Keeping the Winter Blues Away

As cozy as Winter has the potential to be, let’s be honest; it can also be a bit of a bummer. While here in SoCal, we’re pretty lucky to experience mild Winter weather, we have been known to get a bit of gloom come January. This year, the powers that be are predicting a fairly wet winter which means lots of rainy days with kids stuck inside and parents looking to figure out how to keep them entertained. This is a recipe for some serious mental health storms!

Even for those that love Winter, this time of year can be brutal on your and your family’s mental health. But January doesn’t have to be so gloomy! There are plenty of creative ways to keep the winter blues away and improve the mental health of your whole family.

Start a Windowsill Garden

One of the best things about living in California is that we have a longer growing season than most places in the world. This is why California produces up to 80% of the food sold in the US and 30% of the food sold worldwide! So January is a great time to get a head start on planting some seeds out. There are so many different and creative ways to grow food at home. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration on what kind of containers will work for your home. Whether you’ve got egg cartons on the windowsill or terracotta pots on the porch, growing food for your family to enjoy will significantly boost everyone’s morale! Imagine watching your kids get excited when they finally see the first spouts!

For the gardening novice, growing things really isn’t that hard! A quick google search for tips and tricks for gardening in Zone 7 will give you all the details on how to grow your mini garden here in SoCal successfully. Here’s a list of what you can plant in January: In the ground: lettuce, carrots, beets, parsnips, potatoes, celeriac, radishes, spinach. In containers: lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, kale, chard, potatoes, peas, fava beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans.

Get Out In Nature

Another amazing thing about living in SoCal in the winter is you can still enjoy the outdoors. We love getting to the beach in the wintertime. There are no crowds, and you can enjoy the peace and calm of the ocean by yourself. This is an excellent time of year to take your kids to tide pools and watch the sea come to life or simply take a picnic and read a book together on the sand. The water may be a bit too cold for swimming, but you can still dig in the sand or build an epic sand castle. But even just sitting with your family watching and listening to the waves can do wonders for your nervous system.

But beaches aren’t all we’ve got! If you’re a camping family, there’s no time like the present to head out to some desert camping. Places like Joshua Tree are dangerously hot during the summer but will become pleasant and even cold in the wintertime. Many of these desert camping spots are pretty primitive, with no running water or electricity, but once night falls, you’ll forget all about the glow of the TV as you watch the stars flood the sky. In some places, you can even get a glimpse of the milky way.

Finally, take advantage of our glorious mountains! Whether you book a weekend in a cabin or simply enjoy the snow for the day, California’s mountain towns are brimming with charm. There’s nothing like playing in the snow all day before cozying up for some cocoa or soup.

Check-in with Your Community

One of the hardest things about January is the coming down from the social overload of December. While you might not love how social December tends to be, something is isolating about going into January after weeks of endless parties. This can take a big toll on your mental health.

And while most of us need a bit of a social break after December, too much of a break can be detrimental. Instead, we recommend strategically planning a few social events throughout the month. It can be a playdate at the park or a game night at home, but spending time with your community will help chase away the gloom. Parents, don’t forget to take care of yourself first! Make plans to grab coffee with your bestie, a double date to the movies, or a guy’s night to catch the game. Make sure your social needs are being met too.

Experiment in the Kitchen

What we eat can significantly impact our mental and overall health! So this January, take some time to learn some new nourishing recipes. You can even get the kids involved by asking what kind of food they’d like to learn to cook themselves! Or, each week, pick a new culture and explore their foods. You could even ask friends and family for their favorite family recipe to try.

Another idea that will bolster not only your mental health but the mental health of a friend is to do a super secret meal delivery! You could choose one family in your circle each week and drop a hot meal on their doorstep. This is a great way to cheer up and help out friends and get your kids involved. You’ll all be laughing as you leave the meal at the front door, ding-dong-ditch, and race back to the car before being caught (and honestly, being caught is kinda half the fun!). You can even send a note from your whole family, letting your friends know how much you love them.

Practice Gratitude

Sometimes, the best way to get our minds out of a dark place is to remind ourselves actively of all the goodness in our lives. Gratitude isn’t just for Thanksgiving; it’s something to practice all year long! Spend time at bedtime making lists of everything you and your family are grateful for. They can be simple things like the toys they played with that day or bigger things like a roof over their head. The point is to help our kids (and ourselves) remember what a richly blessed life we lead.
We love the idea of taking Gratitude Walks around the neighborhood. It’s like a game of thankful I Spy. Point out all the things you see on your walk that you’re glad exists: a pretty flower, a sturdy tree, a car in your favorite color. Get creative and help beat the blues with some gratitude.

These are just a few ways to help keep your and your family’s mental health in check. And remember, taking care of your mental health is a serious thing. If you or a loved one are struggling, don’t hesitate to contact your community or a professional for help. No one should face mental health issues alone, and you are worth getting the help you need. Asking for help is one of the biggest ways to show our kids how to be healthy grown-ups one day.