How to beat the winter blahs

January can be a tough month. Everyone is falling fast from the high of Christmas and New Years, and its freezing cold out, and people instinctually don’t leave their home, unless they have to go to work. Who would want to? But the lack of activity and socializing can really take a toll on mental health.

I’m one of the masses that don’t want to go outside between the beginning of January and mid March. I’ve learnt though, over the years, that sitting at home in bed alone doesn’t help. Having people and heading out for some fun can really help pass the time until the warmth returns.

Below are some ideas for things big and small (and usually cheap) to assist you in bringing some joy back into the coldest, darkest months of the year.

1.  1.     Pyjama party

                Last January, I started thinking that if I’m sitting here, miserable and alone, maybe everyone else is, and so                             I came up with a super fun plan for a karaoke pyjama party. I made a huge pan of macaroni and cheese, put in a                       Sing Star disc, and we sang and ate the night away, snuggled in our pyjamas. It was a huge hit, and it was so                         great to have laughter and fun fill up my home.

2. 2.      Hit up the shopping mall with friends

It might seem simple, but just getting out of the house is a huge thing. And what better reason to get out of the house than for shopping? Making a whole day out of it can be great. There’s a mall in Ottawa with a movie theater in it, and my roommates and I have gone to the mall for lunch, seen a movie, done shopping, and went to dinner before going home. It was a great way to spend a Saturday, and it felt good to get out of my bed, and away from Netflix.

3.   3.    Have a fancyish dinner

Most of my roommates are vegetarians, but the other meat eater and I like to, every once in a while, have what I call a “meat date”. We had one this past Sunday and it included pulled pork on homemade dinner rolls, a mix of mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, and brownie ice cream sundaes for dessert. It’s another small thing, but can really cheer you up. And if you split the cost of the meal half way, it can be relatively cheap.

4.   4,    Go to a winter festival/skating rink/sledding hill

I cannot stress enough the importance of getting outside in the winter. I HATE it, but it’s a necessary evil for dealing with my depression. I have to get fresh air. Making it fun helps a lot. In Ottawa, there’s a n outdoor winter festival called Winterlude, and we’re home to the Rideau Canal, so ice skating is at easy access, but it doesn’t always need to be a big production. Plenty of towns have sugar bushes, and you can go out and visit them, or hit up the local skating rink for some fun. Sledding is also a great, cheap (free if you already have a sled) option, and can be crazy fun if you go with friends.  Topping off the night at home, with big mugs of hot chocolate can also make the night super special.

5.  5.     Galentine’s Day

What’s Galentine’s Day, you ask? Why only one of my favourite days of the year, February 13th. Since 2011, I’ve been hosting this event for all my female friends and family, all my favourite gals, inspired by Leslie Knope on the show Parks and Recreation. We dress in pink and red, eat heart shaped food (last year we did heart shaped naan bread pizzas, red punch, and heart shaped sugar cookies – I’m going to elaborate on the event, and tips to host your own in a future post), and it’s always a great way to split up the winter months.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips for combating the winter blahs. I know it can be a tough time of the year, but we can all get through it together. Let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions of your own to fight the winter blues!