Winter is a time of year when mental wellness may be in more need of special attention compared to other seasons, especially for some who have challenges getting through the coldest and darkest months of the year.
“Winter can be a difficult time for many people, myself included, due to the lack of sunlight, bitter cold, and lack of life in nature,” said Megan Bealer, head of Adult Services at the Pottstown Regional Public Library.
“Recognizing this change in yourself and the prominence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is the first step to learning how to cope and heal with it.”
“Winter Blues” by Norman E. Rosenthal. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
“Flourish” by Martin E. P. Seligman. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
“On Thriving” by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
“Wintering The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times” by Katherine May. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
“The Little Book of Hygge” by Meik Wiking. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
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“Winter Blues” by Norman E. Rosenthal. (Photo courtesy of Pottstown Regional Public Library)
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Navigate the winter blues
Bealer selected five books to help one navigate the “winter blues,” or SAD, strengthen mental health in general, and embrace the space for coziness and rest that winter provides.
“For understanding and navigating seasonal affective disorder specifically, I’ve chosen ‘Winter Blues’ by Norman E. Rosenthal, MD,” she said. “This book will provide a self-test, information about the psychology behind SAD, and, most importantly, coping mechanisms for getting through it.”
For a well-rounded approach to mental health and well-being, she chose “Flourish” by Martin E. P. Seligman and On Thriving by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson.
“Flourish takes us beyond the simple concept of happiness to the multi-faceted aspects of our lives, such as community and happiness that contribute to our overall well-being,” Bealer said. “On Thriving delivers powerful tools with analogies to plant life to help you cultivate better self-awareness and radical joy.”
Embracing rest and coziness
When it comes to embracing the landscape for rest and coziness that winter provides, according to Bealer, helpful ideas are explored in “The Little Book of Hygge” by Meik Wiking and Wintering by Katherine May.
“Hygge, a Danish term which loosely translates to a sense of coziness, can help us select simple choices during the darkest time of the year to lift our spirits,” she said. “Wintering, as its subtitle declares, explores the power of rest and retreat in difficult times. Winter, though difficult for many, can provide the exact time needed to recenter and find inner wellness.”
The Pottstown Regional Public Library is a PA Forward Gold Star library that continues to offer programming opportunities that cover all five literacies year-round. For health literacy, they offer free beginner’s yoga, with the next free class taking place on Feb. 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. To register, call 610-970–6551 x102. For more information, visit www.pottstownregionalpubliclibrary.org
