I'll tell you when I do.

But in the meantime, on a day-to-day basis I feel better when I've scheduled my day and followed the schedule, allowing both for the things I need to do and things I want to do.

It's the down-time that encourages that feeling to grow out of hand. Ask me how I know...

I tend to make myself stay busy with errands or doing things around the house. Going through drawers, closets or storage areas. Call a friend usually helps.

I don't run with a super busy schedule but I have some volunteer activities that add something to my schedule a few days a month. I always have a list of stuff to get done so I work on some of that. I try to exercise every day though I see you can't do that. If I still feel like I have too much idle time after that I plan something to do - go out to lunch with a friend, a future vacation, a project, etc.

So far so good with at least four months of winter in MN. I think I'm much less prone to a funk now that I'm retired. I can get out during daylight and I'm not overwhelmed by too much to do and not enough time to do it.

I have to have something to do, at a scheduled time. A class, an appointment, lunch with a friend, some involvement. This is actually the best time of year for me to have medical or dental appointments, in the morning, because they get me out of the house. Once I'm out, I can do other things, run errands like dropping off cleaning or donations, and those accomplishments make me feel, well, like I've accomplished something.

Sometimes I think it’s okay to just embrace it and take some quiet time! This winter is the first one ever that I’ve been able to do that, so I’m still a novice. I have a handful of things each week that get me out of the house, but if I have a day or an afternoon with nothing scheduled, and it’s cold outside, I put on my sweats and curl up with a book or even Netflix. Still working on letting go of the guilt (which Is irrational) associated with “playing hooky” but it’s getting easier!

If I find myself getting too hermit-like, though, I make lunch or dinner plans with friends. I walk with a couple of friends at least twice a week, too, even when it’s cold (as long as it’s not icy).

First I have a small list of things I have to do or else I am apt to be unhappy with myself. I need to meditate for 20 minutes, walk/run five miles and keep a journal. After that, I find myself happiest when I am enrolled in a class, any kind except from my professional training ;-) And I like to have some service project going, which usually uses my professional training these days.

NB I realize what I wrote is how I stay out of bieng in a funk. For getting out, it's taking a class. That really recharges my energy because it's social and intellectually stimulating.

My artistic hobby. I make beaded things (jewelry, mobiles, etc) and it’s out of my comfort zone. Meaning, I’m an active, adventurous person and sitting down for hours doing something so quiet and attention-commanding is tough. But I really enjoy it, especially the sense of accomplishment when I create something I love. It really does get me out of any funk. I turn on music, light a candle, and just bead stuff.

Hobby Lobby is a great crafting resource for getting started on a new hobby. Or, finding classes somewhere.

I highly recommend something like that, whether it be painting, drawing, writing, sewing, mosaic (I want to learn that), stained glass, making other things. I keep some of my projects, and give some to family/friends.

I am really appreciating this thread. I go back and forth between indulging the desire to get in sweats and read and or spend HOURS on the internet, and feeling I should do something. I do have things scheduled several days a week so when I don't feel like running around, basically it's fine and I can stay home. I am pretty decent about keeping up with cleaning and laundry so it's not that.

However, I do have a LOT of things I should be getting done around the house, such as going through photos, going through drawers, organizing and so on. Somehow I have really been very lax about the house chores and it eats at me.

I too find when the sun is out, I am in a much better frame of mind.

Reading the replies, I think some structure and some degree of busy is probably quite helpful. With the bout of asthma though, I guess you really do need to take it slow. Maybe it's a good time to catch up (even phone wise) it you have been meaning to do so?

I have swing arm lamps by my bed that have 3-way bulbs. In the winter, I find I'm helped a lot by, before I get out of bed, putting the lamp on low for a couple of minutes, then on med for a couple of minutes then on high for a couple of minutes. The gradual brightening of the light simulates the dawn and it lifts my mood like crazy. But I have to do it every day. On days I don't, the funk sets in, esp if it's a cloudy or rainy day. I'm truly amazed at the difference.

Perhaps it can help you.

I retired A couple of months ago and am surprised at how much there is to be done that I’d actively ignored. But some days, i feel lost without a specific list of tasks, like today. so, I’m better off if I come up with things to do and try to do them. Today i made the mistake of listening to the senate hearings and didn’t stir all day, which is making me feel lousy.

Annie - I used to do that when I had to get up for work. Now I just wait for the sun to come up - natural dawn. 😊

When I am in a funk, I double down on self care. I am always more motivated when I feel well tended to... it can be as simple as a nail/hair day or a day doing only what I want. I spend a LOT of my time with other people so a day to myself, tending to myself is restorative.

I think when you don't feel well that it's harder to elevate your mood, but sometimes, you just need to get out of the house and do something completely different from your routine. Take a picnic lunch to a park, wander through a museum, visit some open houses, take a class, etc.

