January Blues
They're real. They suck. They will end.
How’s your post-holiday re-entry going? Mine feels a little like a space shuttle passing through Earth’s atmosphere — very bumpy, but thankfully without any literal flames.
Instead, we have rain. Lots and lots of rain.
Maintaining a creative practice is tough under the best of circumstances. January in the Pacific Northwest, when it gets dark at 4pm and even the daylight is a dull, dim gray — is not the best of circumstances.
I’ve written before about coping and creating with seasonal depression, and something (a whispered intuition from the universe? more likely I’m just grumpy) tells me that today would be a good day to revisit this topic.
I’ve dealt with seasonal depression for as long as I can remember, and I keep a running list of things that help me cope. My hope is that maybe they’ll help you or someone you love, too.
Things that help me cope with seasonal depression
Look for the colors of winter. I play a game with myself whenever I go outside in winter — how many different colors can I spot today? A red winter berry, an orange-breasted robin, a purple thread on the ground. It helps me find beauty and novelty in a season that seems, on the surface, to lack both.
Use a HappyLight every morning. It really does work.
Get natural daylight. It’s hard to step outside when the weather is cold and gross, but I always feel better after I spent time in natural daylight. Even a walk to the mailbox helps.
Buy flowers. I love flowers. They make me feel joyful, and bringing them inside is like giving myself a little taste of spring.
Shamelessly consume comfort media. January is not the time to edify myself with great literature or books on craft. I don’t have the energy for it, and that’s okay. Instead, I’m watching Frasier reruns and reading fantasy romance novels.
Create what feels good. For me right now, that’s needle felting (while I watch Frasier, naturally), a little creative brainstorming for a future story, and this newsletter. The point isn’t to make great strides on my long-term creative goals; it’s just to keep the spark alive.
Make a January fun list. January sucks a lot less for me when I schedule fun things to look forward to. They can be big, special things or small, everyday things. The point is to get out and remember that fun is still possible. My current January fun list: a short trip to Ashland, a night out at a comedy club, and tickets to The Lion King musical.
Remember, it passes. It always passes. Seasonal depression can be really tough, but it is thankfully seasonal. When nothing else works, I remind myself that these feelings are temporary. They, like everything, will pass, likely sooner than I think.
What would you add to this list? Our collective mental health thanks you in advance.