February 2024 | Surviving Peak Winter
January 31, 2024
February is a short month, but it packs a lot of cold-weather punch into just 28 days (actually, 29 this February—Happy Leap Year)! It can also be a month where those New Year’s resolutions have started to fade and you may feel an overall lack of motivation. Here are some ideas for ways to make February a little brighter.
Catch up with loved ones
Now that we’re spending less time at parties it can be easy to let contact with those we care about wane. Send a text, write a quick email, or get fancy with that nice stationery you received as a gift last year, thinking ‘when will I ever use this?’ and send a letter. Even if you feel like the other person should be the one to reach out first. Once the conversation gets going it won’t matter who sent the first message, all that will matter is the renewed connection.
Get outside
Yes, it’s cold. Yes, it’s cloudy. And yes, the slush pools the snow has turned into are deceptively deep at street corners. But you should still go outside if you are physically able. And when you arrive home with your runny nose and your water-logged boots, note how much a little bit of time outdoors did for your mood.
Stay in and clean up
A great time to do spring cleaning is when it’s not yet spring: when the weather is fussy and you’re stuck indoors. As many of us learned in the wake of Marie Kondo-fever several years back, there are mental health benefits to decluttering. February is a great time to take stock of your home and say goodbye to what you no longer need. It’s long enough after the holidays that you won’t feel as guilty saying goodbye to all the things you received that you didn’t want. And you should definitely part ways with things that are potentially dangerous (looking at you, leftovers that were shoved to the back of the fridge and dried-out Christmas trees that have become fire hazards).
Make plans for later
When there’s not much going on, take some time for planning. Maybe it’s a home project, a vacation, or just a get-together with a friend. Think about something you’d like to accomplish and map out the steps it will take to get there.
Be mindful
When you’re on day six of being cooped up at home, it will probably feel easiest to binge a show or fall into the endless scroll of social media. But remember to take time away from those things to let your brain recharge as you engage with the present moment. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety. Stay off the phone when you’re spending time with your friends so you can really listen to what they’re saying. Turn the tv off when you’re cleaning your home and notice the way the dust floats through a sunbeam. Skip the podcast when you take a walk and listen to the crunch (or splat) of your feet through the snow.