Cure for the Winter Blues

“I’m surprised you went for a walk,” my husband said after we received a few inches of snow—not the fluffy white stuff, but instead, crunchy snow and ice—too little for skiing but enough to make the sidewalks challenging.

I walk outside almost every day since covid-19 hit, in all kinds of weather for about 2-4 miles. Build your body up so you’re less likely to get really sick, was the rage last spring when the gyms closed down. So I started walking again, an activity that almost stopped when my eleven-year-old cocker spaniel balked at going farther than around the block.

I started packing Buffy into a stroller that I purchased when she became blind a few years ago. She seems to enjoy it on nice days and even cooler ones when she wears a sweater and blanket.

I didn’t like walking alone and my husband rarely joined me. Also, it was different when he came. I couldn’t listen to my audiobook. I felt like I needed to talk. Alone, with my dog and my audiobook—that’s what I prefer. But when the temperature dipped into the thirties, or it was windy or wet, it became too cold for Buffy – so I started walking alone.

Why? Good question.

Many years ago, I walked my active springer spaniel back and forth to work each day, for a total of 6.5 miles. It took a lot of time and energy, but we both enjoyed it. When the weather was not so good, or when she became arthritic, I drove part way and walked the remaining distance. The only time Cassie balked was when it was 5 degrees and blustery –so that was our limit.

After Cassie died, I stopped walking to work and rode my bike instead, which I still continue to this day. My temperature limit is about 20 degrees, rain, or snow/ice on the roads. People at work think I’m crazy.

Yet, I feel compelled.

I noticed years ago, when a friend complained of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and needed to sit in front of a bright light to prevent the winter blues, I realized that never felt that way, likely, I thought, since I spent a lot more time outside.

Georgia Garvey wrote in her 12/28/20 column in the Chicago Tribune that a good New Year’s resolution is to spend more time doing outdoor activities, like the Scandinavian friluftsliv and hygge lifestyles—terms I had never heard before.

My Google search of friluftsliv turned up a National Geographic article about the Norwegian mindset about the outdoors. It’s a lifestyle and a mindset where spending time outdoors is important. Outdoor activities can be anything from long strolls with friends, walking the dog, to bicycling and jogging. Mostly it means, being outside—away from cell phones and computers. Several lines in the article grabbed me.

“..complain to a Norwegian about the weather, and you’ll likely hear a cheery refrain: “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing!” So true—I’ve learned from many years of camping and also working outside as an environmental consultant.

“Friluftsliv may help explain the country’s enviable ranking among the world’s happiest places. (In the UN’s 2020 World Happiness Report, Norway came in at number five.)”

When I traveled to Germany and Spain in the winter, I noticed that people eat in outdoor cafes at temperatures where Americans never would. Heat lamps help, but even when no heat lamps or wood burning stoves were available, they still sat outside in 30-40 degree weather. This seems to be part of their lifestyle, to be outdoors much more than Americans, who huddle in their warm homes for 5 – 6 months a year in the Chicago area.

Another article on prepping for a pandemic winter stated:

“…the common theme was loud and clear: Being outside is where the mental magic happens. If they don’t spend enough time outside each day, they start to feel off — weird, even — like how runners feel when they don’t run. Something’s missing.”

Maybe there is something to this crazy habit of mine—yes, it’s now a daily habit. Spend time outdoors no matter what the weather and feel happier.