This morning I opened my eyes, looked outside, and saw snow—a blanket of white I absolutely did not expect. And honestly? My first reaction wasn’t wonder or awe or holiday spirit.
It was:
Nope. I’m going back to bed. Wake me up when it’s warm again.

Weather has always had the power to change our plans, but it can also change something far deeper:
our mood,
our energy,
our grief,
and even our sense of stability.

And the more I sat with that feeling today, the more I realized…
I’m not the only one.

So let’s talk about it—gently, honestly, and with compassion.

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Why Seasons & Weather Affect Our Emotions

Here are some of the very real, very normal reasons your emotions might get louder as the seasons shift:

1. Light Changes Affect the Brain

When sunlight decreases (especially in winter), your brain produces:

• less serotonin → the “feel good” neurotransmitter
• more melatonin → the hormone that makes you sleepy

This imbalance can lead to:

• low mood
• fatigue
• anxiety
• cravings
• difficulty motivating yourself

This is the biological basis of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

2. Weather Can Trigger Grief or Memories

Certain seasons are tied to:

• anniversaries
• losses
• holidays
• routines you used to share with someone
• a version of life you miss

A snowfall, the smell of cold air, or even the silence of winter can bring back emotions you weren’t prepared for.

3. Sudden Change = Emotional Whiplash

Going from mild fall weather to icy winter overnight can feel disorienting.
Your body hasn’t adjusted.
Your mind hasn’t adjusted.
Your heart certainly hasn’t adjusted.

That mismatch can cause irritability, sadness, or even anxiety.

4. Humans Aren’t Meant to Hibernate… but We Try

Shorter days mean:

• less time outside
• less socializing
• less physical activity
• more isolation

And isolation magnifies whatever we’re already feeling.

5. Your Nervous System Remembers

If you’ve experienced trauma, loss, stress, or fear during a particular season, your subconscious may react before your logic does.

This is why grief can intensify around:

• winter
• holidays
• snowy weather
• or the time of year you lost someone

Your body keeps a calendar all its own.

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What You’re Feeling Is Not Weakness

You are not being dramatic.
You are not being negative.
You are not “letting weather control you.”

You are being human.

And your body is responding exactly the way a human body is wired to respond.

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So What Can Help?

Here are gentle, realistic strategies to support your emotional health when the seasons shift unexpectedly.

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1. Let Your Body Have More Light

• Sit near a window
• Open curtains fully
• Use warm, bright bulbs indoors
• Consider a light therapy lamp (10,000 lux)

Even 20–30 minutes a day can make a noticeable difference.

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2. Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down

When snow falls or the world gets darker earlier, your energy naturally dips.

Instead of fighting it:

• adjust your expectations
• rest without guilt
• do “half days” when needed
• choose cozy, soft tasks over high-energy ones

Winter is a season—not a personal failure.

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3. Create Warm, Comforting Rituals

Think of things that give your mind and body warmth:

• your favorite tea
• a heated blanket
• a warm bath
• candles with comforting scents
• journaling by soft ambient light

These tiny rituals can counter the emotional heaviness of the season.

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4. Stay Connected (Even in Small Ways)

Isolation intensifies seasonal sadness.

Try:

• messaging a friend
• chatting with a neighbor
• joining a support group
• attending a faith or community gathering
• FaceTiming someone you trust

Even 5 minutes of connection can lift you significantly.

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5. Move Your Body—Gently

Winter movement doesn’t have to be strenuous.

Try:

• stretching
• walking at an indoor mall
• light yoga
• dancing to a single song in the kitchen

Movement signals to the brain:
We are alive. We are safe.

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6. Create an Emotional “Winter Plan”

Ask yourself:

• What emotions tend to come up for me this time of year?
• What helps me when those emotions arrive?
• Who can I reach out to?
• What routines help me feel grounded?

This kind of pre-planning gives your feelings a place to land instead of spiraling.

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7. Allow the Grief to Speak Without Shame

If snowy weather or holiday lights or dark evenings bring up grief, it doesn’t mean you’re going backward.

It means you’re human.

It means your love still lives in you.

And you are allowed to:

• cry
• feel heavy
• miss someone deeply
• feel confused by mixed emotions

Grief moves with the seasons too.

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8. Find Something Beautiful in the Season—Even If It’s Tiny

Not to erase the sadness, but to coexist with it.

A single thing like:

• snow settling on a fence
• the quiet after a snowfall
• warm air hitting cold windows
• twinkle lights
• kids bundled up laughing

Beauty doesn’t cancel pain —
but it reminds us we are still capable of noticing light.

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You’re Not Alone in This Season

If snowy mornings make you want to crawl under the blankets…

If the dark days feel heavier than usual…

If your grief aches louder in winter…

If the silence of cold weather reminds you of everything you’ve lost…

Please remember this:

Nothing is wrong with you.
This is a season—not a verdict.
And you are allowed to move through it at your own pace.

You will find pockets of warmth again.
You will adjust.
You will come up for air.

And in the meantime, you are doing the best you can.

And that is more than enough.

Want to go a little deeper? Here is a journal entry to focus on:

“What emotions or memories surface for me during this season,
and what small things help soften those feelings?”

Love and Light ~Mandy