- Country of Origin: USA
As far as I can remember, I have not liked cold weather.
And I have my own reasons for it.
My birthday falls in the summer, so you can say it’s in my DNA.
I’m not a fan of sweaters or long-sleeved shirts.
I have lived in Connecticut and dealt with brutal winters while growing up. I catch a cold easily and have worn jackets until early May. So naturally, winter isn’t an enjoyable time for me. Most winter days, you could find me at home, lying on my couch under at least one blanket, snacking on something, and feeling sorry for myself. Though I do it well.
I have never been officially diagnosed with seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder. However, many of my bad mental health episodes have occurred during winters, especially in recent years. As I’ve gotten older, the allure of the holidays, playing in the snow, and days off from school faded away. The latter two definitely have.
Gloomy December
In December, I usually freak out about the end of the year.
I feel like I haven’t done enough throughout the year. I feel like I should’ve gone to more fun events. This usually leads me to wonder what could’ve been, and I hate going down that path. I’d rather be happy for what I did than feel bad for what I didn’t do. I get caught in cycles of regret and self-hatred whenever I start wondering about all these things.
Lazy January
In January, I feel okay at the start of the year.
Like most people, I try to stick to my New Year’s Resolutions, but I usually only manage to honor them for about a week. I feel bad for not sticking to them, but I’m unable to overcome my laziness, and I’m not sure why. January also seems to be the longest month. I spend the second half basically hoping it’ll end.
Emotional February
February is usually tough for me. I’m single, so Valentine’s Day isn’t fun.
By this point, I’ve been in the house for three months. It’s the last month of winter, and I just long for warmer weather. I feel like spring is dangling over my head, making me jump for it.
The onset of Spring
The start of March makes me feel better.
Even though it doesn’t get warm until the end of March or early April, I feel it’s sunny, or at least I convince myself there’s more sun out there. It also seems like more events are happening in my neighborhood during this time, or I’m in the mood to check in frequently.
I have had these feelings for three months, so this past year, I decided to find ways to enjoy myself.
Overcoming challenges
I made 2023 my “year of health.”
This past January, I started taking apple cider vinegar gummies.
I also made it a priority to go to the gym more often. I did new workouts like weight training, and even lifted 25 pounds. I also enhanced my skincare routine by trying new products to see what works best for my skin.
Prioritizing my physical health has helped my mental health. This past winter, I didn’t feel as sluggish as I have in the last few years. It also motivated me to not just lay around my house when not working.
Want to take it outside?
I realized that one potential source of my winter depression is the lack of sun and going outside.
This winter, I tried to be outside more, as long as it wasn’t too cold. I realized that I needed exercise, vitamin D, and a change of pace from my usual routine, if only to walk to the grocery store or bookstore up the street during the day.
Even when it’s cloudy, getting out makes me feel better. It also allows me to add variety to my winter schedule, instead of doing the same thing each day. Maybe connect with nature or reality, but it works.
I have been trying to go out a lot at night, too. I love going to local drag bars and Meetup events with friends, even if it’s just a casual game night. It’s another thing that helps me break up the monotonous winter darkness.
Even though I’m an introvert, I enjoy going out and spending time with others, selectively. I think it uplifts my mood. Since these activities are indoors, I only have to be outside in the cold for a brief period of time.
I discovered that spending more time outdoors and strengthening social connections have significantly improved my winter outlook and boosted my overall well-being.
In body and mind, less isolation. In the end, tougher hide and tender heart. Maybe I created my own behavior modification program without realizing it.
Thank you to Yosef Baskin, Apurva Makashir, and Tanvi Sethi for their inspired edits on this piece and to everyone else on the Mental Health team.
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Anna Bechtel
Anna Bechtel is a freelance writer from Hamden, CT. Bechtel graduated from Drew University with a major in English and a minor in Media & Communications. She has written for Celebwell, The Access Report, College Candy, and The Odyssey Online and has her blog: All Podcasts All The Time.
