Hello! I have been talking with people a lot lately about preparing for the winter months. Winter is often a difficult time for people with Depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and adding another year of Covid concerns into the mix is making it more difficult for some people.

I want to encourage you to start thinking about enjoyable things to do during the winter months. Think of it as a first aid kit. You can literally have a box of things you like (books, movies, good-smelling things, art supplies, crafting supplies, music, etc.), or you can create a list of ideas, and keep it handy.

One thing I am encouraging people to do is get good cold weather gear. Most people fear going outside in the winter because they are cold- they don't have the right gear to enjoy the cold weather. If it is possible, get good hats, mittens, and jackets so you can go outside even when it is cold or snowing. You can buy new ones (look for sales!), check out 2nd hand shops, or ask friends/family if they have extras you can use.

Start thinking of activities you can do (indoor or outdoors) this winter. Here are some ideas...

Walks in the park

Snowshoeing

Sledding

Making snow forts

Cooking/baking and trying new recipes

Having teas or hot chocolate handy

Crafting- knitting, cross stitch, scrap booking, DIY projects on Pinterest

Art activities (make presents for others for the holidays)

Do crossword puzzles or Sudoku

Puzzles

Reading

Writing

Origami

Listen to new music/podcasts 

Make a podcast!

Play an instrument you enjoy

Find a workout you enjoy that you can do indoors

Yoga

Find new movies/shows you like

Rewatch movies/shows that make you feel good

Board games/card games

Video games

Build something with legos

Plan zoom time with friends and family

Take a webinar/learn a new language

Organize closets and donate items you don't need

Plan a garden/herb garden to start planting in later winter months

Find somewhere you can volunteer that is social distancing

Is there anything you've been wanting to try that sounds like fun? Is anywhere nearby doing classes you could sign up for? I recently did a stained glass 5 week class and had a great time learning how to make pretty things using stained glass! Try and get creative when you think about things you might want to learn more about.

Relating it back to last month's email- be mindful about how you are spending your time. Are you doing activities that create feelings of enjoyment and calm? Or are you just passively getting through these months? Prioritize things that help you feel joy, calm, and contentment.

And remember that Vitamin D often decreases in the winter months, which can affect our mood. Talk to your doctor to see if getting blood work to check Vitamin D levels would be helpful. 

Thanks for reading and being in connection with me,

Steph