How To Beat The Winter Blues

The wintertime is a tough season for coping after losing someone special. The cold days and early nights make getting our minds off those we’ve loved harder. The colder days and unsafe weather patterns make it even harder to leave our house to go out with family and friends or to activities outside our home. The winter blues are a familiar feeling for many people, whether they are grieving the loss of someone special. Seasonal depression is in full effect, and many people find it hard to get out of their funk once the fall season turns into winter. It may be challenging to change your ways this winter season and take the initiative to do something for yourself and get your mind off the situation. The winter blues are severe and should not be taken lightly, but luckily there are ways to cope with them and help take your mind off a sad and depressing time. Learn how to beat the winter blues below and find the light in a rather dark and cold situation.

Learn below these five helpful activities to beat the winter blues this season!

Baking is a great way to keep busy when the weather outside is unbearable. Baking a comfort dish or dessert is the perfect way to occupy yourself and enjoy something delicious. Many people use baking to cope after a stressful or sad time. Making homemade chocolate chip cookies can help take even the slightest bit of stress or sadness off an awful situation. Not only will cooking or baking something nourish your body, but it will also nourish your soul. It will put you in a place of happiness and comfort and get you back to feeling a little more like yourself. Warm and tasty food will take your mind off the dark, cold weather outside. 

Meditation is a great practice to calm the body, mind, and soul. Meditating after losing a special person can help you reconnect with your body and mind. It helps reduce cortisol levels and improve your mood. Meditation not only helps with anxiety and depression but also allows you to focus on the present and increase your patience and tolerance for the future. Meditation will help cure your winter blues by wearing a comfy outfit, closing your eyes, and focusing on breathing. There are meditation techniques online or YoutTube videos to guide you through meditation, but just closing your eyes and taking slow deep breaths will allow you and your mind to overcome any difficulties. 

Cleaning and organizing your space is a great way to get your mind off things, declutter your situation, and have a fresh start! When the weather is brisk, and you don’t want to be outside, staying inside is the best thing to do. Going through your items and organizing them is tedious but will help take your mind off the current situation. Moving items around in your bedroom or other parts of your home will provide a new light and give you new opportunities in a new space. If there are items you no longer need or want, donating those items to someone in need helps turn your sadness into happiness, knowing you are doing good for someone else. 

It may take a lot of work to take the initiative to contact your friends to go out or come over, but having the company of others is important in curing your winter blues. With the chance of outdoor activities at a low, meeting up with friends at an indoor place or having them over at your own house is a great way to interact and take your mind off a sad time. Inviting some friends over for coffee, dinner, or drinks, or if you would rather eat out at a restaurant or cafe, will help you chat and connect with important people in your life. Talking with people when the days are darker and colder helps warm your body and mind and gives you happiness.

When staying indoors during the winter, there is no better time to find a new hobby or start a craft. Maybe you want to start working out to keep your mind off the current situation, or perhaps you want to play an instrument or learn how to knit. Now is the perfect time to get started for whatever new hobby you are looking forward to learning. A new hobby brings life into your world and makes you proud of a new accomplishment. Other crafts or artwork are also great to start while hanging inside your warm home. Start drawing, painting, or doing puzzles and crosswords to keep your mind going and healthy. Whatever you choose to occupy you should be fresh and exciting, curing any sadness during a tough wintertime.

Contact Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Services of Massachusetts for guidance and grief support. We understand the winter time makes coping with a loss even more challenging. Our team is here to help families overcome their winter blues and prepare for their new life without their loved ones. We offer grief support services that help you navigate through the stages of grief and feel confident in your skin. To get started, contact us today for more information.