Winter Survival Guide: Protect Your Mental Health

November 27, 2022 Erica Garcia, LPC

You would not be alone if you are concerned about the possible negative effects on your mental health around the winter season. Many people label this season as one of the most stressful times of the year, while some stress is unavoidable, too much stress can challenge your ability to cope.

These are some things that can help coping with the winter season.

Utilize daylight hours: Having less daylight hours can negatively affect your mood, especially if you struggle with depression. Try to find 30 minutes in your day to get outside during the day. You can take a walk somewhere instead of driving there, you can invite a friend to take a daily walk, you can sit outside, or watch the sunrise.
Connect if you are feeling lonely: More than likely you are not the only one feeling lonely this season. Sharing how you feel can feel empowering. Talk about ways you can stay in touch with a friend and support each other. Having daily phone calls or messaging to check in can help both of you.
Work on sleep hygiene: Keeping consistent sleep hours can help you manage the stress of the season. You can pick one thing that you can do to improve your sleep and work on that one thing throughout the season. You can go to sleep 30 minutes earlier, not use your phone close to bedtime, make the room as dark as possible, keep the room cooler (we sleep better in colder temperatures), etc.
Take a break: Make sure to schedule some self-care time, especially after stressful holiday events. Be mindful about your consumption of news and social media. You can engage in deep breathing as a break throughout your day, there are plenty of deep breathing exercises on YouTube you can use!
Prioritize your mental health: This is the season to focus on the things that uplift your mental health. Keep your therapy appointments or sign up for therapy. Limit or avoid substances. Take any medication as prescribed and plan for refills.

Once this winter season is over, you will be glad that you took the time to protect your mental health. For further support around caring for your mental health during the winter season, click here.