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We are halfway through January! How are you doing? We’re fastly approaching “Blue Monday”, which according to some non-scientific sources is the most depressing day of the year. It is dark, it is cold, whatever joy we might have carried with us post-Christmas has probably worn off by now and the next paycheck is still over a week away. Which is too long – like any booked holidays. They’re too far in the future to get excited about yet. Plus, maybe you have already “failed” on your resolutions and 2026 isn’t quite starting the way you had hoped.
Wow. Let’s take a deep breath.
Today I want to share a few things I do when I feel the Winter Blues creeping in, maybe these strategies will help you too.
1. Don’t panic.
Like most people, I don’t like feeling sad. And if I do feel sad, especially if there’s no discernable reason for it, I tend to panic. I don’t want to fall into a big black hole that I can’t find my way out of again! I don’t want to descend into a downward spiral where I cannot stop contemplating all the things I don’t like about myself or all the ways in which other people have let me down.
I mean – who does? But feeling a bit low because the weather is grey or being disappointed over having to unravel all of my recent knitting projects because they don’t fit right is not the same as a full on depression. I can’t always be cheery and optimistic, life is full of ups and downs. And the downs or nothing to panic about!
And even if I fall into a hole – I have been there and I found a way back out. There is no shame in needing medication or other help, and I know where to get both.
2. Be kind to yourself.
So, I acknowledge the fact that feeling a bit sad is normal. However, I don’t tell myself “everyone feels sad from time to time, get over it.” I don’t need to pull myself together or push through. In the same way I would act compassionately towards my kid or my friend who is having a bad day, I have learned to be kind to myself.
This looks like not feeling guilty over making a freezer meal. It means reminding myself that I have a whole year to work on my goals, I don’t need to tick everything off this month. And I allow myself to spend time doing things that bring me joy, even if there are other things on my to-do list.
3. Don’t fight alone.
When I feel low my natural instinct is to isolate. Sometimes having some me-time can be soothing but too much time by myself is not ideal when I am sad. So, I am deliberate about spending time with people. Not necessarily to have lots of deep chats analysing all of our feelings but more to look away from myself. Spending time with others broadens my horizon. Conversations divert my thoughts onto new tracks.
I always feel better when I spend some time chatting to the parents at the nursery gate or the playground, when I meet a friend, visit my parents or spend an evening hanging out with my husband.
4. Get outside.
Sorry for talking about this for the millionth time, but the best investment we have made when we had kids was an electric bike and trailer. Movement plus fresh air is such a source of endorphins for me. Also, I always feel like such a sporty, impressive person when I cycle in minus temperatures. Haha!
But whether it is cycling or walking or simply spending an hour at the playground with my girls – both my body and my soul feel refreshed after having had some fresh air.
5. Make it magical.
I think one of the reasons why January feels particularly sad is because we’re coming out of the Christmas season where everyting was special and now everything, in comparison, feels mundane. So, I try to inject some magic. Which is a whimsical way of saying that I try to make mundane moments special. I light candles, put on a new playlist (or a very old one), I wear my favourite clothes, try a new recipe or plan an outing like a museum trip, which mixes up our everyday routines a bit.
Blue Monday, you too shall pass
Spring is coming eventually! These grey days won’t last forever. The sun will shine again. (Probably so bright and hot that we’ll wish for winter to return).
However, if you keep feeling low for a few weeks it might be a good idea to see a doctor.
What are strategies to deal with winter blues? Definitely leave any tips in the comments, I’d love to read them and maybe try out something new!
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