Choosing Joy in the Middle of Winter
8 ways to avoid the winter blues and enjoy the season
For as many years as I can remember, January has been marked by a quiet sense of uneasiness and a noticeable lack of enjoyment. It’s the month that follows the happiest season of the year, and once the celebrations are over, we’re left with long, dark, cold days stretching out ahead of us.
Honestly, it’s a month I’d willingly remove from the calendar if I could—even though it happens to be my birthday month.
I consider myself a glass-half-full, optimistic, and generally even-keeled person, which is why the emotions I feel every January have always surprised me. These “winter blues,” as they’re often described, show up as a mild but persistent dip in mood and energy, largely driven by colder weather and fewer hours of sunlight. And as soon as the holiday season is over, I feel them kick in!
Now that a new year has begun and January is here, I’ve realized I’m faced with the same two choices every winter: I can give in to the mood and simply countdown the days until spring comes, or I can learn how to actually enjoy it—recognizing the unique beauty and delight winter offers, despite the freezing temperatures and darker days.
If you feel similarly this time of year, my hope is that these ideas offer some encouragement. Below are eight ways I’m choosing to lean into winter this year—not just to hold the winter blues at bay, but to truly embrace the season and make it an enjoyable part of our family life.
8 Ways to Enjoy Winter and Fight the Winter Blues
Get Outside Every Day
Research consistently shows that sunlight and fresh air play an important role in mental health, particularly during winter when both are harder to come by. For me, this looks like bundling up and heading outside for a walk each morning while my husband makes breakfast for everyone. I make sure the sunlight hits my face and I take a few deep breaths of cold, fresh air before the day begins.
I also intentionally schedule outdoor time for my kids every day, even when it feels inconvenient. I often remind myself of the Scandinavian saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather—only bad clothing. With warm layers and the right expectations, it not only gives us fresh air but keeps germs at bay too.
One little routine we’ve started this past month is “daily laps around the house”. Before we begin school, my kids have to complete 3 laps around our property. I don’t care if they run, jog, or leisurely meander their way through it, but this quick burst of fresh air and exercise fuels them for the morning of schoolwork ahead!
Host Regularly
I’ve found that staying socially connected during the colder months adds a surprising amount of joy and energy to the season. Each year, I look ahead at the weekends from January through March and intentionally plan opportunities to host friends, family, or neighbors. Even if it’s a simple dinner of soup and homemade bread, it gives us all something to look forward at the end of each week.
Plan Weekly At-Home Dates With My Husband
In December, my husband and I started a simple rhythm that’s made a big difference in our ability to connect and make time for each other. One evening each week, we make a nice dinner for just the two of us. We put the kids in their room about an hour earlier than usual—often with a movie—and then spend the evening together at home.
These quiet, kid-free hours give us space to reconnect, talk, and simply enjoy each other’s company. During winter, when evenings are long and energy can feel low, this weekly rhythm has been grounding and life-giving.
Plan a Themed Party
So far, all of my kids have summer or fall birthdays, so winter can feel less exciting as far as celebrations go. However, having one larger, themed event to look forward to is one of my favorite ways to make winter feel less burdensome.
This year, we’re planning an Olympics-themed party in February! We’re inviting several families over, cooking an Italian-inspired meal as a tribute to the host country, setting up simple “minute-to-win-it” style games, and watching the opening ceremony together.
The anticipation is just as fun as the event itself! Planning something festive reminds me that winter doesn’t have to be monotonous—it can still feel celebratory and fun.
Do a Deep-Dive Declutter
A thoroughly decluttered home always refreshes me, and winter is an ideal time for this kind of reset. I aim for about 30 minutes a day, slowly working through closets, drawers, and overlooked spaces throughout the house.
Clearing physical clutter often brings me lots of mental clarity, making the home feel calmer and more functional during a season when we spend so much time inside. I usually start with the easiest spaces (like the bathroom, closets, and our vehicles) then build momentum from there.
Cook Nourishing Comfort Foods
Winter often brings lower energy, changing appetites, and the inevitable germs and sicknesses. This season, I’m focusing on cooking nourishing comfort foods—like sourdough bread, slow-simmered soup with bone broth, spiced granola, hearty roasts, and vitamin packed smoothies at breakfast to help support what our bodies need as well as make our home feel warm and cozy.
Anticipate Something Exciting
Anticipation for something exciting always carries me to great lengths, especially in winter! This might be a quick getaway to a warmer place, a special family outing, or a small tradition planned a few weeks ahead. Even knowing something enjoyable is coming can lift the heaviness of winter days.
We won’t be traveling much this year since our baby arrives in early March (and our last baby came a month early while we were on vacation!), but that doesn’t mean we can’t look forward to smaller moments—like our traditional cheese and chocolate fondue dinner on Valentine’s day, watching the Olympics in the evenings, going to the local Fire and Ice Festival, and taking a few day-trips to our favorite nearby cities.
Create a Winter Bucket List
This past year, my kids and I created both a summer and fall bucket list at the start of each season. We brainstormed lots of fun, free ideas of how we can bring more enjoyment into those months. It challenged us to be more intentional with our time and again, anticipate many seasonal activities that we hoped to accomplish.
This month, we’ll do the same thing, adding ideas like roasting marshmallows in the fireplace, going on snowy hikes, baking cinnamon swirl bread and handing it out to neighbors, making pinecone bird feeders, and starting the Harry Potter series as a read-aloud after dinner.
Embrace Winter
So whether or not the winter blues have gotten you down this year, I want to encourage you that winter is only one season of the year, but a season that can be used for growth. I recently heard on a podcast that as we sit and wait for winter to be over and for the signs of spring to emerge, we should take this time to let our roots grow deep– allowing ourselves to unwind and be refreshed, appreciate the stillness and less busyness that the post-holiday season brings, and give thanks for the goodness that is revealed in this season.
Winter doesn’t have to be a season we merely survive— after all, Finland followed closely by the other Nordic countries, consistently win the Happiness Award, even though they’re among the ones where winter last the longest. With a few intentional shifts, it can become a time of connection, rest, and quiet joy. You don’t need to adopt every idea on this list—often, choosing just one or two is enough to change the feel of the season.
Happy winter, everyone! As always, thank you so much for being here and following along! If you’ve found additional ways to enjoy the season, I’d love to hear them. Until next time, stay warm!
Yes, I love the decluttering idea especially! We live in the state of Washington and it is so dark all winter, it is hard to keep spirits up.
My wife's birthday is in January and feels the same way! And we are struggling with the cold weather right now with our three kids, so this is very helpful!