I laughed out loud when I read these words the other day…
“Poor February.”
Yup. Poor February indeed.
Cuz if February was a person, I wouldn’t wanna hang out with them (nor any of their besties: Nov, Dec, or Jan)!
Nope. Not me. I’m a spring and summer lover.
I know I’m not alone.
For many of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, February is one of our least favourite months.
The holiday season is behind us, we’ve ditched our NY’s resolution already…
(well I didn’t because I always choose an inspiring word of the year instead)
And we’re dreading the stretch of cold, wintery days still ahead.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association “around 60% of people living in Canada report feeling ‘the winter blues.'” While the American Psychiatric Association says that a “declining mood can affect 38% of Americans.”
Is it any wonder that so many of us wanna beat the “winter blues”? And vacate our lives?
Personally I don’t want to hide and survive for 4 months though.
So besides increasing my vitamin D consumption, resting more, and booking a warm, beach holiday each year (hello Mexico!)…
I like to practice something I learned in a personal development course years ago.
Here’s how it went…
We were asked to spend several days figuring out what made us happy. And what didn’t.
By paying attention…
And noticing what lifted us up, energized us, and made us feel more alive.
Versus what dragged us down and drained our energy.
That exercise was illuminating.
Cuz the things that brought me joy were so simple! So easy. So everyday.
They were things like…
🌊 Listening to the sound of waves crashing on the shore
☀️ Feeling the warmth of the sun on my face
🍦 Eating a double-scoop ice cream cone
👭 Hanging out with my friends
🐶 Stopping to pet a dog on the street
🌲 Taking a quiet walk in nature
🏪 Chatting with a stranger in the grocery store lineup
📚 Curling up on my sofa with a good book
🍿 Watching my fav rom-com movies
🎵 Listening to upbeat music
These were the little moments of joy that lifted me up. Energized me. And made me feel more alive.
Almost twenty years later, they still do.
They’re the same things I turn to when I wanna beat the winter blues.
Just like I did the other week…
When I was working from home and noticed I was feeling a bit blah, grumpy, and unmotivated (my ‘tells’).
So I paused and asked myself:
“What do you need right now? To take care of yourself and reboot your energy?”
I knew the answer instantly.
So I closed my laptop, put on my boots, toque, scarf, and warm winter jacket, and headed out for a walk in the snow…
Something we rarely see here on the rainy ‘wet’ coast of Canada!
After an hour or so walking through the nearby parks and neighbourhoods (and chatting to numerous people shoveling their driveways) I came home replenished.
Because being outdoors and connecting with others ALWAYS lifts me up and energizes me.
So if you struggle at this time of year, and are looking for ways to beat the winter blues…
Believe me, from one non-winter-lover to another, I get it.
Please remember this…
☑️ You’re allowed to be YOU.
It’s OK to feel how you feel. Don’t beat yourself up. Not everyone loves the same things. Or the same seasons.
☑️ You don’t have to make BIG changes to feel happy-er.
Pay attention to the little things that energize you, lift you up, and make you feel more alive. Then build more of those into your life. Bit by bit.
And before you know it, the yellow daffodils, purple crocuses, and pink cherry blossoms (or whatever blooms in your neck of the woods) will be popping up all over again.
And February, poor February, will be behind us at last.
Kerry xo
P.S. If you’re looking for gentle ways to beat the winter blues, here are three simple tools to help you feel more joy again:
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Take my free “What Brings You Joy?” Quiz — a quick way to discover your unique joy style and what lifts you up most.
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Download the Joy Reset Toolkit — practical tools to help you pause, reset, and bring more light into your days.
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Grab 101 Ways to Bring More Joy Into Your Everyday Life — a simple list of ideas to spark energy, inspiration, and ease.