This winter has knocked me flat.
Between the bruised ribs, the snow, the cold, and the full-on glorious Indiana winter, I’ve been more depressed than I care to admit. The injury slowed everything down, winter piled on, and before I knew it I was off my routine, off my diet, off my game—and stuck in a funk that’s been hard to shake.
Add in the fact that this is my first winter in a long time without Wellbutrin, which I was on for years to help with depression and seasonal affective disorder, and yeah… it’s been a ride.
Not a fun one.
I want to be clear about something: this isn’t anti-medication. Meds can be life-saving, and they were part of my journey for a long time. Right now, I’m just trying to get through this season without them, using exercise, diet, sunlight, and habits instead. Some days that’s worked better than others.
Since the rib injury, though, I’ve been in a deeper hole than usual. Exercise—normally my biggest mental outlet—was suddenly limited. Pain messes with sleep, patience, and motivation. Winter kept me indoors. The days stayed gray. And little by little, I slipped.
One small thing that’s helped more than I expected is opening the blinds.
When winter gets bad, it’s easy to turn the house into a cave—blinds closed, lights on, just living in permanent indoor dusk. Now one of the first things I do in the morning is open the blinds, even if it’s gray, even if it’s snowing, even if the view is just a frozen yard and disappointment.
It doesn’t fix everything. But natural light hits different than lamps. It wakes your brain up a little. Some mornings, opening the blinds and putting music on is enough to change the tone of the day.
I’ve also been paying attention to the basics—vitamin D, magnesium, B-vitamins, omega-3s, and getting whatever sunlight I can. Not as a cure. Just support.
Diet matters too. When my eating slides, my mood usually follows. Staying closer to a low-carb, keto-style approach helps keep my energy steadier and my head clearer, especially in winter.
Here’s the important part.
Starting tomorrow, February 1, I’m done sitting in this funk.
I’m not waiting for spring. I’m not waiting to feel motivated. I’m getting back on track anyway.
That means:
- Back to my diet
- Back to moving my body (within reason)
- Back to working on the blog
- Back to my hobbies—music, learning bass, creative stuff that actually makes me feel like myself
Not perfectly. Not all at once. Just consistently.
This winter knocked me off my game—but it didn’t take it from me.
I’ve had enough of feeling stuck. This is my reset. My line in the snow. My time to get back to doing the things that make me feel alive again.
Indiana winter can do its worst.
It’s my time to shine.