winter, seasonal depression, self-care

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I have seasonal depression. It’s bad. There's the possibility that I will go down the rabbit hole and then get lost in the endless darkness. I find myself struggling with negative thoughts more often during the winter. The change in weather and temperature just brings me a sense of loneliness and emptiness. However, instead of dwelling on my mental illness like what I usually do in the previous years, I decided to take better care of myself. In the setting of home, mental and physical health can really go in both extremes. One can be extremely efficient with their time and take advantage of their environment in order to work on bettering themselves. Yet, one can also be trapped in a pool of sadness and struggle in vain to get back on their feet. 

My thought process behind my change in lifestyle is simple: in a world like the one we are living in where so many horrible things are going on, why be selfish and stop yourself from thriving?

Think about it, we spend more time and energy than we know these days trying to entertain others. The necessity in engaging on social media and interacting via messages and emails is draining on so many levels. People expect us to answer if they call, to respond if they text, and to be available 24/7 on social media. With the growing demand, it’s no wonder that our society as a whole are experiencing heightened levels of stress. In order to be fully functional, we all need to recharge. So, with no guilt or shame, we should coax ourselves in our happy hibernation. 

Tell yourself that you are worthy of basic self-cares and train your mind to treat yourself in the best way you could possibly find. Winter can be a depressing season, however it is also the easiest time finding self-care activities. The colder weather sets up a perfect cozy atmosphere that helps you decompress from a world that you have to battle to participate in. 

Here are some blissful ideas to get you started:

• Getting comfy with warm blankets, soft clothes, lots of candles, and Himalayan Salt Lamp

• Making a nest of soft blankets and pillows

• Comfort food

• Socializing with discretion 

• Naps with no guilt

• Early bedtimes

• Sleeping in

• Coloring & DIY project

• Self-guided learning (Medium & SkillShare are two of my favorites) 

• Baking 

• Yoga & Meditation

• Music

• Nurturing (human, plants, or pets)

• Long baths & warm showers

• Solo hikes

• Unplugging from social media

• Home facial

• Manicures and pedicures

• Stargazing (with a cozy blanket)