10 Mental Health Tips for Moms to Survive the Winter

This one sounds unbelievably basic, but how often do many of us notice that by about 10:30 our stomachs are painfully rumbling and our patience is hanging by a thread? Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the nutrients it needs to power you through the early morning routine with your kiddos.

It’s important to recognize that your morning mood often sets the tone for the household that day, so start things right by giving yourself a wholesome meal that lets your body and brain emotionally regulate, no matter what challenges you face first thing in the morning. (PS- Protein is your brain’s best friend! Breakfasts packed with clean, lean protein are a great option!)

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Maria Korneeva

Countless studies have proven the benefits of being outside, or even standing near a window with natural light. When temperatures are freezing or the weather is blustery, going outdoors isn’t an option, but if you can’t get out in the sun, you can find it indoors. Open curtains, rearrange furniture, etc., throughout the house so your body can benefit from the sun's psychological effects.

I converted our sunroom into my toddler’s play area because of all the natural light, and not only does he absorb the sun, but he has also found a new love for looking at the trees, birds, and other bits of nature dancing throughout the yard.

As much as it destroys my pride, time and time again, I’ve learned to tell my son, “Mommy needs a few minutes to herself.” But rather than saying this in a puffy, anger-laced manner because I’ve had enough, I’ve noticed I’m not as on edge when I take these few minutes to myself at the start of the morning.

Of course, get the kids dressed, fed, diapered, etc., but find a small window of time where you can do your devotional, pray, listen to music, work on a crafting project, or whatever else brings you simple delights. When you allot yourself a few minutes to focus on things that cultivate joy in your life, you invite that positive mood into your day, which naturally benefits your children and spouse.

Recognize your children's differences and find personalized ways to spend quality time with them, especially when everyone is stuck inside. Odds are, you have rubbed off on each of them in some capacity, whether it's a mutual joy in gardening, a certain genre of music, dancing in the kitchen, or reading books. Even little ones imitate your habits—my son absolutely loves to read, just like me!

So why not create one-on-one time with each child, even if only for five minutes, so you can both find positive mental stimulation in daily activities together? This might look like creating a playlist you two can enjoy on cold nights, or trying a new recipe together while you’re snowed in with no time to lose! The options are endless.

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I am the opposite of a hoarder. I will throw out just about anything if it means a closet or drawer is less cluttered. Clean, open spaces simply do that much for my brain. And if you’re a stay-at-home mom, like me, it will drive you nuts to see the clumps of clutter scattered throughout your house all day, every day.

However, it’s hard to keep a house clean when you have toddlers (or even teens), so I’ve found that it saves my sanity to ensure that at least one room in the house is clean and clutter-free, even if it’s just the bathroom. This way, I don’t spend all day cleaning every inch of the house (that my toddler will just come right behind me and destroy again), but when I feel overwhelmed by the mess, I can visit that one room to clear my cluttered head.

Related: 3 Things a Clean Home Does for Your Spirit

If the weather permits and everyone can stay safe, get out of the house. That might mean bundling up and sitting on the front porch with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. Or it might mean strapping the little ones into their car seats and going to your favorite drive-thru coffee shop to treat yourself.

Cabin fever is a real thing, and it’s important in the cold winter months to ensure that you don’t feel trapped inside the four walls of your home. Yes, home is lovely. It’s the loving atmosphere you have created for your family. But even still, we weren’t meant to sit in one place all day, every day, for days on end.

I’m a music gal. I simply feel more alive when there’s music in the background. From (clean) rap music to alternative rock to classical sonatas, I find life in lyrics and instruments. This is why I’m protective of my music time when prepping dinner.

If it has been a long day, making dinner just feels like one extra chore, especially when you know there will be a big clean-up, or you have a picky eater already making complaints. So on these cold winter nights when everyone is crammed inside, respectfully ask for space in the kitchen so you can listen to your music as you prep a nourishing meal for your family.

It’s so easy to scroll through our phones before bed because we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and sometimes spiritually spent. We are worn out from a hard day, whether at the office or with a sleepless newborn, and we are begging for a chance to simply zone out from reality.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with indulging content that sparks the imagination, encourages your heart, and repositions your mind towards wholesome things. But remember that all the blue lights, fast images, and bright colors on our tiny screens are often meant to overstimulate the brain, which doesn’t help the body properly wind down.

If the kids go to sleep in enough time, have a 30-minute date night with your spouse. Our toddler is just now sleeping long enough through the night that we get time to ourselves, so on these cold nights, we enjoy making things cozy by baking cookies or making stovetop popcorn, then enjoying a show or movie.

Is this technically screen time before bed? Probably, I’ll admit. But there’s an element of relational bonding between you and your spouse that takes precedent, especially in the trenches of parenthood when you rarely feel like you are anybody outside mom or dad.

Mamas, while modern health professionals say that the average adult needs seven or eight hours of sleep to function at maximum capacity, that’s a bit of a skewed statistic. Why? Because it blends males and females together, neglecting that each has a unique hormonal system with different needs.

Believe it or not, women need significantly more sleep to ensure hormones are rested, regulated, and ready to make it another twenty-four hours as a mama. I know sleep is hard to come by in the earlier years. Trust me, you’ll never, ever hear me say, “Sleep when the baby sleeps!” I get it. Nonetheless, prioritize maximum rest as best you can for your sanity!

I pray you consider these tips and see which ones you can implement to rejuvenate your mind and refresh your soul as you look to better serve your family through the cold, long winter season. Stay warm, and stay sane!

Related: 15 Activities to Get Out of the House with Your Kids This Winter