Coping with the Winter Blahs

Posted by Sarah Levin-Lederer on February 11th, 2026 Posted in: Blog
Tags: Older Adults, resources

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We’ve reached the point of the winter where being stuck inside can have anyone getting a touch of cabin fever—getting antsy to get outside or even find ways to just break up the doldrums of February.

The Blahs vs Seasonal Affective Disorder

This time of year can be hard on anyone with fewer daylight hours and the weather keeping people inside more.

But there’s a difference between feeling blah and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and it’s important to be able to spot the difference.

Check out these resources to learn more about SAD and what you can do:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder Health Topics Page (MedlinePlus)
• Trastorno afectivo estacional (MedlinePlus en español)
• Feeling SAD? Identifying and Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (NIH News in Health)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): More Than the Winter Blues (National Institute of Mental Health)

Coping with the Winter Blahs

Find ways to get out of the house.

Indoor activities don’t have to be at home activities. Check out the schedule at your local library to find fun things to do for kids, teens and adults. Museums often also have free or pay-what-you-can days for a low/no cost change of scenery.

Try something new.

Changing up a routine can help get you out of a rut and that can be anything from finding a tutorial online to try a new craft, to a recipe that includes a new to you food. If your local library has a library of things, you may even be able to try learning an instrument.

Indoor exercises for everyone.

Stretching, yoga, and tai chi can all be done at home with limited equipment to help get your body moving even if you can’t get outside.

Check out this list of videos and tutorials (USDA, nutrition.gov) for recommended resources including stretching, yoga and even home strength training. Or check out the National Institute of Aging’s Exercises for Older Adults YouTube playlist.

Stay Safe Outside

And if you’re going to get outside in the cold make sure to stay safe with these resources:

• Know the signs of Hypothermia (MedlinePlus) and Frostbite (MedlinePlus)
• Tips for Exercising in Cold Weather (National Institute of Aging)
• Infographic: 5 Tips for Exercising Safely in Cold Weather (National Institute of Aging)
• Infografía: 5 sugerencias para ejercitarse en invierno (National Institute of Aging)