3 Tips for Surviving the Dark Winter Months
By Chuck Fenwick
If you’re struggling with the autumn Daylight Saving Time, you’re not alone.
It’s that time of year when many of us head to work in the dark and drive home in the dark. And it’s not fun.
Personally, I’ve been dreading this time of year because the darkness of the colder months really gets to me.
And it’s only going to get darker over the next few months.
So here are 3 tips for overcoming the dark winter blues.
Embrace the Darkness
You know the season of darkness is coming. So, prepare yourself for this by reframing your expectations.
Instead of approaching this season with dread, anticipate the extra hours of darkness and manage your expectations.
Stop and think for a moment about a few aspects of winter you enjoy. Find something you can look forward to about this season.
Here’s a quick list of some enjoyable parts of the colder months:
Drinking a cup of hot coffee or tea
Reading a book on a Sunday afternoon
Christmas lights and holiday decorations
Cozy sweaters
Soup and other hot meals
Family gatherings and holiday celebrations
Baking cookies and other warm desserts
The first snow of the season
Reflect on the positive moments you’ve had during the winter season. And maybe it’s time to embrace a new habit! Try finding peace in the darkness by trying something new. Redirecting your negative anticipation of the dark into positive energy by trying something different.
Get Extra Rest
You probably need more rest in your life. Many of us don’t prioritize getting enough sleep or time to rest our bodies. Take advantage of the darkness by sleeping and resting a little extra this season.
Find a way in your schedule to either go to bed a bit earlier or sleep in a little longer. And, you have permission to sneak in a few extra naps!
Winter brings the busyness of the holiday season. Carve out some intentional time on the weekends to rest. Not just by sleeping but by doing something that fuels you. Something that helps your body relax and truly get the rest you need during the tough season.
Open Your Eyes
During this season of darkness, it’s quite literally hard to see sometimes – because of the lack of light throughout the day. This makes it hard to see the light in your life, too.
Not actual light from light sources, but the good. It’s hard to see the good when you’re constantly fighting through the toughness of the bad.
Use this time as an opportunity to quiet your heart and open your eyes to see the light of Jesus. Reflect on where you see goodness in the world. Is there something positive or joyful that happened today? Did you see the light of Christ in someone else today?
Challenge yourself this season. Spend one minute each day thinking about where you’ve experienced the light of Christ over the last 24 hours. Try this on your commute home from work or right before you climb into bed. Focusing on one positive thing each day has the power to turn a bad day into a better one.
Don’t make it harder than it has to be. These could be big moments or the tiniest of moments. (More often than not, they’ll be small ones)
Keep Me Updated
I promise taking some time in the dark to reflect on the light will warm you up. Send me a text and let me know if you tried out any of these tips this week. I want to cheer you on!