It’s happening again. Sunlight feels like a precious resource as I watch the nights get longer. I can see my breath, signaling that layers and overcoats are required. And now the first flakes have fallen, the trees are bare.

For many of us, it can be hard to navigate the dip in mood and energy caused by the decline in daylight. It hits me on a regular basis, just as it does millions of others each year. But with a bit of optimism and some proactive planning, it’s possible to not only survive, but even to thrive during the dimmest months of the year. 

I’ve pulled together a bundle of ideas for embracing the world around you, and that doesn’t have to stop once the first flakes fall. To help you beat the winter blues, here are some of the tried-and-true ways of making the best of the next few months, with a special focus on staying in touch with nature and its seasonal rhythms.

Adopt a Positive Winter Mindset

When adapting to changes in your physical environment, sometimes the best place to start is internally, with your mindset. Reframing winter as just another season where anything is still possible helps you gain some momentum. In Danish culture they do this through “hygge,” a philosophy that focuses on slowing down and cultivating a sense of coziness in your spaces and fostering the connections within your life. 

Here in the Hudson Valley, organizations like the Hudson River Riders want you to try to adopt an even bolder mantra: #WinterIsWarm. “By telling ourselves that winter is warm, we adopt a mindset that it is okay to be outdoors when things get frozen,” Chevaughn Dixon, director of the Hudson River Riders, has explained. To support this mentality shift, Dixon encourages making sure you’re bundled up for the season and timing your outdoor activity to get the most sunlight you can.

Bundle Up and Take a Hike

With the right boots, layers, and jacket, try making your way toward the nearest rail or hiking trail. Even a short stroll can be invigorating. To ease yourself into it, try joining one of the many outdoor groups and meetups in the region. You can even try reaching out to friends in and out of the area and plan something that way. I’ve found that adding a social element to your outings makes them that much more rewarding.

Bring the Outdoors In by Decorating

Sometimes, small touches can go a long way. Try decorating your home with different trinkets sourced from stores or directly from outside. Think pinecones and bits and branches from evergreen trees.

“No matter what time of year, to bring the outside in isn’t that complicated and doesn’t have to be a whole big production,” Scott Zimmer, owner of Zimmer Gardens in Kingston, has said. “What will make something distinctive is your intention before you start. If you want to make it seem like you have intention, think of color — whether you’re going to stick to a single color or mix colors — and of the height. There’s beauty in a mass of one color. If you’re going to mix stuff, I’d mix it up a lot. Don’t go in between — make a commitment.” 

Tend to the Birds

The best way to deal with tough internal feelings can be to redirect your energy outwards. A simple way to do so is by looking above. Try putting out a bird feeder to attract some friendly fliers to your backyard. Take note of the different ones that stop by. 

To gamify your backyard birdwatching or make it even more fun, you can look up and log the ones you see on an app like eBird. Or to be part of something larger, a true community-science effort, try participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count: a global bird counting project that’s happening from Feb. 13-16, 2026. Using eBird and a bird feeder, you can help scientists get a better look at the bird population in your area.

Try Volunteering

One of the most rewarding ways to connect with something outside of yourself is by volunteering for a cause this winter season. In the midst of holiday meals, food insecurity may not be top of mind.

Yet food banks across the country can experience a rise in demand around the holidays, and disruptions in SNAP at the federal level have intensified food needs this year. To help, try volunteering somewhere like a free community dinner, like the one served up by volunteers every Friday in Beacon through local nonprofit Fareground.

Or step up at one of the distribution centers of a food bank like the Regional Food Bank-Hudson Valley. Earlier this year, they opened a new 50,000-sq.-ft. center in Montgomery, and they’re always looking for assistance. “Volunteering is good for the soul,” says Ellie Zehnder, director of volunteer services for the regional food bank. “If you are feeling the winter blues, the very best way to feel better is to give back to somebody else.  It takes the focus off your feelings and puts it, even if temporarily, on helping another.”

The food bank offers opportunities to help seven days a week, rain or shine. “Volunteers help us sort and pack donations from major retailers, farms, food drives, and more. You may come in a little blue, but no one ever leaves that way!” Zehnder says. “It’s a win-win. You help your neighbors in need eat and leave knowing you made a difference.” 

Try a Winter Sport or Other Winter Activity

It’s never too late to try out a winter sport. If you’re looking for something super-accessible, snowshoeing might be your speed. The centuries-old activity with Indigenous roots can be picked up by anyone looking to maneuver their usual hiking trails, or just start off with a leisurely stroll on a nearby rail trail. Diana Richards has shared a wonderful guide to getting started, complete with best practices and recommended spots. Or if you’re ready for a new sensation, try snowboarding, ice skating, and downhill or cross-country skiing.

Read About the Great Outdoors

Cozying up with a good book when it’s cold out is a classic way to get comfortable when venturing outside requires a bit more work. What’s even better is reading some fiction and nonfiction titles that expand your wonder about the natural world. Scenic Hudson contributors and staff have put together a great list of books to check out that fit the bill.

Support Winter Agriculture

In the Hudson Valley, community-supported agriculture, or CSAs, can be good resources to tap into if you’re looking for some fresh produce outside of the warmer months.

Or for a double dose of goodness — supporting ag and fostering connectedness — try getting out to the many regional farmers’ markets that keep going throughout the winter season. Venturing to these in-person events can add a sense of regularity and social connection, which are especially important qualities to maintain in this season.

Grow Some Green

Tending to houseplants and growing some microgreens can liven up an indoor space. Or get a head start on gardening for the spring and summer starting some seeds indoors, or doing winter sowing outdoors. The anticipation that builds for seeing those little seeds sprout can carry you through the rest of the winter.

Dalvin Aboagye is a writer based in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. When he’s not enjoying the warmth and sunlight of summer, you can find him scrambling to survive yet another cold Catskills winter. He’s written for the Times Union, the River, Thrillist, and more.