I hate winter. I hate it so much that I get depressed months before it actually happens - August, really, when you first start to notice the days getting shorter and there is a rustling in the trees that whispers "our time is almost up."
I used to basically shut down, both mentally and physically. But over the last two winters, this one included, it has been a little bit more bearable because I've done a couple of things to help endure it.
1. Take vitamin D.
I'm not kidding. I think the vitamin industry is mostly a scam and that you're a sucker if you are taking vitamin supplements that your doctor didn't suggest or prescribe. I make fun those who succumb to the quackery of homeopathic "medicine" and amuse myself by walking down that aisle at a Whole Foods.
But I spend as much time outdoors as I can when the weather is warm and the daylight permits it. I'm getting nearly none of that vitamin D in the dark, cold months. Last year, I took some of Chris's vitamin D supplements (he has to take it for health reasons) for a couple of weeks and discovered that I started feeling better. I was a bit more motivated to do things, and I had more energy. It made a huge difference.
2. Fill your house with plants.
While everything is dead outside, surrounding yourself with green can make you feel a bit more alive. Plants also help to clean the air, so when you're cooped up and unable to get some fresh air in your house, the plants can help you.
Buy fresh flowers every week. You can always get them at the grocery.
3. Let there be light!
A new thing I've done this year is buy grow lights. I had to get them for the banana and lemon trees that I must take inside for the winter. I bought full spectrum white light bulbs (Miracle Grow has a bulb that emits the equivalent of 150 watts but actually expends only 12 watts, so you're not adding much to your electric bill to keep them on all day.) The bulbs mimic sunlight and fool both plants and humans.
4. Plan your garden.
Or plan A garden if you don't have one. That includes looking at tons of photos. I use Pinterest to get garden design ideas and to help decide what to plant in the little space that I have. It usually takes me a month to plan it and gives me something to look forward to. If you have any outside space at all, even if it is just a front step, you can have a garden. Grow vertically!
5. Projects!
I am building a book shelf/trash can cabinet, making plant pots out of coffee cans and clothesline, creating a scrapbook about our last trip, and always trying to create more space in our small house. Once I decide on a general garden design, I'll be working on that, too. It'll probably include building new planters.
6. Learn something new.
Or get better at something you know. I am learning guitar. Learn to cook, or ski, or a language, or, I don't know, woodworking. Just learn something new. It will allow you to focus on that rather than the fact that it is winter.
7. READ.
Television depresses people. It is a passive nothingness. So is social media. Improve your mind, learn something new, and commit to becoming a better you through books.
8. Exercise.
I don't do this, because it bores me, and I hate the pretentiousness of gyms, although when it warms up to 45-50 degrees, I do take long walks. I keep saying I'm going to go to Kepler and ice skate after work but haven't done it yet. I also said I was going to start swimming at the pool down the street, but I haven't done that, either. But I know exercise helps people.
9. Visit a garden center, a greenhouse, or, if you are lucky enough to be close to one, a botanical garden. Ours has been closed because you jerks keep electing trash to public office and the shutdown closed most of our city's attractions. I hope it will open this week.
Some days I walk down to the garden center just to be around plants. It's about a seven minute walk from my house. I go there quite frequently.
That's all I have. This time of year is especially frustrating, because you've been cooped up for two or three months now, and you can see the days are getting longer but we still have so much time to wait. I am sick of it, but I am coping better than in the past. It's the vitamin D, the lighting, and the plants that are helping.
