21 Activities to Tackle the Winter Blues
Navigating the winter months in any part of the country can be challenging. Having grown up in the Midwest, I’m all too familiar with these struggles. Residents of Chicago, Illinois, know what’s often called "Chicago Winter"—a stretch that begins in late December and can extend even into April. It’s not just the biting winds, but also the endless gray skies that can take a toll on one’s mental health. As a therapist, I find clients especially benefit from having things to look forward to, or activities to do during this time. Instead of waiting for it to be over, there are ways you can spark curiosity, enjoyment, and fun! Below, I’ve listed some winter activities that can help you find moments of happiness and comfort during this season.
Look through a list of national holidays and pick a couple to celebrate (ex: February 9th is National Pizza Day this year - you can make a homemade pizza, go to a favorite pizza spot, order in pizza with friends).
Plan nights out to see plays, musicals, orchestras, movies, and sporting events. You can also plan visits to museums, art galleries, and new restaurants or organize a night in with friends to watch movies or play board games.
Purge your closet and give to Goodwill or sell items. Organizing your closet, kitchen, cabinets, and storage spaces can feel very therapeutic!
Create self-care ritual for specific day of the week (ex: every Tuesday night take a bath; every Monday morning you go get your favorite coffee, every Thursday afternoon you take time to journal) .
Stretch or move your body in a new way. I personally love the Peloton app! You can also try classes in yoga, pilates, barre, rock climbing, or dance.
Bake sweet treats, start your sourdough-making journey, or make recipes from a new cookbook.
Create a playlist for your different moods, or start a podcast by yourself or with a friend!
Write thank you notes to those you love or are thinking about.
Express yourself creatively through puzzles, coloring books, photography, painting, pottery, scrapbooking, drawing, jewelry-making, knitting, crocheting, or sewing, baking, musical instruments, or cooking.
Invest in new candles or blankets to cozy up your space.
Visit a book store and browse or buy a book! If you have a Kindle, join the GoodReads yearly reading challenge and get reading! Joining a book club is also a great way to motivate yourself to read.
Make a list of the shows or a movie series you want to watch specifically that month (ex: February start Season 1 of Survivor or all the Harry Potter movies).
Join a sports league (basketball, indoor kickball, indoor volleyball, hockey). Chicago Sport & Social Club
Journaling (Five Minute Journal, prompts found online, mental dumping, practice gratitude, write a creative story, or scrapbooking, or make a vision board)
Treat yourself to a spa day (massage, facial, nails, hair, acupuncture).
Find community events to attend - this can be a trivia night or game night at a local bar and events occurring in your apartment building or complex. You can also find out about any volunteering opportunities in your area.
Buy or download a new video game, phone game, board game, and/or card game.
Plan a weekend away nearby for winter festivities (skating, sledding, tobogganing, skiing, ice fishing, drink hot chocolate, make a bonfire).
Plan a weekend trip away to go somewhere warm (and fill up on Vitamin D!).
Invest in a subscription (wine membership, food subscription, mindfulness subscription, spa subscription).
You don’t have to suffer during this cold season. You can make the best of it by engaging in some of these options. If you are struggling to find the motivation or are experiencing symptoms of low mood, reach out to one of our SGTG therapists! Our clinicians are equipped to help you navigate through any time of the year and can be a great resource to start your mental health journey!
Maddie Persanyi, LCPC
About the Author
Maddie Persanyi, LCPC is a clinical therapist specializing in anxiety, relationship issues, self-esteem, life transition, and trauma. She incorporates IFS, CBT, and strength-based therapy into her treatment. Read more about Maddie here.