Jmck, have you had a Full physical lately? You might want to check if there are any underlying health issues besides the asthma. I would first start there. Sometimes just lacking in certain vitamins and such can greatly affect you.

Thanks for the comments, ideas, commiseration. I think the asthma thing has gotten me down. I had a 2 year period of being very ill with uncontrolled asthma and last spring I started a new medication that worked really well and I knew that it would eventually come back, but I hoped against hope that it would not. I'm frustrated! I do get outside every day to walk my dogs and that is very helpful. I have made myself a list for today and will plug away at it instead of wallowing. I have wanted to take a writing class, so one of the things on my list is to explore that. I have read a couple of good books while wallowing though ;).

Circling back here, and I think this has been very helpful. I hope this stirs me to make an actual list of things I need to get done and want to do. While I have it in my brain, I need to go back to the old fashioned actual list on an index card (for some reason it works best for me that way). I have tried doing it as notes on my phone but it just doesn't work for me.

I feel like I allow too much downtime and I need to get the show on the road.

Thanks for stirring me into some action.

Could your current medication be playing a role in this? Is it a known side effect? You might not be able to change the medication but it might help to know it’s not really YOU causing the funk. It might be just the final straw (after cold, dark, asthma, whatever else), that pushes you towards funk. And cold and dark are slowly lifting, and you’ll be adding a class and other tips from above so the potential side effect will have much less weight on you.

Doing what you can for yourself is the first step, and hopefully all you need, but don’t dismiss tasking to your doctor if it’s a side effect of your medications they need to know.

I should have also mentioned that I’m taking an art class (mixed media/collage) that I also took last winter. It’s just once a week but I look forward to it, partly because it’s “arts and crafts time” and partly because it’s out of my usual comfort zone. I’m more of a straight-lines-with-a-ruler type, and the loose, freeform nature of this art really forces me to embrace experimentation and imperfection! It’s really fun.

You've been given excellent advice above, and I just really wanted to say that I hope you're gentle with yourself during this time of "funkiness." I do understand how frustrating it is to have even a short-lived physical limitation, and when you combine that with the dreariness of the season, it's really easy to find oneself wallowing. To an extent, I think wallowing is a thing that can be embraced and even enhanced with certain creature comforts. But it sounds like you have a workable plan of action, as you've decided to give yourself things to look forward to doing. That, I have found, is always a help. All the best to you!

I might also examine what the underlying cause of the funk is rather than attributing it to "doldrums." It could be that simple, or not. Some introspection or even talking with someone may be helpful.

jmck, first, you're not alone in your feelings of a funk, doldrums. Winter can be tough. So many things can contribute to that "feeling" - physical and/or emotional. Agree with others that recommend a trip to your doctor. Keeping busy is good if distraction is what you need, otherwise the busyness could contribute to additional stress. Fresh air, sunshine, being outdoors can help. Keep us posted here, people care.

Skipped down just to say that when I am under the weather, I've learned it definitely affects my mood in a very negative way. Perhaps it as to do with inflammation affecting my brain, but I find myself so depressed!

I think trying to get enough rest is super important, along with optimal nutrition and anything else that helps you recuperate ASAP.

Usually when I’m in a funk I’ll also experience a deeper (than average) feeling of depression. When that happens, I will try to create a change in my prospective by finding something positive about whatever is troubling me. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something I can refocus my attention to. It doesn’t work a 100% of the time but it never hurts to put it into practice.

I have found that some days, just going outside - even if I don't go for a walk or run, just opening the door and walking around the yard getting natural light (despite the heavy overcast and flurries - the sun hasn't been seen here for over a week) and fresh air seems to energize me.

My son was going through a funk a few weeks ago. He's prone to depression, so we go over the basics: eating right, getting enough sleep and exercise. He is diligent about all of these. We also talked about the need to be social and engage with others.

Then I told him, "You're OK. There's nothing wrong with you, you know. It's OK to be sad sometimes." I think we're so pro-happiness that we forget that sadness and melancholy are part of our emotional spectrum as humans, too. We panic and want to get rid of it right away, but, for me, that just gives it more fuel. Sometimes, when I treat my funk as "Meh... it happens. I'll get over it" I kinda take away its power.

Of course, long, deep periods of this warrant more intervention. I'm not dismissing depression. But I have found for my son and me, that the ACT-type of acceptance therapy is very helpful.

Are you an extrovert or introvert? This is critical. I'm an extrovert, being around people (with the caveat that they have to be nice, smart, interesting, positive, engaging) energizes me and keeps me from being too funky. If I was an introvert, then it would be different. My introverted husband likes projects, that he is totally in control of and have discreet time limits.

Well a 73 degree day and a couple of walks outside with my dogs has helped tremendously. I'm on the dreaded prednisone, which helps my cough but makes me crazy, so I think I'm doing ok despite that. Planning to get back to my exercise routine tomorrow...it's been too long! Thank you to everyone for the support.