Dear Henrietta,
It’s February, and the dreary weather, the bare trees and the cold are making me feel so depressed. I see the little daffodil buds in my flower beds starting to pop out of the ground, and I just wish it was springtime. How do I get over my winter blues?
Signed,
Seasonally Sad
Dear Seasonally Sad,
Feeling depressed during the wintertime is a very common problem. For many people it is due to a lack of sunlight resulting in low levels of vitamin D and decreased serotonin levels. Also, we also tend to get less exercise and fresh air, which adds to the problem.
But don’t fret, my friend! There are some home remedies that just might work for you.
First, get yourself outside. On the next sunny day, bundle up, and take a walk around your yard. You mentioned seeing the little daffodils springing up? Grab a rake and do a little clean up. Tidy up the dead leaves in the beds. Pull the old flowers out of your outside pots and replace them with some fresh evergreens, or even better, a hearty flowering plant like the viola, which can even survive in the North Carolina winter. Seeing some colorful flowers around your front and back door is so cheerful. Buy some fresh cut flowers for your kitchen or plant some succulents in pots for inside. Now you’re one step closer to spring!
Second, get moving. Do you have a dog? The temperatures are highest in the late afternoon, and even going up and down the street one time on a little walk will make you and your pup feel less confined. Breathe and notice the buds on the trees and how they are changing each day. Smell the faint smoke from wood burning fireplaces in the neighborhood. Stretch. Smile.
Last, indulge in self-care. After your walk, get into a nice hot bath with salts and essential oils and just relax. Schedule a massage. Try acupuncture to ease anxiety and pain. Take a yoga class. Pour a glass of wine and watch your favorite comedy. Put on music, light some candles and dance. Do whatever gives you a feeling of peace and ease.
I hope this helps and remember: the cold of winter makes warm summers even sweeter. Hang in there.
Love,
Henrietta
Henrietta Craven was born and raised in New Bern and enjoys gardening, hunting bears and improvisational dance. She is a self-proclaimed expert on a wide variety of subjects including (but not limited to) fashion, mixology, and cooking. Henrietta resides in a lovely Victorian home in downtown New Bern with her five cats: Graffenreid, Bethune, Devereux, Stanton and Carraway.