night a week to have alone time, where I usually catch up on some of the TV shows my husband doesn’t like to watch and fold laundry.

(For more ways to improve your mental health, check out Top 10 Self-Care Tips for Mental Health.)

I would love to know what things helped “save you” this winter! Or did one of these 10 ways to fight the winter blues resonate with you? Make sure to leave a comment below!