Managing Depression During the Winter Months
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
It’s not uncommon for many people to feel sadder during the winter months. For many of you, the winter in the U.S. can feel quite different from what you are used to back home. Depending on where you live, the temperatures can be colder, the sunshine briefer, and the nights longer.
If you feel like you’re battling sadness or depression more than usual this time of year, you’re not alone.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about things you can do to manage depression during the winter and helpful resources for you to consider.
The Quickest and Most Viable Action You Can Take Immediately to Combat Depression
When people feel depressed, they very often stay physically stagnant because they feel low in energy and have trouble getting out of bed, moving, or doing anything.
As counter intuitive as this may feel, take the opposite action of what you want to do.
In other words—move!
Push your body to move just a little bit.
Walk a bit.
Make a simple meal.
Put your clothes away.
Brush your teeth and hair.
While this kind of movement may not necessarily make you feel “happy” right away, it prevents your mood from getting worse and helps bring it to a more “neutral” place.
But keep moving.
This is the quickest and most effective way to feel better—even if it’s only a little better.
Additional Tips to Manage Depression During the Winter
Here’s a few other ideas that can help put a smile on your face:
Engage in other physical activities, even if for a short period of time, like walking outside, engaging in your favorite sport, or playing a musical instrument
Ever been to a bonfire? Not only is it great for keeping warm, but it’s also fun to roast marshmallows (and eat them!)
Go tobogganing! (Don’t know what that is? It’s basically sliding down a snow-covered hill on a sled. Can you say, “Super fun!”)
Learn to ski or skate
Do a bit of local sightseeing
Call or facetime someone who loves you
Visit a friend, even if it’s just for a few minutes
Listen to your favorite music. Hey, maybe even do the electric slide!
Watch an uplifting movie
Get out of your space by scheduling a fun outing with your best buds!
Is your school hosting an activity? Check it out!
Make your space cozy and warm—a place you love to be that makes you feel warm, fuzzy, and safe
Counseling is Always an Option
When you’ve tried to get out of your funk, but nothing seems to be helping, there is always help available.
Contact your school’s counseling center. There are usually free services offered for a limited number of sessions.
Mental health hotlines are also a useful option. They have crisis and suicide prevention resources if you find that you’re urgently in need of help.
If you live in NY, you can also schedule a free 30-minute call with me and we can discuss how I can help you.
Don’t Let the Winter Blues Keep You Down
Whatever you decide to do, decide to do something.
Winter depression is not something to ignore, especially if it’s keeping you in bed.
Remember, you can always schedule a call with me to discuss how you can proactively improve your well-being and achieve your goals in the U.S.!
About The Author
Many years ago I came to the U.S. from Taiwan and studied in a field that rarely accepted “fresh off the boat” international students from non-English speaking countries. I’m Dr. Vivi Hua, Psy.D. and I help international students navigate the cross-cultural aspects of their experience in the U.S., so they can succeed academically and socially and build a life and career that they desire!