16 Fabulously Gay Ways to Ward Off Seasonal Depression

Winter may be depressing, but that doesn’t mean your fabulous gay self should be.

Despite the hilariously appropriate acronym, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is no joke. Many of us get depressed during the winter. It makes sense; we are human beings who need sun, warmth, and light to feel alive! I’m going on my 10th East Coast winter, and over the course of the past decade, I’ve come up with a number of fabulously gay ways to ward of SADness.

So here they are! 16 ways, straight from this queer’s mouth to you!

1. Get cuffed

You don’t need to love the guy. You just need to like him enough. You’re not looking for your next long term boyfriend at the moment. What you’re looking for is someone who has the same Netflix and food taste, so you can watch Black Mirror, order in Indian food, and cuddle in bed together all night long.

2. Work out

You gotta keep working out. I know it’s a pain to head to the gym when it’s cold, but it’s so important, especially if your body is used to being more active. Being lazy will cause you to feel depressed. And if you see your body changing, that too, will cause you to get even more depressed.

3. Use the sauna/steam room

Get your ass into the steam room where it’s hot. It’ll warm your body up. What may also help is that cute guy next to you in a skimpy towel who’s CLEARLY cruising you.

4. See your friends

It’s cold out. I know. You don’t want to leave your room. I know. But you HAVE TO if you’re finding yourself feeling blue. Otherwise, you’re going to sink further and further into seasonal blues.

5. FaceTime

Alright, so if you really (and I mean REALLY) can’t leave your apartment, at least FaceTime your BFF. You need to communicate with others before you turn into a complete hermit.

6. Vent

I don’t know why so many of my friends on Facebook get mad when people complain about the cold and darkness. Yes, this happens every year, but that doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to complain about it. Venting feels good. Venting is queer culture. Vent away to all who will listen!

7. Appreciate the sunny days

Every couple of weeks there’s always one random sunny day where it’s 40 degrees. You must, I repeat, must take advantage of those days and get outside. They’re a gift from the gay gods.

8. Drink hot drinks

You always claim you have the tea. Well this time, drink some actual tea, while dishing tea.

9. Throw a dance party

I realized that one of the things about winter that really gets me down is that I don’t dance. So you should throw a dance party in your damn room with some friends or go out to a club. Whatever it is, make sure to get your sweat on by dancing up a storm.

10. Plan some winter activities

Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, etc. Try to get into it if you have the cash. Personally, I don’t engage in any winter activities, (which I love, cause ski lifts are pricey), but I’m always down to share a cabin somewhere with a jacuzzi and get drunk while my friends hit the slopes.

11. Wear proper attire

Okay, nothing gay about this really. But you may have to throw some of your queer fashion out the window. No crop tops. Ya know? Heavy coats. Long underwear. Boots. (But at least you can still make your boots ~fashion~.)

12. Look into SAD light therapy

So I am very skeptical when it comes to whether SAD therapy lights actually work, but I have friends who swear by them. They’re lights that imitate the sun and supposedly help winter blues. They’re fairly cheap on Amazon, too. You can grab one for around 40 bucks!

13. See a therapist

Unless you don’t have insurance or transportation, then there’s no real reason why you’re not seeing a therapist. (Okay, there may be a few. Good therapists are difficult to find and seldom have openings for new clients...but I digress.) If your depression is getting really bad, then definitely find a therapist who specializes with queer patients. 

14. Care for something more than yourself

Have something else you live for besides yourself. Whether that’s a volunteer group, taking care of a pet, or something else entirely. Life has more purpose when you’re helping other living beings.

15. Keep going to gay events

You need to keep yourself surrounded by other queers! Go to gay bars. Gay Meet-ups. Gay this and gay that! Don’t lose your sense of community simply because you’re feeling a little down.

16. Take a trip to somewhere sunny

It is definitely possible to travel cheaply. There’s Airbnb. Staying with friends. Bolt busses. You just need to plan ahead. So do it! Plan ahead, and get your ass to somewhere sunny for the weekend!