02/03/2026
So he saw his shadow...
Groundhog Day is celebrated in February, which is a month of the year often impacted by cold and darkness. Mood changes can be common around early February, often due to the following causes.
With short winter days, there may seem to be less time to complete errands or tasks. The lack of sunlight also makes it harder to receive vitamin D or to spend time outside in general. Vitamin D deficiencies from lack of sunlight can be a significant cause of low mood and depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is classified as a depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This condition is usually characterized by situational depression that occurs due to seasonal changes, most commonly in the autumn and winter months.
A lack of light, colder days, and changes in one’s routine due to bad weather and rain or snow can be causes for the development of SAD. Symptoms of SAD may include the following:
• A sense of melancholy and profound sadness
• Reduced excitement, pleasure, and joy in previously enjoyed activities
• A sense of numbness or lack of emotion (anhedonia)
• Difficulty practicing self-care or caring for oneself
• Difficulty finding motivation
• Thoughts of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Isolating or withdrawing from social connections
In addition to changes in light and nature, work schedules may have changed during the recent holidays and getting back into your "regularly scheduled programming" can be challenging. As you transition out of the holidays, February can also seem like a transitionary period between a long winter and the spring months that can't seem to come fast enough. January is already considered by some to be the “most depressing month of the year,” which can make the following February just as difficult of a month to cope with.
You're not alone if you’re experiencing seasonal challenges around this month. Below are a few strategies for coping while winter is still hanging around:
• Journaling about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences daily
• Setting a schedule for hygiene, like brushing your teeth and showering
• Finding new hobbies or partaking in old ones
• Spending time with loved ones
• Learning a new skill, such as a language or cooking technique
• Relaxing in a hot bath or shower
• Having a “pampering” or “spa” day
• Taking a break from stressful errands
Instead of struggling to make your normal routine work, you might want consider adapting or temporarily adjusting your routine to the winter months by finding ways to complete errands inside, such as ordering groceries online. If there have been home maintenance or renovation projects weighing heavily on your mind, consider giving yourself some grace and rescheduling those tasks for the spring season and rest and recharge in the meantime. You can also add light boxes or salt lamps to your home, which may improve your mood. These lights can add ambient lighting for relaxation and have been associated with reduced depression symptoms.
Hopefully, the groundhog is wrong, but in case he isn't- give yourself some grace and take a well deserved rest.
Via Time and BetterHelp
