Seasonal Depression: Living Life in the Gray

The colorful Midwest leaves have mostly fallen, and the gray of late Autumn has finally settled in. This transition of seasons really gets to me, as I’m sure many of you have felt as well. My first reaction is always to hide in bed and make up excuses as to why it’s okay. And while taking a “me day” is perfectly fine, spending most of your days under the covers is not ideal when everything inside of you is screaming, “Get up and do something!”

So how do we deal with that?
How do we peel ourselves from beneath the comfort of the blankets and finally say, “Enough is enough”?

Some of us may argue that hibernating through winter sounds delightful.  Trust me, I get it, but I’ll have to disagree.
One, because we are not bears.
And two, because deep down, we know we’re avoiding something unpleasant. Ignoring it won’t help. We must embrace the discomfort, and once we do, we open the door to real transformation and growth.

If the past year of personal growth has taught me anything, it’s that you must face your fears and get a little uncomfortable to move forward. One of my favorite quotes sums it up perfectly:

“The only way out is through.”

Get uncomfortable. Face the fear. Do the thing. Because nothing good results from stagnancy and procrastination.

One approach that helps me is simply getting out of the house. I try to schedule appointments early in the morning so I’m forced to get up and get moving. For me, getting started is always the hardest part of the day. As a home-based business owner, staying on task can be tricky.

Today, for example, I lingered in bed while my husband took our daughter to school. I wasn’t even tired, but the dull, gray sky made me want to go back to sleep out of avoidance. Eventually, after a couple of hours, I pulled myself up and took a shower. A morning shower is a simple but powerful way to transition into your day, you just need to get there. Once I’m downstairs, I’m usually ready to take on my to-do list… until I’m met with a sink full of dishes, a basket of laundry, and unswept floors. The anxiety and overwhelm begin to creep in.  And although I have a very cute kitten to keep me company, he is a distraction too!

This is why leaving the house and finding a distraction-free space has become a game-changer. Sometimes, removing yourself from your environment is the best way to focus on your goals.

Another strategy is being intentional about social connection. Fill your calendar with dates, outings, and time with people who lift you up. When the days grow darker and colder, connection becomes even more important. Chances are, many others are experiencing the same seasonal slump. Together, we help each other through it.

I recently reconnected with an old friend I hadn’t spoken with in half a year. Life had been busy, and after a few canceled plans, I stopped trying. I thought about her often but didn’t reach out because it had been so long, and I guess I felt like she just didn’t care, or she’d have reached out.  How silly does that sound when said out loud? So, a few days ago, I sent her a message, we made plans, and spent most of the day together. Not only did I reconnect with one of my oldest friends, but she also gave me a belated birthday gift: a giant, handmade cat-face pin. Make the call, send the text, spread the love – you won’t regret it.

It can also be powerful to engage in activities that help you face your feelings head-on. Maybe it’s gearing up for a cold-weather hike and noticing how alive you feel once you’re out there. It could be trying out seasonal hobbies that keep you moving and connected. When we shift our mindset out of the gray, we can create our own sunshine, radiating from within.

Little by little, these small choices add up. When we change how we respond to our day-to-day environment, we begin to see things differently.

As I always say, it’s all about perspective.

So, find your lantern within and let it guide you out of the winter blues and back toward the goals of self-love and happiness you’ve set for yourself.

The darker months will always come. But when we equip ourselves with the right mindset and strategies to face them, we can meet them head-on, allowing our inner light to shine, even in the grayest of days.