IGNITE Febraury 2021

Winter blues got you down?

For many people, myself included, winter can be a time where motivation is low, the urge to lay in bed all day is high and your energy levels feel nonexistent. Wintertime makes it near impossible to get anything done.

Below are some tips and tricks I have discovered over the years that help with the winter blues. Before I share those tips, I want to state that I am not a doctor or a trained professional. The tips I have below are just simple everyday “hacks” that I have found help me through the wintertime. If you think you have more than just the case of the winter blues, please contact your doctor or a trained professional. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has plenty of trained professionals and resources that can help.

Tips for making the winter blues a little easier to cope with (especially during a pandemic):

1. Get light in. If you have many windows in your home, make sure you open up all of your curtains. Let the light in. Even if it is snowing outside, the brightness of outside is still better than the darkness of keeping the curtains closed.

Don’t have many windows, or work in an office? Try using light therapy. Use bright LED light bulbs or find an LED lamp online to make your space brighter.

2. Don’t oversleep. If you are back working in the office, then this tip may not apply to you. If you are still at home, keep to your schedule. Once you mess up your sleep schedule, it is hard to get back on track. A disrupted sleep schedule can cause you to have more difficulty concentrating, learning and communicating. Create a bedtime routine that has signal tasks in it, i.e., turning off your phone for the night, drinking tea or reading a book.

3. Take walks when you can. I know winters here in Illinois can be brutally cold and just downright nasty. However, when the weather is not too bad, bundle up and get outside for a walk, even if it is for five or 10 minutes. The fresh air and sunlight helps boost your mood.

4. Fill up your social calendar. During a pandemic, it may seem difficult to fill up your social calendar; however, it is not impossible. Try to have virtual game nights with friends or family. Have Zoom lunches or dinners with friends. If you think it is weird to eat on camera, then have a cooking night instead, where you cook a dinner together. Have a virtual mixology night. Take a hike with friends or family (safely of course). Be creative and have fun when planning events.

5. Exercise. Do an at-home workout that you find on YouTube. Use your gym equipment, if you have it. Do some yoga. Have a solo dance party. Just get up and move. Moving helps keep your brain happy.

6. Organize and clean. Having a cluttered home or even just office can be mentally exhausting. Organize rooms one by one, starting with the room that you see first thing in the morning. Make sure you do not start your day looking at a cluttered mess. If you are organizing your office, take it zone by zone. Don’t try to do everything at once. It can be overwhelming.

7. Have a strong support system. Beating the winter blues does not have to be a solo activity. Keep a strong support system to help you on the days that seem to be more difficult than others. Sometimes a simple phone call from a friend or family member is all you need to get yourself motivated for the rest of the day.

Remember find what works for you and keep pushing through; summer time will be here before we know it!

Carmen Kellerman, formerly Brenz, is event & program coordinator and IGNITE coordinator for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.