Topic on all forums this week; Blue Monday and the effects of winter that some people absolutely love. How to change perceptions and know the joys of the cold season? The duty spoke with a woman who made winter weather one of her livelihoods.
A concept created by British psychologist Cliff Arnall, Blue Monday is the result of a pseudo-equation between cold, lack of light, holiday debt and lack of motivation.
For many, the third Monday in January is seen as the peak of seasonal depression; common disorder in Nordic countries, also called winter depression. According to a study by the American Psychiatric Association, 1 in 20 Americans experience episodes of seasonal depression.
Photographer and content creator Jeanne Rondeau-Ducharme has made winter destinations one of her niche activities. Candidly, she claims the right not to want to go outside when the mercury is below zero. “The most difficult thing is to cross the door of your house! Very often, once outside, we realize all the good that it brings us. And the cold on your cheeks when you come back, it’s an unbeatable feeling that you don’t have during other seasons! »
At the other end of the line, the 32-year-old woman recalls her recent trip to Norway, where the culture of koselig is to be taken as a model; a real cure for the winter blues. This concept, which is deeply rooted in the way of life, combines the feeling of comfort, social gatherings, nature and the outdoors. Norwegians are in symbiosis with winter. Restaurant terraces are heated, there are blankets, fires in public squares, in courtyards, illustrates Jeanne Rondeau-Ducharme.
“After outdoor activities, they continue their day outside and dress accordingly, regardless of the season! […] By appropriating our parks, by inhabiting our public spaces or by creating spaces at home, I think that we would gain more by living our northernness instead of fighting it. »
I like winter too
On social networks, they are tens of thousands to follow the adventures of the photographer in the Gaspé Chic-Chocs, in Tignes, in France, or in the Swiss Alps.
Beyond dream adventures, Mme Rondeau-Ducharme believes that to live well with the cold, you have to find an accessible activity that allows you to tame it. “If we don’t keep busy in winter, we’ll find the time long. I keep making great homages to the cross-country skiing that I discovered three years ago, like many people. It’s a sport, yes, but you can decide to practice it in a contemplative way. And it is accessible both in the forest and in town. And it allows us to live in the present moment. »
His second suggestion: discover favorite regions under the snow cover for a unique experience. His favorite place? The valley of ice at Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie park, in the Charlevoix region.
In the heart of the valley and its majestic setting, the river becomes transparent black ice and offers a wide range of activities. “Each time I go back, the comment is the same: let’s see that we have that at home, in Quebec! »
She recounts her best winter memories, including her stay in the Magdalen Islands in the middle of March. “There aren’t a thousand activities to do when it’s off-season, so it allows you to feel the pulse of the inhabitants and contemplate the landscapes. […] Over the years, my definition of the outdoors has changed. I often say that making a fire outside is, for me, a form of being outdoors. I go there a lot more with what allows me to connect with nature. »
Like several specialists, including Dr.r Norman E. Rosenthal, the first to demonstrate the link between light and seasonal depression, Jeanne Rondeau-Ducharme evokes the importance of going outside as much as possible. “I think the best medicine is to take advantage of the maximum hours of sunlight — when possible. Go out at lunchtime, do your shopping on foot on the way back from work. […] The more you do it, the more you feel the benefits. »