I took my mug of coffee and sank into the chair by the window.
It’s my morning routine to sit in my dining room, with its exposed wood beams and wood stove, and watch the early morning fog rise in the meadow behind my house. This morning, I looked out with dismay at the rainy drizzle coming down on yet another cold and wet October day.
I don’t mind the rain. I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a while - long enough to learn that I didn’t love the constant blast of sunshine (it’s like someone who smiles all of the time - it makes me suspicious) that I preferred the change of seasons, and that a few rainy days help you appreciate the sunny ones.
But this morning, as I sipped my coffee, the rain seemed to reflect the dismal mood I’ve been carrying these past few days. It’s hard for me to tell sometimes, whether my mood is low because of the darkness and poor weather, or if that’s how I was already feeling and the rain just exacerbates it.
This time of year is difficult for many people, and I suppose I’m no different. I manage my depression year-round, but sunshine decline as one client recently called it, often leaves me with a little less energy, a little less enthusiasm, and a little less cheer in my heart. And it’s days like today that I try to remember the best advice I’ve ever received in the face of feeling blah.
Act against it.
Or, as I seem to remember doing as a kid, make it opposite day.
Meaning that if you don’t feel like going to the gym, you need to go to the gym. If you don’t feel like spending time with friends, then you need to spend time with friends. If all you want to do is curl up and sleep on the couch then go for a walk, call a friend, or play Jeopardy with Alexa (no, it’s really a thing…).
But whatever you do, don’t give in to the downward pull.
I know. That’s easier said than done.
To be sure, there are varying degrees of Seasonal Affect Disorder, and I’m not suggesting that everyone could manage their mood by just doing the opposite of what they feel like doing.
Many people use light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy to cope with the mood struggles during this time of year. But sometimes, even with these treatments, you can still get lost in the struggle.
So what I am suggesting is knowing yourself. Knowing how you tick; and if you know that climbing into your jammies and onto the couch at 5:30 at night only makes the suffering worse, then do your best to act against that desire.
Enlist the help of a friend, enroll in a class or join a book group.
As difficult as it can be to manage this time of year, do your best to act against it. And if we, as coaches, can help keep you accountable to better taking care of yourself, let us know how we can help.