How to Feel Better During Winter: 17 Tiny Things I’m Trying to Stave Off Winter Blues

We’re in the throes of January. It’s been gray and depressing for, like, 9 days in a row here in Chicago. Omnicron is stupid. And there’s a whole lot of winter left.

If we ever needed a tiny serving of joy, it’s right now.

So today, I’m sharing a few ideas for how to feel better during winter. These small things are helping me feel just a little bit more joy, even in the depths of this season.

None of these ideas are revolutionary. You’ve likely heard most of them before. But if your brain has ceased to function due to lack of Vitamin D, this is at least a quick little reminder of things you could try if the dark and cold are getting you down.

P.S. If you need an extra boost, I’m bringing back last year’s Surviving Stay-at-Home Winter email challenge. (I thought we would not need it this year, but alas, Covid had other plans.) If you sign up, you’ll get one email a day for five days. Each email will include a quick five-minute activity that will inject a little happiness into your home, your body, and your relationships. You can sign up any time here!

17 Ideas I’m trying to Feel Better During Winter

1. Cooking through a cookbook

I got Molly Baz’s Cook This Book for Christmas, and I’ve been consciously trying to choose a recipe or two to make from it each week. I’ve scrawled YUM in the margins next to nearly every recipe we’ve tried, and I’ve learned some new techniques that make me feel like a kitchen wizard. (Did you know if you put tomato slices on paper towels for a few minutes, they won’t make your sandwich soggy? BRILLIANT.)

2. Trying new scents

I do already have one go-to perfume I adore and have worn for a few years. (It’s Ameline by Phlur, if you’re wondering.) But lately I’ve been curious what other good options are out there. Before Christmas, I ordered a sample pack from Henry Rose, Michelle Pfieffer’s clean perfume company, and I just tried a sample pack of other Phlur scents this month. For February, I’ve got my fun money set aside for this one from Ellis Brooklyn. I haven’t found anything I like more than Ameline yet, but testing out different scents and determining what perfume notes work well for me has been a fun experiment that mixes up the monotony of winter days.

3. Abandoning books with (ahem) abandon

I’m working on prioritizing reading more instead of getting sucked into mindless laptop scrolling. In order to do that, I have to quit books I’m not enjoying. Already this year I’ve ditched one title when the narrator was annoying and the romantic plot line developed too quickly. It freed me up to start another book that I actually want to pick up. No regrets.

4. Making lots and lots of tea

We’re talking a cup in the morning, a cup most afternoons, and sometimes a cup to cap off the evening. Enough that a designated tea station (complete with these tiny stirring spoons and a milk frother) has become necessary. Current caffeinated favorites include Trader Joe’s Winter Wakeup and Tazo’s Pumpkin Chai with lots of foamed oat milk. For herbal teas, I love Trader Joe’s Blood Orange herbal tea with a splash of pomegranate juice and the Lemon Loaf blend from Tazo, especially with a little sugar and a splash of oat milk.

5. Mixing up my body wash

I normally just keep one body wash in the shower, but I got an additional type for Christmas. Just having the option to mix up my routine a bit has brought surprising joy.

6. Thinking about small rituals

I’m currently in the middle of reading The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile. While I haven’t adopted any of the specific rituals the author discusses yet, I have been thinking about small ways to mark everyday moments, like the start and end of a workday.

7. Freezing extra servings of dessert

We currently have slices of chocolate cake in the freezer for when dessert cravings strike. After that’s gone, I’m planning to freeze balls of cookie dough so we can have a warm cookie without firing up the mixer.

8. Fun, energizing, and SHORT workouts

I’m relying on my daily exercise routine to stave off winter lethargy and get some movement into my too-sedentary days. But if a workout is going to convince me to pull out my yoga mat after a long workday, it has to be quick and enjoyable. Currently I’m enjoying the Sculpt Society. Its dance-based cardio is a decent substitute for Zumba (which I’m missing so much!), and the bodyweight workouts are short but spicy.

9. Burning candles

Lighting a candle is my current signal to myself that my workday is beginning. I’ve currently got an Anthropologie cart with Capri Blue Volcano, Voluspa Goji Tarroco Orange, and Boulanjerie Whipped Cream and Pear waiting for when I finish my current stash.

Bonus: I’ve kept these battery-operated candles similar to these in our windows since November, and I’ll likely leave them until Daylight Savings time begins. They automatically turn on at dusk and off 8 hours later.

10. Gearing up for cold weather

Having gloves, a hat, and a good winter jacket is a necessity if temperatures get even mildly cold in your location. Dreading going outside is no bueno. Bonus points if you choose options that are at least somewhat cute, as you’ll definitely feel better during winter if you actually like your outdoor gear. (Though going full Bernie Sanders certainly works, too.)

11. Wearing lip gloss

This is one of those small-but-significant things that makes me feel more awake and extra pretty on Zoom calls. Tower28’s gloss is solidifying itself as my favorite, as it’s not sticky and leaves my lips feeling moisturized even when the color disappears. I have and fully recommend Coconut, which is a pretty, not-too-bright pink, and Spicy, a sheer red.

12. Putting on real clothes

While working virtually, changing into real pants, earrings, and slippers that feel like shoes makes a big impact on my mood. I feel like I’ve turned on “work mode” instead of “chill on the couch” mode.

13. Prioritizing real-life connections

Let me preface this by saying that we’re vaccinated, boosted, and have already had Covid. Do this at your own discretion. But being able to see real people over board games or charcuterie plates fills my heart like no virtual space can.

14. Cutting back my screen time (or trying to, anyway)

I am definitely NOT an expert on this. But (related to the point above), I’m realizing I feel better during winter (and heck, during any other season) when I have hobbies and activities away from a screen. My current small but attainable goal to foster this is to check my blog feed only once a day. So far it’s working.

15. Planning things to look forward to

We have a winter bucket list of small but fun activities to check off, we’ll have visitors come to see us later this winter, and we’re hoping to schedule a quick getaway to celebrate our third anniversary. Even the little things help!

my still-aspirational ideas for how to Feel Better During Winter

16. Get more sleep

I am not doing this yet. But I’m trying desperately to get up earlier, so an earlier bedtime is in order. TBD how exactly I’m going to accomplish that, but I know it will help.

17. Take up a hobby.

Related to #14, I need something to do that doesn’t require a computer screen. Adam recommends painting as a way to inject a little color into bleak winter days. I’m itching to get back to crocheting or embroidery.

Don’t forget – if you’d like even more ideas to make this winter a little better, you can sign up for the Surviving Stay-at-Home Winter Challenge here!

How are you making winter better? Tell me everything in the comments!

P.S. Looking for more ways to feel better during winter? Try one of these hot winter cocktails – or run away from the cold with these novels to escape into.