Study Reveals How Americans Beat the Winter Blues

With winter’s dark days and chilly temperatures, many people find themselves feeling a bit down. While the cold months bring excitement with the holidays approaching, once the celebrations are over and the crisp air lingers, the sense of joy often fades as the decorations come down. Combine the post-holiday slump with low temperatures and gray skies, and it’s the perfect recipe for the winter blues.

Some escape to warmer climates to shake off the gloom, while others find small ways to make the season more bearable, like cozying up with a game of online Solitaire. To determine how people handle the winter blues, we surveyed 2,114 Americans across the country to find out where people experience the winter blues the most, and what people do to stay sane throughout the rest of the winter season.

Read on to find out the most popular remedies for the winter blues and how each state copes with the chilly weather!

Key Findings

• 84% of Americans experience the winter blues.
• Watching TV and movies, wearing cozy attire, and listening to music are Americans' most popular ways to beat the winter blues.
• Michigan, Iowa, and Washington are the states where people get the winter blues the most.
• Virginia Beach, VA, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR, are the U.S. cities where people are most sensitive to winter.

The States Where Americans Get the Winter Blues Most

When it comes to post-holiday winter time, there are two types of people: those who embrace the cozy vibes of the rest of the season and those who find themselves battling with the winter blues. For the majority of Americans, the latter is all too common, as 84% have experienced the winter blues.

With the lack of sunlight, added clothing layers, and constant thoughts about their warm spring break plans, some are unable to relate the word “cozy” to winter entirely. This is probably why, if you asked 44%, they would vote to skip winter entirely if they could.

To find out more about where in America people experience the winter blues, we asked Americans questions about their experience with the somber feeling. The top states where people get the winter blues the most are Michigan, Iowa, and Washington.

All three states are in regions that are known for their long, harsh winters, which can surely impact one's mood. Whether it’s feeling like they’re trekking through Antarctica just to get to their car, missing the warm touch of the sun, or wishing for a break from endless gray skies, residents in these states often feel down during the cold season.

On the flip side, Texas, Kentucky, and North Carolina are the states where people are least likely to get the winter blues. Since these states have much milder winters with more sunshine and higher temperatures, people in these states can stay more connected to the outdoors, which helps with maintaining their mood.

The Cities Where Americans Get the Winter Blues Most

Beyond those who reported getting the winter blues, we set out to discover in which cities people were most sensitive to getting the winter blues based on resident responses and the average January temperature in each city.

To do this, we created a sensitivity index which highlights where winter blues are unexpectedly high for mild weather, or unexpectedly low for harsher climates. The top cities where people are most sensitive to getting the winter blues are Virginia Beach, VA, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR.

Regardless of where you live, everyone will experience the winter blues in different ways, with some experiencing light feelings compared to other’s extreme side effects. Nonetheless, if you get the winter blues, your productivity can suffer, as 47% say they are less productive during the winter months. This is because experiencing the winter blues can leave people feeling sluggish, uninspired, or even depressed, which can make daily tasks difficult.

How Americans Beat the Winter Blues

With winter coming every year around the same time, Americans can prepare for the arrival of the winter blues, and some have even mastered ways to prevent them from ever coming at all. Over half of Americans, 59%, say they have specific ways to beat the winter blues. The top antidotes include watching TV and movies, wearing cozy attire, and listening to music.

Out of all of the popular ways Americans combat the winter blues, we asked which one was the single most effective way to avoid the seasonal slump. Exercising, spending time outdoors, and socializing in person, were the top three responses. It’s no surprise that Americans found exercise to be the top most effective way, since physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, which are basically the body’s natural mood lifters.

Along with the most effective way, we asked about the top current trending ways people lift their spirits. Playing cozy games (like FreeCell Solitaire) and video games, light therapy, and self-care topped the list. In fact, 76% of people said they seek out "cozy" media, like TV and video games, to help them with their mood.

Food has also made its way into the list of how to beat the winter blues. Regardless of the season, good food can lift anyone’s spirits. However, in the colder months, a warm bowl of comfort food holds incredible power, since it can provide not only nourishment, but also warmth and emotional comfort. During the winter months, American’s top comfort foods are soup, chili, and macaroni and cheese.

Each State’s Remedy for the Winter Blues

During the winter months, people tend to seek comfort regardless of how it impacts their health. Whether it’s because they exercise less, oversleep, or indulge frequently in comfort food, 46% believe they are less healthy during the winter months. These changes in particular can lead to weight gain, a drop in energy levels, and an overall decline in their well-being. With these changes and more, Americans are easy targets for getting the winter blues.

However, once the winter blues start creeping in, people all across the country have their go-to ways to cope, from their favorite comfort food to an activity that brings them joy. We analyzed what people in each state rely on to beat the winter blues.

Although states may be neighbors, we found that each state has a unique preferred comfort formula. Whether it’s eating warm soup in California, their favorite pizza in Oregon, or creamy mac and cheese in Washington, people all down the West Coast indulge in unique comfort food during the winter months.

The same can be said for the ways in which people in each state beat the winter blues. From relaxing with spa activities in Utah, or enjoying life and working less in Nevada to simply wearing cozy attire in Colorado, Americans know that when the winter months hit, it’s a season to indulge in all things comfort.

Beating the Winter Blues With Solitaire

When facing the winter blues, Americans come prepared with their favorite outlets to avoid somber feelings. From connecting with friends and family to disconnecting for some much-needed alone time, each person has a unique approach to combat the seasonal slump. Whether they keep a cozy classic meal on their weekly menu, sign up for a fun indoor activity, or attempt to master a new hobby, the key to beating the winter blues is finding what works best for you.

If you’re looking for an exciting and challenging way to pass your time indoors, playing a game of Solitaire can be the perfect way to unwind. At Solitaire Bliss, you can play unlimited free games of Solitaire and other exciting games like Canfield Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, and Crescent Solitaire, which will get you through the chilly season and beyond.

Methodology

In November 2024, we surveyed 2,114 Americans across the country about how they beat the winter blues. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 76 years old and were 59% female, 39% male, and 2% nonbinary.

The Sensitivity Index measures how disproportionately people in a city experience winter blues relative to their local temperatures. It highlights cities where winter blues are unexpectedly high for mild weather (high sensitivity) or unexpectedly low for harsher climates (low sensitivity).