I’ve been fighting off the winter blues (or blahs or whatever you like to call it) pretty hard around here lately. The temperature has been biting cold, the gray days are stacked one on top of the other, and all those fun homeschool field trips to our favorite indoor museums have been put on hold.

Are you feeling this at your house too?

For several weeks, I felt like doing absolutely nothing.

NOTHING.

The runs I had been enjoying outside listening to my favorite podcasts suddenly turned into moans and groans (to my children no less), accompanied by zero motivation.

ZERO.

I dreaded going to the grocery store, a task I typically enjoy. The thought of cooking was horrid. I was sick of COVID, sick of not being able to go anywhere, and sick of winter.

Ugh.

And really, I hate feeling like that.

However, feelings happen whether I think they’re lame or not, and I felt like any zest for life had been sucked right out of me. I was asking myself the rhetorical question: How will I survive this winter? 

 

Winter Blues Do Not Surprise Me

Of course, none of this particularly took me by surprise. I have virtually no love for winter. On a scale of 1 to 10, my love is like a two.

Sorry winter.

That being said, every time winter rolls around I already know what’s coming: that by mid-January/February, I will vow that I WILL eventually move someplace warmer, and I will experience some blah days…or twenty.

However, did you notice I used the word feel in the past tense back there?  No, I’m not out of the woods completely, but I did notice that my mood started changing, and my gloomy spirits had some moments of sunshine.

I’ve been feeling better.

So what changed?

After some quiet reflection, I was able to identify those things that I think are some successful strategies to fight the winter blues. 

The reality is, none of them are crazy or shocking. (No, I didn’t take a vacation to the tropics. Sigh.).

They might even seem obvious as you read them. 

When you’re in the middle of feeling the winter blues, though, the most obvious things can seem so not obvious; drowned out by inner dismal feelings and a sense of fatigue and malaise. 

I am compelled to share them with the hope that, if you too are experiencing some winter blahs, you will be able to fight them off like a boss, and will experience renewed beauty and energy in your day-to-day.

6 Strategies to Help With the Winter Blues

1-Give Yourself Permission To Chill Out

Why permission?

If you’re like me, you sit down to browse a magazine, read a book or watch a little TV, and you start thinking about all of the other things you SHOULD be doing (laundry, cleaning, organizing something, etc.). 

Or, what you could/should be doing WHILE you are reading the book or watching TV. For example, watching TV while cleaning the family room. 

Why do I feel I have to be a perpetual multi-tasker?

What is that about?!?

I’m chalking it up to our productivity-minded American culture constantly telling us we need to be going, going, going and doing, doing, doing.

All.The.Time. 

That’s not okay.

It IS okay to relax.

Especially if you have kids.

Actually, most definitely if you have kids.

2-Let Some Things Go

You might need to be selective here. Letting the housecleaning go for a couple months could make spring cleaning a beast. Nevertheless, we don’t have to do all the things all the time. We can take a vacation from things once in a while.

I’m especially prone to feeling this way in our homeschool. We have a set list of things to accomplish each week, and I love the days when we get everything checked off.

Who doesn’t? 

Still, when I’m running the kids to various appointments to keep us on track with our health (well-visits, dental visits, haircuts, etc.), I have to remind myself that those appointments are just as important as completing our Latin lesson or an art project. 

I decided to ease up on our lessons for a few weeks, which resulted in more peaceful days, and less overwhelm for me.

What can you let go for a while? A subject in your homeschool? Cooking meals every night? Chores every Saturday? 

3-Do More Of What You Love

I know I just said you should let some things go, and now I’m suggesting you do more! However, by setting other things aside for a while, you’re going to give yourself space for more of something you love.

Yay!

This sounds like a win to me, especially if you’re fighting off the winter blues.

For myself, this meant I spent extra time baking yummy treats, watching a few movies/shows I enjoy, and spending extra time playing games with my 5 year old.

What’s something that makes you happy, yet you feel like you never have time for? Reading? Crafting? Baking? Writing?

Now is the time to do that thing.

Say no to something else, so you can say yes to that thing!

It’s truly important that we make time for happiness.

4-Remember Your Relationships

This one is probably the most important of all.

I can get so lost in my own daily schedule, day after day and week after week that I forget to nurture the relationships I value most. 

When I find time to chill out, say “no” to cleaning (there’s always something to clean!) and do something I love (watch a “feel good” movie like this one I love), my kids are usually thrilled because this allows them mom-time that’s not school-related.

Family Relationships

They want to sit by me on the couch and make sure I see all the funny parts. Also, I think they like seeing me laugh, especially when I ask to re-watch the funny parts! 

The past month, I was sensing that my youngest daughter wasn’t having enough one-on-one time with me. She was constantly asking me to play her favorite card game, play Barbies, or to reenact Cinderella. She frequently asked me to hold her or cuddle.

In the hubbub of our days, I realized our preschool time together had been pushed to the side. She was vying for my attention. 

I realized I was saying yes to things that seemed important at the time, but at the expense of quality time with her. I reminded myself of three things:

• to start saying NO more often to other things
• to choose not to see how incredibly messy our family room is (always!)
• to make time for that favorite card game…over and over. 

Spousal Relationships

My husband and I also made some extra time together, something that’s a constant struggle. It was as simple as going out to eat and doing a little shoe shopping one night, and watching a favorite show together after the kids were in bed a few other nights.

Finally, I made it a point to reach out to friends.

Whether it’s a text conversation, or a scheduled phone chat (these are the best!), we all need to stay connected right now.

What relationships could use a little extra nurturing for you?

I encourage you to make a plan TODAY to connect with someone, and let them know you’re fighting off the winter blues.

Chances are, they are too!!

5-Change Things Up And Try Something New

Here’s what I’ve been doing:

• -trying new recipes from this book
• -reading books outside my normal genres
• -listening to this podcast
• -keeping track of birds in the backyard with a birder app
• -sledding with the kids

Need a few fresh, fun ideas to spice things up?

Snag this FREE PRINTABLE Try Something New… 50+ Ideas to Fight Winter Blues and do something new starting today.

Bonus: these ideas can be done alone or as a family. Try a few or try them all. It’s highly likely you’ll make a few fantastic memories along the way.

6-Make Plans For Spring

Are you dreaming about all the things you’ll do when spring rolls around? It’s only one month away! 

Whether it’s planning for a vacation, a much-needed mom retreat, or a future vegetable garden (like me), making a few dreamy plans about the future gives me something to look forward to and get excited about.

What are your plans for spring? Here’s some ideas to get you excited.

How About You?

Have some tips that help you fight the winter blues? I’d love to hear them.  Leave a comment below!

Don’t forget that FREE printable!!!

Keep on keeping on!

Disclaimer: The information and resources mentioned here are intended for informational purposes only and to share my own personal experiences. It shouldn’t be seen as any kind of advice, or used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. I am not a medical professional. Always consult with a medical professional for specific medical advice.