Here's Tom Waits whining about November to accompany this post

This is my quick and dirty guide to fighting winter blues (aka SAD). YMMV, but what I'm about to share was game changing for me. I used to hate winter, and get pretty depressed, and now I don't mind it at all.

The single most important thing:

GO OUTSIDE, EARLY, EVERYDAY, AND RELAX.

Go outside
Get sunlight on some part of your skin and unfiltered photons into your eyes. Let your heart remember that the sun is still shining.

Early
You want to begin the day with sunlight. You also want to be awake for all of the sunlight that's available during the day. So as soon as there's some lightness in the sky go outside

If you're a night owl, you'll have to decide what's more important to you, but if you're not currently awake for all the daylight hours, and you want to improve your seasonal mood, this is where I'd look first.

Everyday
The more days you do it, the better you'll feel. If you do it everyday, you will feel best of all. Making something an everyday commitment also makes it easier to slip into the "this is a habit and doesn't require an act of will" category of life. When's the last time you considered not brushing your teeth before bed?

Relax
I learned this by going outside every day in a bitter cold Colorado winter, dressed in full winter gear (thermal underwear is key), with a cup of coffee and a journal, and journalling outside in the mornings. You can journal in gloves if you don't care how your handwriting comes out.

My theory of SAD is that it's actually about dissociation. We physically brace against the cold, and disconnect from our bodies. We stay indoors much more, because it's comfortable and light, and so we disconnect from nature.

Then, once we're dissociated, we get symptoms of chronic dissociation, which includes low energy, depression, and anxiety.

IDK how true and/or partial the above is. But the relaxing part is important. Look for how your body is bracing against the cold, and look to breathe and relax that bracing. Dress warm enough so that it's possible. There's no bad weather, only bad clothes. And breathing really helps here.

Saying that, it can get lethally cold in Colorado. Once it gets much below zero Fahrenheit, i loosen up my rule and just go outside for a bit. I don't make myself try and get comfortable in those conditions.

Nowadays I'm as likely to meditate as journal, but in either case I'm out there long enough to have to get comfortable.

And if you're not about that sedentary, contemplative life, a walk, run, or hike, is going to be as good or better.

Bonus Tip: Get into nature often! Once a week minimum to get away from human construction and be surrounded by pure nature.

Finally, if you live above the arctic circle, you have chosen a hard road. Blessings to you, and good luck!

seasonal affective disorder

It's the most . miserable time . of the year.