It’s that melancholy time of year again: the pristine snow turns to slush, the holiday cheer wears off, and everyone holds their breath as Punxsutawney Phil pops his head up to tell us we have 6 more long weeks of winter. For many, this period is the peak season for depression and anxiety, as millions of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) every year. Seasonal depression impacts everyone differently with a variety of symptoms including moodiness, fatigue, and many other physical and mental changes. If you or someone you know is dealing with the February Blahs, read below for Bud & Rita’s Tips for Beating the Winter Blues.
For those who seek immediate care and support, please text or dial 988 for the Suicide Prevention Hotline, or visit 988lifeline.org.
- The 5-Minute Rule – If there’s a task you’ve been putting off, or haven’t had the energy to tackle, try the 5-Minute Rule. Commit yourself to doing a task for just 5 minutes; whether that be a quick walk around the block, a few pages in a book, or shooting a text you’ve been avoiding. You might find that after those few minutes, you’re invested in the task at hand and find motivation to carry it out. If the motivation doesn’t return, don’t stress about it! You’ve already done more than you did 5 minutes ago, and sometimes that’s all you need.
- Talk to another person – We are social creatures, but the cold doesn’t care about that. Being stuck at home due to the weather can feel very isolating, which worsens seasonal depression symptoms. If you find it to be a struggle to leave your house to see loved ones, try a phone call or even a short text. Making contact with another human will remind you that you yourself are a human being, and that you aren’t as alone as the hibernating months might make you feel.
- Try to do a task with your hands – Sometimes to fight mental drainage, you need to get into a flow mode. Finding any sort of physical task that you can zone in on can help you strengthen and reestablish your mind-body connection. Whether it be a craft, such as woodworking or doodling, or an easy chore like washing some dishes by hand, taking the time to focus on a small task can help calm a racing mind and remind you that you are capable of whatever you set your mind to do.
- Get a move on – On dismal days, it can be hard to even get out of bed. Any sort of physical movement can help a stagnant brain get out of a rut. If committing to a workout feels like a challenge (we’ve all been there), walking a few laps around the block or taking a minute to do some light stretching can help activate your body. If physical movement is not an option for you, then any sort of mental activation such as reading or even looking at nature will do small wonders for beating the winter blues.
- Remember that you’re not alone – Dealing with seasonal depression (and Illinois winters in general) can be very isolating. Simply checking in with likeminded individuals can help reassure you that you are not on this journey by yourself, and that there are people out there who are always willing to help no matter your situation.
- Reach out for support – Seasonal depression can be very difficult to cope with, but there are people and resources out there that can help you work through it. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing it with your loved ones, take some time to check out these great resources for mental health in the Chicagoland area:
- Spark the Conversation – For dispensary owners and employees, Spark The Conversation is an educational workshop created by Nature’s Grace and Wellness. Geared towards people in the cannabis industry and the patients/adult-use consumers they serve, Spark’s educational workshops include self-care methods and information on how to be supportive of proactive mental health care for others. To schedule a presentation or request additional information, email education@ngwcannabis.com
- Hope For Us Network – Uses proactive prevention strategies to reduce risk factors that lead to mental health crises + provides suicide prevention resources
- Prevent 22 – For those who have given years of their lives to their country, Prevent 22 provides mental health services for Veterans of all ages
- Nami Chicago – For all Chicagoans in search of support groups and additional mental health resources
- Center on Halsted – For LGBTQ+ individuals, COH provides a variety of resources including support groups and therapy professionals
Remember that you’re human, and that it is not a personal or moral failure to experience seasonal depression! Be kind to yourself and others – if you notice that someone in your life is struggling with low feelings at this time, don’t be afraid to offer them an ear to talk to or resources for them to check out. No matter how bad things may feel, remember that a beautiful spring is just around the corner, ready for you to enjoy it ♥️
