Navigating My Winter Blues, The State of The World, and Doing Things Differently

Every year, winter rolls in with its familiar weight and this winter has been no exception. The days are short, the cold settles in, and everything just feels heavier. The sun makes a brief appearance, but let’s be honest, it’s mostly just for show. Life slows down, but instead of feeling restful, it can feel like everything is stuck.

And then there’s the current state of the world and of America. Every headline feels like another gut punch, another reason to feel exhausted before the day even starts. The news cycle is relentless and some days, it’s just too much to bear, especially after I’ve found myself doomscrolling.

But I decided early on in the winter to do my best to do things differently and more intentionally; to remind myself that I don’t have to carry the weight of the world on my back 24/7. That it’s okay to unplug. That skipping the news for a day (or ten) doesn’t mean I don’t care.

I’m learning that finding joy in the middle of chaos isn’t ignorance and I can still act, do go and strive for change where it matters. That taking care of myself—whether that means escaping into a book, binge-watching a great show, or just not being productive for a little while—is necessary for my mental and emotional health.

So this winter, I’ve let myself move at my own pace. Because yeah, the world is heavy—but I don’t have to carry all of it, all the time.

Lately, I’ve found a lot of comfort in audiobooks especially listening with my kids (yes to less screen time!). We’ve been working our way through David Walliams’ books, and The Midnight Gang and The World's Worst Children have been an absolute hit.

His humor is ridiculous in the best way, and nothing beats the sound of my kids cracking up at the wild antics in his stories.

For myself, I finally completed Jeffrey Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles—a sweeping family saga full of twists, ambition, and drama. It’s been the perfect immersive escape.

And I cannot wait to get my hands on the other two books in the Legacy of Orisha Series by Tomi Adeyemi —but these ones, I’m buying in physical format, just because!

And it’s not just books.

TV has been my solace, too. I finished The Lioness (Paramount+, seasons 1 & 2), which was excellent. Then I dove into Silo (Apple TV, seasons 1 & 2), which kept me hooked with its mystery based in a world destroy by nuclear bombs (or something lol) where people cannot go outside.

And now, I’m fully invested in The Diplomat (Netflix, seasona 1 & 2), which is just the right mix of political drama and smart dialogue.

Yes—I have all the streaming services. And I justify it financially because my entire household uses them, so in my mind, it evens out. (lol)

One of my words this year is “pace”, and I’m taking it seriously. I’m navigating my business with intention, making sure I’m moving forward but not burning myself out.

And—I’m taking on a scary, audacious new idea that is way outside my comfort zone. It’s one of those things I know I have to do so that I won’t look back with regret. I’ll share more details when it reaches a good place, but for now, just know—it’s big, it’s nerve-wracking, but I’m motivated.

That’s been my winter survival strategy: stories, pacing myself, and pushing into something new even when it’s terrifying.

What about you? How are you navigating this season? What’s bringing you joy? Share in the comments!

P.S. Happy Valentines Day friends ❤️