How to get things done when winter is just the worst
It’s freezing outside. The days are short. You leave the house in darkness and arrive home as though daylight never happened. An overwhelming sense of despair seems to envelope you all too frequently. You have a severe disinterest to do anything other than nap.
Winter is a season that seems to leave even the best of us out of whack: less exercise (because who really cross-country skis?), poor eating habits (600-calorie lattes soothe me), and an unwillingness to move on weekends (considering a hangover lasts until 3 o’clock and the sun sets a mere 2 hours later). Most concerning is that we seem to have zero motivation.
Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. It isn’t because it’s colder, in fact; SAD (great acronym, really) is mostly a result of the fact that in the winter we wake up before dawn and get significantly less sunlight during our waking hours than in other seasons. Common symptoms of SAD include sadness, disinterest in things you usually find enjoyable, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating.
The good news is: you’re not alone. A lot of people get SAD. But the bad news is that seasonal depression really isn’t what you need when school, work, and other responsibilities seem to be accumulating at an impossible rate, and winter isn’t over for another few months.
So before you consider hibernating until spring, a few of these tips may help keep those winter blues at bay and your productivity at its best.
1. Plan ahead
With shorter days and an increased sense of laziness, planning out your week or, better yet, your month, will help you acknowledge how you should be spending your time. Don’t just mark down the professional or school to-do’s, plan out your exercise routine, meals, social life, meetings, family gatherings, and anything else you foresee in the coming weeks. As sluggish as you might feel, so does everyone else, and getting ahead of the herd will make you feel better.
Keep your calendar filled with to-do’s written down and in plain sight: posted on your fridge, on your bathroom mirror, or in a notebook you carry with you.
Being aware and on top of your upcoming to-do’s will also encourage those around you to do the same, making for a much more productive household, workplace, or crew. Plus, on the bright side, it helps you look ahead to the future, which is that much closer to springtime.
2. Stand up
Ever dreaded the idea of sitting for an 8 hour car ride? Well studies show that the average person actually sits for 7.7 hours every day —and this number tends to rise in the winter. Plus, depending on your type of commute, the length of your work day, and how you choose to wind-down in the evenings, your total time spent sitting could average much higher.
All that sitting has significant implications on your health — like increasing your risk of heart attack, contributing to your wintery blues, and negating all that work you’re putting in at the gym. (As someone who invests a fair amount of time and energy exercising, it’s a slap on the face to know that idle sitting time is counteracting my hard work!)
Why stand? It burns calories, improves your posture, and adds years to your life. Here’s how you can reduce your time spent sitting this winter:
- At a friend’s house? Make a point to stand and chat instead of curling into the nearest couch or chair.
- Got phone calls scheduled? Take your fully charged phone and some headphones on a walk through your home, office building, or even outside. You’ll likely be a better listener while you’re at it (and may even get some sunshine).
- Working from home? The average counter-top or table is just a tad short to be a good standing desk, so prop up a few books or get a cheap tabletop extension to raise your work space.
- Expecting to sit in class or at work? Walk or take transit to get there. If you must drive, then park at least a 5–10 minute walk away to get the blood flowing and absorb some sunlight.
3. Go outside
If not on your way to and from somewhere, you should make a point to step outside whenever you can. Walk around the block, do a lap around your building, walk to the coffee shop nearby — getting extra daylight and a blast of fresh air are keys to keeping your brain functioning at its best.
Equally as important is to dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. You’ll be far less likely to reap benefits from a mid-day stroll in freezing weather if you’re not dressed for the occasion.
It’s all too easy in the winter to avoid the outdoors completely, but you’d be surprised how much just a few minutes of outdoor activity can revitalize a sluggish mind.
4. Drink Water
While it’s a common suggestion to keeping sharp, we should actually be drinking even more water in the winter. The drier air means our bodies aren’t getting as much moisture as we do in other seasons, resulting in dehydration which can contribute to sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, a lack of energy, and headaches.
Here are some ways to drink more water throughout your winter days:
- Drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning and right before bed.
- Drink a glass before every cup of coffee or tea that you have in your day.
- Drink from smaller cups — it will feel easier to fill up and chug down in one go. Plus, filling up your cup multiple times each day will help you stretch your legs.
- Drink through a straw. Cups fitted with a straw like this one or reusable plastic straws minimize the effort of sipping water as you work. We’re lazy beings, so anything to make a habit more accessible is helpful.
Winter has its disadvantages, but it’s only a few months long. Plan ahead, move around, and drink lots of water to keep your mind and body sharp. Your summer self will thank you.
I’m a productivity researcher and co-founder of Flipd, the app that helps you spend less time on your phone. Enjoyed this? Read more here.
