Combatting depression and the winter blues takes effort. When I get down, I forget to take care of myself, so I need constant reminding. Take a moment to take a deep breath, exhale, and say: I am doing the very best job I can to get through today. That’s all anyone can do. And remember, sad days don’t last forever.
Every Day
- Exercise at least 20 minutes every day. An hour is better.
- Enjoy maintaining a healthy weight.
- Be judicious with sweets and booze.
- Take St. John’s Wort or something stronger, if you have to.
- Vitamins. (Do it!)
- Before you go out, primp! Take time to look your best.
- Dress warmly.
- Wear gloves!
- Look up at the sky.
- Breathe!
- Smile at strangers.
- Ask for and receive reassurance and compliments.
- Write about your feelings.
- List your accomplishments.
- Turn off all the screens.
- Don’t dwell. If you do, notice you’re doing it and redirect.
- Cultivate color.
Every Week
- Call one long-distance friend.
- Go out with friends to dinner or a movie.
- Do something really nice for someone else.
- Go to a movie, concert, play, opera, etc.
- Get a mani-pedi or a massage.
- Cook for yourself.
- Buy flowers.
- Start an interesting book.
Quick Pick-Me Ups
- Yoga
- Crochet
- Facial
- Perfume
- Exercise
- Hot Tub
- Bath
- Call a friend
Remember. . .
- Winter doesn’t last forever. But it’s long enough to require strategies to survive it.
- The question isn’t whether anyone else finds you loveable. The question is: Do you treat yourself as if you are?
- The depth of the pain that you feel is an indication of how much you need loving care.
- Say “yes” to social invitations, and offer them, too.
- Celebrate the good days and hours.
- How much love you have in your life.
- If you need it, ask for a check-in list from your friends—they are there for you.
- Having a lover is not the magical answer to every problem.
- Being in a relationship doesn’t prevent the holiday blues.
- There is another side to every story.
- When you compare, you despair.
- Don’t skimp! Summer is the time to save.
- PMS is real, it’s a bitch, but it does pass.
- Always keep cold meds on hand.
- Most days aren’t holidays!
- Focus on the moment—don’t dwell on the past or future-trip.
- Dream and set goals.
- Things change, and it’s okay for goals to change.
- Cultivate satisfying, life-affirming rituals.
- Celebrate victories, milestones, and for no reason whatsoever.
- Some people feel nothing around the holidays, good or bad.