Cold Weather, Clear Conversations - Beating the Winter Blues Together
There’s one thing we can all agree on here in Minnesota right now: it’s cold!
And frigid temperatures can lead to the winter blues. The winter blues are about more than weather; they’re about isolation, routine fatigue, and the strain of being indoors together. For co-habiting couples (married or not), being stuck inside all winter can magnify practical and emotional gaps that are easy to ignore the rest of the year.
That makes this season a surprisingly good time to check in — with yourself and with each other.
Create small routines that anchor the day
Short days and long nights can make time blur together, and soon every day feels like a Wednesday. Consider building in some simple shared rituals: a morning coffee together, a nightly walk (bundled up!), or a weekly date night at home or your favorite local restaurant.
You can also build in routines connected to communication. Schedule regular times over that shared coffee or weekly date night to check in and discuss the “adulting” topics you need to address: finances, emergency contacts, or what would happen if one partner became ill.
Name the stress instead of letting it simmer
Cabin fever is real, especially when work-from-home schedules, childcare, and the weather limit personal space. Normalizing winter irritability can prevent resentment. Maybe you simply say, “I’m feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world and these frigid temperatures. I’m going to take a short break in the basement. See you in 20! Maybe then we can put on our balaclavas and go for a walk? Talking optional!”
Stress has a way of revealing assumptions about time, space, and even legal protections. Many cohabiting couples assume they have safeguards in place that they don’t actually have, particularly when it comes to medical decisions or access to financial accounts. Winter downtime can be a good moment to clarify those details before a crisis forces the conversation.
Use winter as a planning season, not just a survival season
Minnesotans are already planners. We stock our cars and our pantries, and we make sure we have plenty of hotdish to share. You can also extend those important planning tendencies to legal and financial planning that protects both partners. Use the winter blues as a reminder to review the following with your cohabitating partner: beneficiaries, powers of attorney, healthcare directives. And maybe consider a cohabitation agreement, if you don’t already have one.
Prioritize mental health — individually and together
Seasonal depression and anxiety can creep up quietly. If you or your partner are suffering, seek the help you need, whether that’s therapy, movement, or honest conversations about your current mental and emotional bandwidth.
Mental health struggles can affect decision-making in emergencies. That’s why having plans in place ahead of time can protect both partners and reduce stress during already difficult moments.
Plan for the future with hope
Winter won’t last forever (even if it feels endless in late January and February!) However, the conversations you start now can make the rest of the year feel lighter. For cohabiting couples, thoughtful planning isn’t about expecting the worst; it’s about checking in, caring for each other well, and building protection in every season — even the ones that freeze our eyelashes!
If you’d like to discuss any of your estate planning documents, including the benefits of a cohabitation agreement, contact Miroslavich Law to schedule a free consultation. We’ll make sure the furnace is running and have a warm beverage ready for you!
