10 Ways to Fight the Winter Blues

It is the middle of February in southern Romania. Everything outside is cold, wet and muddy, aka not at all pleasant. I have not left Olt county in almost two months. It is safe to say I have a little cabin fever and I am impatiently waiting for spring to come.

However, the last couple months have actually been really good. I realized that God filled this season with a lot of small yet beautiful and joyful moments.

Here are 10 small ways I discovered to help fight the winter blues:

1. Wake up intentionally. When it is cold, dark and gray outside, you usually want to stay curled up asleep under warm blankets. But I have found that waking up early to have intentional time with the Lord helps feed my soul as well as set myself up for the rest of the day.
2. Read a book. If you’re going to be stuck inside because of the weather, you might as well pick up a book. You can let your mind be inspired with true stories and encouraging words or you can let your imagination escape into other worlds.
3. Get creative. A little color and design goes a long way in the gray of winter, especially when you can use that creativity to brighten someone else’s day. And don’t worry about it being perfect, just get creative!
4. Reach out. Remember that you are probably not the only one experiencing the winter blues. Reach out, offer to get together with a good friend or even someone new and encourage one another.
5. Pray intentionally. Prayer can be an incredibly life-giving activity, especially when shared with brothers and sisters in Christ. From a daily prayer time with my best friend to praying through scripture with the women in my ministry, prayer has been a joy these last months. (Plus the more prayers we pray, the more prayers God can answer!)
6. Make something from scratch in the kitchen. While I have never loved cooking, there is a feeling of accomplishment when you make a meal from scratch. My personal favorite is a delicious homemade soup, perfect for warming you up on a cold day.
7. Share a meal. Food always tastes better when you share it with others. I am blessed to be in a community and culture that believes in hospitality and sharing a meal together. It is a simple reminder that I am not alone.
8. Say “Yes”. If you’re like me, cold weather can lower your motivation to go out, especially if an activity was not pre-planned. However, some of my favorite moments happened from saying “yes” to the unexpected.
9. Document. Whether you use pictures or a journal or something else entirely, it is important to document the small moments that make you smile, especially in harder seasons. I use this as a form of reflection on all the ways God has provided joy in my life.
10. Be thankful. As you document and reflect, remember to thank the Lord for all He has done, even if it is just a collection of small moments. Gratitude is an easy way to shift your thinking in any season.