Dem Low-Down, Soul-Suckin’, Good For Nothin’, Can’t Get Off My Backside Winter Blues

Sing it, Billie.

It seems like we’re back at that time again. I always find that February is my least productive month because I simply can’t seem to get inspired to accomplish anything. Even with all I know about the benefits of exercise for me, I still have a hard time getting myself out of bed in the morning or staying up after the kids have gone to bed so that I can get in a quick workout. I find it much easier to watch Netflix or read a book. Even the ones that just last five to fifteen minutes, I vouch for them.

I could give you a long list of the challenges we’ve faced, but that would just be complaining about the situation. When I am nagging at my children, which is not very often, I tell them something along the lines of, “You don’t want to hear it and I don’t want to say it.”

Thankfully, along with wrinkles, becoming older also gives perspective. Since I was in the sixth grade, I’ve struggled with bouts of depression, and after all of those bouts, I’ve learned a thing or two, which makes this year’s low place a little more tolerable, both for myself and for my family. I’ve had episodes of depression since I was in the sixth grade. My thoughts on the winter blues are presented here, with no specific sequence in mind.

Reflections On Biker’s Winter Blues

  • I always have this slump in February, and I know this. Rather than mindlessly giving into it, I can just watch it go by and take better care of myself in the meantime. I give myself a few small treats that I love rather than doing a face-plant into a pint of ice cream. Or a bag of Oreos. I’ll stop now.
  • I’m able to identify the blues pretty quickly now. Instead of sliding into self-loathing, which is oh-so productive, I was able to catch it in a couple of days and distract myself with a book I’d been wanting to finish.
  • Once I saw I was slipping, I was able to stop the negative chatter in my head for a minute to ask myself, “What would it look like if I was doing well?”  I made a mental list, and worked with that. 

         By suppertime, I had taken a shower, made supper, had bread baking in the oven, cleared the table, run a couple of loads of laundry, and gotten a few dishes done. I was even able to encourage the kids to make their beds and do their usual vacuuming chores. Much of the house was still a wreck, but there was progress. And that was waaay better than looking at the mess and feeling like a failure.
        This one question works wonders for me. There’s no blame, no “shoulds,” no grinding perfectionism. There’s just imagination for what I could do to lift a tiny bit of the weight of helplessness off my shoulders.

  • Getting out with other people also makes a huge difference, but there’s a catch for me, at least. If I sit around with a friend and blather about the same issues I’ve been running in my head, I end up feeling more depleted. If I get out and move or do something that gets me out of my head, like playing hockey, watching a funny movie or trying a new, easy recipe, then I feel better. It’s like I had a mini-vacation from the blahs, and that reminds me that they’re only temporary.

Hmmm . . . maybe I could manage a short spin on my bike trainer now.

Any other great antidotes for the winter blues? I’d love to hear ’em!