During the winter of 2019, I experienced my first ever "seasonal depression."
Growing up in New England I had heard many others saying that phrase and I could never understand. Seasonal depression? I don't get it.
This is probably because I was only 22 years old. Up until the winter of 2019, every winter, I was surrounded by my college friends who would ski, sled, play in the snow, play ice hockey, or do other winter activities every weekend.
There was no time for me to experience the winter blues.
The winter of 2019, however, was different.
I was living alone. I was working my first "real job" while going to school for my MBA. I no longer had my friends to "play with" every weekend.
Also, and this is the main reason I experienced seasonal depression I believe, the winter of 2019 was the first winter I did not ski, I did not play hockey, I did not do ANY winter activities.
Up until that winter, I would play pick-up or men's league hockey weekly. I also taught snowboarding and was on the mountain every weekend getting a few runs in.
What I learned in the winter of 2019 that has stayed with me and helped me avoid a heavy seasonal depression since then is this - DO WINTER ACTIVITIES.
I'm not saying go tanning to stay warm. I'm not saying to plan a trip to Florida to get some sun. I'm saying lean into winter and do something, anything, during the cold and during the snow.
If you find an activity (snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, ice hockey, sledding, snowman building) that you love - plan to do it 5X a winter - once in December, twice in January, twice in February, once in early March.
You simply NEED to plan. During other seasons in New England, you don't need to actively search out what makes you happy.
The leaves changing brings people joy. The warmth and sun bring people joy. The flowers bring people joy.
The winter is cold, bare, and dark at 4 PM. From what I have found, during the winter of 2019, is that you need to intentionally plan things that will make winter better. Those small bits of natural joy that come in spring, fall, and summer do not exist during New England winters.
Find a winter activity that makes you happy, plan to do it, and follow through - you'll enjoy winters in New England so much more.