11 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues
That time of year has arrived—the stretch of winter that feels never-ending. The cold lingers, the sun feels like a distant memory, and you’re longing for green grass, budding trees, and the warmth of sunshine on your face.
The winter blues start creeping in, and you find yourself thinking, I don’t know if I can handle one more day of this! I see you, sweet mama. Let’s explore 11 simple ways to shake off those winter blues and help you hold on until spring finally arrives.
Let’s get to it!
11 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues
Find The Light
Get in the light. Sit by a window and read a book. Open up your curtains and pull up the blinds and let the light shine in.
Step outside whenever possible, even if it is just for 10 minutes. Take a walk around your block. Bundle up if you have to. You can do it! This will be life-giving to you! Use light therapy if you have access to it.
Find the light in your endeavors to beat the winter blues.
Spend Time With God
Speaking of the light, spend time with God. Set aside at least 15 minutes every day and be still. Meditate on His Word. Read a devotional. Memorize a verse. Journal about what you read. Pray without ceasing.
You will be surprised how much this can alter the course of your day. Believe me when I tell you, when I don’t make this a priority, I can tell a difference. When I do, I honestly feel like God multiplies my time. You will feel more at peace throughout your day.
Move Your Body
Mama, move your body. Stretch, walk inside on a walking pad or treadmill, do some squats, run the stairs a couple of times, and go for a walk outside if you can handle the cold.
Movement gets your blood flowing and lifts your spirits. You may not feel like getting off the couch, but make yourself.
Keep A Gratitude Journal
An attitude of gratitude can make all the difference in the world. By purposely taking time to look for all the blessings you have to be thankful for, it will change your mindset. Instead of focusing on what’s hard, you focus on what’s good!
Buy yourself a journal and call it your gratitude journal. Take 5 minutes and write 5 things you are thankful for each day.
You can do it when you have your quiet time with God in the morning or you can do it right before you go to bed.
What a beautiful thing to close your eyes to as you lay your head down on the pillow.
God tells us in His Word to give thanks.
Psalm 107:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
You can read more about gratitude in my post, Change Your Attitude With Gratitude
Nourish Your Body
Eat healthy. Try to limit sugar and aim for more protein. I keep hearing you need to eat your body weight in protein. I don’t even know if that is possible, but 80-100 grams a day would be a good start.
Stay hydrated. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Add fruit to it or an electrolyte mix to give it some flavor and an extra boost of hydration.
Limit your caffeine. I’m not saying eliminate it, but keep it to a minimum during this month. Limit your alcohol intake. Keep it at a minimum or eliminate it.
Make Sure You Give Your Body Rest
Sleep at least 7-8 hours a night. If you struggle to get that much sleep, you can try these things.
Add magnesium to your nighttime routine. Eliminate electronics right before sleep. Take a bath before you climb into bed. Read a book to quiet your mind. This leads me to the next way to eliminate the winter blues.
Read a Fun Book
Take some time to read. Instead of turning on Netflix, grab a book and read. Settle down in a comfortable chair or couch and allow yourself time to relax and read.
Put away the self-help books for a little while and read something fun. Grab something light and easy. Once spring arrives and the outdoors are calling you, you won’t have time to read a good book.
Make Plans With Friends
Making plans with friends keeps you excited for another day and gives you something to look forward to. Invite them over or meet them out. Grab coffee, go to a movie, and have a play date with your kiddos.
Being with people can be life-giving when the winter blues are getting to you. Even if you don’t feel like it, make the plans.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says it beautifully;
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.“
God knew we would need each other.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.“
Mamas need each other. Lean on those friends to get you through long, hard days. I’ve got a great post all about how to be a good friend, A Good Friend: What Every Mom Needs.
This weekend, we have invited two couples over to play games. I’m looking forward to it. I find that if we plan things on the weekends, we don’t get bored just sitting at home. Sitting at home with nothing to do can accentuate the winter blues. Avoid this if possible.
Having something to look forward to and plan for can give you purpose and meaning and a reason to move.
Plan A Vacation or Family Event
You’ve got time on your hands, so give yourself something to do.
Dream about a vacation and then start to plan it. In today’s world, you need to plan ahead. Why not use the winter months wisely?
We just planned a week at the Outerbanks with our family! This has put a pep in my step! We haven’t done a family vacation in 3 years, and I cannot wait!!!
If you have adult children, dream about a family get-together. One of my best friends does a staycation with all her married children and their families.
How does that sound? The joy of having all your adult kids together again in your home is definitely something to look forward to.
Buy Yourself Flowers
There is nothing like flowers to brighten your home and your spirits!! And guess what? They are pretty inexpensive. You can buy a bunch of tulips for 7-10 bucks.
Costco, Whole Foods, Wegmans, Weis, Giant, and all the grocery stores now carry flowers. Do yourself a big favor and go get yourself some! This is a sure-fire way to beat those winter blues.
Light A Candle
Lighting a scented candle in your home is mood-changing. Or, if you prefer, a diffuser with a lovely scented oil.
I immediately feel lighter when I light a candle or put on my diffuser. It makes our home smell wonderful and gives it that warm and cozy feel. Try it!
I’ve got a post all about engaging your children’s senses in your home. You can read about it here:
How to Awaken Your Child’s Senses At Home
In Conclusion
As the winter months drag on, it’s easy to feel weighed down by the cold, the gray skies, and the longing for sunshine. But by intentionally adding small, joy-filled habits to your daily routine—whether it’s getting outside, moving your body, spending time with God, or even something as simple as lighting a candle—you can lift your spirits and push through these final weeks of winter.
Remember, Mama, this season won’t last forever. Spring will come, and with it, the warmth and renewal we’re all craving. Until then, take care of yourself, find joy in the little things, and know that you’re not alone in this. You’ve got this! 🌸💛
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