If you’ve been staring at the grim, cheerless gray sky outside and feeling like you’d be better off hiding in bed under your cozy comforter with leftover holiday chocolate, we’ve got some good news: it’s not just you.

Blue Monday is coming up, according to psychologist Cliff Arnall in Is Blue Monday the Most Depressing Day of the Year? And whew, we are all feeling it this year.

According to Arnall, the day isn’t just some random Monday. It’s specifically the third Monday in January, selected according to the weather, debt, time since the holidays, low motivation, and usually the time when any New Year’s resolutions might start sliding by the wayside. In short, the weather gets dark and cruddy, you’re broke, the holiday cheer and time off has disappeared, and life just feels bleak.

But you don’t have to become yet another victim to seasonal sadness. If you want to keep your spirits and motivations high (or at least some modicum of it), there are a few things you can still do while you anticipate the return of spring.

Take care of yourself

Most of us tend to overeat during the holidays. What’s not to love about delicious snacks, chocolaty treats, and tons of tasty drinks? Not to mention feasting with family and friends. But that indulgence can sometimes take its toll on your sense of well-being.

Make sure you’re eating lots of well-rounded, nutritious foods and getting some movement in. Aside from the fact that movement will make you feel better, you’ll be taking advantage of some fresh air. Get lots of sleep if you’re feeling tired, and don’t feel guilty about it. Sleep is your friend.

Check your workspace

It always surprises me when writers and authors keep their desks somewhere dark and tiny. If you’re spending long stretches of time at your desk during the day, let there be light. Find a bright cheery window or door, and get your desk as close to it as possible.

Believe it or not, that extra bit of light can make a big difference to your mood and your emotional well-being. Bring a little spring inside with a new plant or some fresh flowers, or treat yourself to a new desk lamp, a small piece of art, or even a mood stuffie. A bit of light and color can transform your workspace, and with it, your mood.

Schedule a minibreak

Chances are good that your holiday break went by faster than you expected. Maybe you were busy with family and friends or looking after kids. Holidays take a lot of work—planning, shopping, food menus, travel, prepping your home, and catching up with everyone you love. By the end of the month, most of us are just collapsing into a comfy chair and feeling thankful for bingeworthy shows.

Schedule a long weekend for either a dedicated reading staycation or even a little getaway to another town. Check into a nice hotel with a swimming pool and pretend you’re on vacation. Give yourself extra time to relax.

Embrace a bit of hygge

Trends come and go, and we anxiously await the departure of some of them (I’m looking at you, crop tops). But the Danish concept of hygge is one that North Americans—especially those of us in more northern climes—could really benefit from.

“Winter is the most hygge time of year,” writes Anna Altman in The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy. “It is candles, nubby woolens, shearling slippers, woven textiles, pastries, blond wood, sheepskin rugs, lattes with milk-foam hearts, and a warm fireplace . . . It’s possible to hygge alone, wrapped in a flannel blanket with a cup of tea, but the true expression of hygge is joining with loved ones in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere.”

Spend some time with your favorite people in a cozy, warm living room or pub, or gather your writing group for some hot bevvies and delicious snacks. You’ll be feeding your belly and your soul.

Write yourself into a new world

One of the greatest perks of being a writer is to disappear into a place of your own making. Some people can go only as far as transportation and their wallets will allow them. Writers can go anywhere. Imagine the perfect place to be. Where is it? What is the weather like? And what would you love to be doing? You’re allowed to write something just for you, even if you have no intention of selling or publishing it.

You can visit whenever you want, and you can enjoy any activity you like. Whether it’s playing hopscotch on the moon, swinging in a hammock under a palm tree on a golden beach, or roasting marshmallows in the earth’s core, the universe and your imagination is limitless. Write yourself into the perfect escape—and remember that as far as anyone else can tell, you look like you’re working really, really hard.

Cut yourself some slack

We all have a tendency to set goals for ourselves in the New Year, even if we don’t believe in resolutions. But if you’re struggling to find that drive or you feel like you’re falling behind on those goals, don’t panic. Just revise your schedule and your expectations.

It’s OK if you haven’t been meeting your daily or weekly writing goals. Maybe for this month, you can leave yourself a little bit of extra wiggle room. Or rethink the goals you’ve set, and make sure they’re working for you. Sometimes it’s better to ease off the throttle before you burn out. Maybe you just need a nice lazy weekend.

January can be a jerk, but like every month, it’ll pass sooner than we think. The days are already getting longer. And before you know it, spring will be here. Until then, cozy up, sip tasty drinks, and remember that this is a time for rest, contemplation, and—if we’re fortunate enough—luxurious peace and quiet.

Hannah Guy lives in Toronto and is a professional writer and copywriter who specializes in books, books, and more books. Follow her on Twitter at @hannorg.