“Blue Monday” may be a myth, but the winter blues are real. The short, dark, cold days of winter can bring about a shift in mood. On top of that, many of us are experiencing COVID fatigue. The good news? There is plenty you can do to increase your physical and mental well-being. Check out the resources below get started and beat the winter blues.

An illustration of people doing various activities to combat the winter blues.

Image created by Chevon Beckley. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives – help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Find support for your SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), most often experienced in the fall and winter months, can involve changes in energy, appetite and overall mood. In Canada, SAD affects about 5% of people, but up to 15% experience the milder “winter blues.” If you feel particularly impacted by the season, there are a few lifestyle strategies that can help:

  • maximizing your sunlight exposure by sitting near a window and getting outside often
  • building physical activity into your routine
  • maintaining a healthy diet

Read more tips from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Reconnect with recreation programs

Many arts, recreation, and music programs are available either online or in person with safety precautions. Here are a few online opportunities in the Fraser Valley that you can access regardless of your home community:

Find more resources in our COVID Care Kits

It’s been one year since COVID-19 first arrived in BC. We released seven issues of our COVID Care Kit, with topics that range from physical fitness to mental wellness to self-care tips for caregivers. You can find them all on our COVID-19 Resources page.