When I was in San Diego in early December, I met the janitor of the hotel one morning in the elevator. After exchanging pleasantries he said, “You should really come back San Diego sometime when it isn’t so cold. You will enjoy yourself even more!” I stopped and stared at him for what felt like ten minutes straight.

It was 75 degrees outside and I was definitely not “fitting in” to the fashion with my sandals and lightweight cardigan. (There is nothing stranger than seeing dozens of women wearing tall riding boots as they stroll near the ocean on a 75 degree day.) This janitor was visibly shivering! It was pretty clear in that moment that the Californian’s definition of cold is my definition of a delightful summer day. It’s all about perspective.

No matter how close or far away you may live to the North Pole, I think most humans are feeling the same thing this time of year: Cabin Fever. Whether you’re actually living in a cabin in Alaska (stay strong!) or continuously covering your plants in the south for fear of a dreaded frost, you are ready for warmer, longer days.

In all honesty, the cold is likely doing more than hurt your face and hands. Chances are, the season is affecting your mood, too. Any negative emotions you might be feeling right now may not be quite as negative as you think. You need sun, light, and warmth in your life again to make those tracks in snow seem less deep than they really are!

Because let’s face it: seasonal depression is real.

We can’t make the sun stay out longer, but we can help ourselves overcome and treat this indoor-induced ailment without the use of a tanning lamp. Here’s how:

1.  Go Outside – Even if it takes longer to suit up like an Eskimo than it will for you to stand the cold, you do yourself a tremendous amount of good with the effort to breath in a bit of nature. Making the effort will also boost your morale. Bundle up and go for a winter walk… take the kids to an ice rink… park your car at furthest the end of the parking lot… whatever it takes to spend time outside  – get out there! Bonus points to outdoor air is the use of exercise to your winter routine. It is easy to forget the feeling of triumph after a long run on a treadmill or the endorphin-high of a 30 minute spin session.

2. Get Crafty – If your winter brain is anything like mine, it feels as though it’s always reading a book or taking a snooze by a roaring fire. Wake it up a bit and get those creative juices flowing! That might encourage you to take scrapbook materials out of storage, practice sewing, or learn how to upholster a chair. Better yet, take a class at a nearby art center and meet new people while you’re at it! You could try music, baking, or cooking in the kitchen. Last month, I had a “pasta day” in which I spend the entire day learning how to make pasta and stuffed ravioli. It was tiring (and not completely successful) but it was invigorating!

Part 2 to getting crafty is: Bless Others. Share the rewards of your labor with your neighbor, whether it be your immediate family, co-workers, or the officers at a police station down the street. Take time to look outside of your winter blues to bless someone else.

3. Eat, Drink and Be Merry – If you are looking for permission to eat ice cream every night, this is not it. 🙂 Eating and drinking well have a tremendous impact on our mood. Eat leafy green veggies, packed with vitamins and make sure you are drinking enough water and staying hydrated. (That means saying no to the coffee pot or snack bar in the afternoon.) The cold season dries out of skin to the extreme, so make sure to feed it what it needs to thrive. Of course, you should enjoy the season’s treats while you’re fighting its fever. A cup of hot mulled wine is a must for a cold winter night!

4. Lots and Lots of Lights – I always lament the loss of light on December 26th. It seems that our world, immediately after Christmas, sees no need to decorate the dark streets, homes, and alleys with colorful lights. Let’s change this trend, people! One way in which I keep sane during the months of darkness is to keep my Christmas lights up – inside! I hang a strand of white lights above my fireplace, porch, or windows. Candles are also a great addition to the winter months and (sometimes) add a welcome note of fragrance to the home.

5. Life – Surround yourself with good people, friends, and family who lift you up and make you laugh. Plan a game night with your friends, visit your elderly friend in a nursing home, hold someone’s baby for awhile – it’s all quite therapeutic to the seasonal disfunction.  Decorate your home with signs of life by purchasing a few additional indoor plants or keeping a fresh bouquet of flowers on your kitchen table. One of my favorite (and affordable) life-givers to home decor is a bowl of fresh lemons and/or apples for the kitchen counter.

Putting the extras aside: take care of yourself. The most vital life in your world right now is your own. Make sure you’re taking care of it and respecting it’s need for rest, rejuvenation, and prayer.

There you have it! Five (and a half) ways we can all brave the cold and dark weeks ahead. You’ll be happier, your family will be happier, and apparently your freezer, too, will be better off for it: