Winter, Depression, and Staying Sane

We're marvellous, sophisticated 21st century human beings, but we're still tied to the seasons and our environment. If you're finding yourself feeling a bit melancholy, withdrawn, and inactive, you're not alone this winter. Despite our bright lights, insulation, heat pumps, and indoor entertainment, we're all affected by the depths of winter. The possibilities of long summer evenings, blue skies, and long walks outside are far away at the moment. It's an important time to take care of ourselves. 

My number one tip for self care during winter is to keep turning up! Turn up for social occasions, coffee dates, dinners. Turn up for therapy sessions. Most importantly keep turning up to yourself, to your feelings. Winter can be a rich meditative time of going inwards, but only if we are able to trust ourselves enough to turn inwards, and only if we're able to distinguish the difference between solitude and loneliness.