Writing Through the Winter Blues

You don’t have to live in Alaska to feel the effect of the winter blues. If you live in the south, the lack of daylight after work can be enough to throw off your mood. Where most could hunker down and cozy up inside until spring, if you’re a writer you may need to push through your winter blues in order to keep creating.

But how do you keep writing if you aren’t feeling chipper? Some days aren’t meant to be pushed through; if you’re having a bad day let yourself have a bad day. Drink enough water, do something you enjoy, and ride out the bad day.

If you’re simply feeling blah due to the lack of sunshine, frigid cold temperatures, and the overall gloominess of winter, we’ve got you covered.

10 Tips To Get Your Writing Through the Winter Blues

1. Go for a walk.

Get your blood flowing with a 30-minute walk and you’ll notice a quick improvement in your mood. If it’s too cold to walk outside, find an uncrowded indoor area where you feel safe to do a few laps. You can also add hand and feet warmers to your gloves and shoes to keep your body warm during an outdoor walk.

2. Light therapy is your friend.

If several gloomy days in a row have you feeling down, consider purchasing a light therapy device you can keep at your desk or next to you wherever you write.

3. Add vitamin D supplements to your routine.

A lack of vitamin D is common when there is less daylight, but it can significantly affect your mood. Consider adding the supplement to your regime to have a better mood overall and to experience more energy.

4. Drink enough water.

If you’re feeling a bit gloomy, your water intake may be the culprit. If you’re inching close to dehydration, your mood, and your creativity and be affected. Keep a glass of water nearby as you write, and get up to refill it when you take breaks.

5. Diffuse a citrus-scent essential oil.

Citrus scented essential oils are known to be mood-boosters in a bottle. You can diffuse your favorite in an essential oil diffuser, add a drop to your inner wrist or simply open the bottle and place it near your nose before taking in a deep breath.

6. Focus on what you eat.

During the winter months, it’s natural to crave comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, pot roast, mashed potatoes, and more. Those heavy carbohydrates and filling meals, however, can make you lethargic. Keep your diet balanced with fruits and vegetables and you’ll be surprised by how much energy your body has.

7. Take a hot bath or shower.

At the end of a freezing cold day, sometimes you just want to feel hot. Run a hot bath or take a hot shower to warm your body up. Then, put on some cozy loungewear made of flannel or an equally warm material, and don’t forget your slippers.

8. Find a new favorite writing spot.

If your current writing space doesn’t have a window or feels extra secluded now that the time has changed, think about finding a new favorite writing spot in your home. Is there a good place to write next to a window or in a cozy part of your home? Change things up a bit and settle into a new spot for winter.

9. Learn how to make a fancy coffee shop drink at home.

Do you love a specific limited edition holiday drink your local coffee shop makes? Try your hand at making the same drink at home. Not only does this help you save time and money, but it also reduces the amount of time you have to be outdoors in the cold air.

10. Add an indoor plant or two.

One of the most depressing parts of winter is all the dormant plants and flowers. Staring out at bleak winter scenery every day instead of fully budded out trees and brightly colored flowers can make you feel a little down. Consider adding an indoor houseplant; even a faux indoor plant can still perk you up because of its green leaves. You could also plant an indoor windowsill garden. Pick a window that gets the right kind of light for the herbs you want to grow, then plant and keep indoors near the window you selected. A little extra greenery in your space can improve your winter blues.

How do you keep the winter blues at bay so you can stay on top of your writing goals?