January is a tough month to get through. The holidays are over and spring seems so far away. Then there is the weather. It still gets dark early, it’s cold and it’s usually snowy, although we have been lucky so far this year. Still, the gray days can give way to the blues.

For seniors, “the blahs” can be especially hard, said Amy Cotton, director of operations at Rosscare and nurse practitioner for the Center for Healthy Aging.

“I hear my patients, most of whom are homebound, say that they are ‘just a little sad,’ or feeling down, or are eating more, and not sleeping well,” she said. “They are just not feeling like themselves. Family who visited for the holidays may be gone, so now they are spending more time alone and they often can’t get out as much due to weather.”

Keep in mind that whether you call it the winter blahs, holiday blues or the Januarys, as a friend on mine does, this down-in-the-dumps feeling is not to be confused with seasonal affective disorder or depression.

If you experience winter blahs well into spring, contact your health care provider as depression is not a natural sign of aging, no matter how old you are, and it is treatable.

But if you are just feeling blah-like, there are things that may help. Cotton has tips for surviving the holiday blues and winter blahs:

. Keep your mind alert by reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards with a friend, doing crafts and hobbies – any activity that engages your brain. If you have a box of unidentified family photos, think about organizing it. Later generations will thank you.

. Exercise. A snowy yard is no excuse to be sedentary. If you can’t get out of the house, exercise indoors. There are a variety of tapes and DVDs available for every age group and activity level. There is even a walking tape which is a lot of fun. After doing the whole tape, you will have “walked in place” the equivalent of two miles. Check with your doctor for more options.

. Choose healthful “comfort” food. You’ll feel better, in the long run, eating a nutritious stew rather than ice cream. OK, have a little ice cream, too.

. Increase social time with family and friends. If you have trouble getting out, invite them to your home. Make a tea and cookie date, like the kind my mother, her sister Lil and I used to have many years ago. I always considered it a special time in my childhood. I’ll never forget them. Something so simple can make an impact for a lifetime.

. Be creative. If you love decorating for the holidays, do it for other special occasions as well. Valentine’s Day is coming up and it is hard to be depressed when surrounded by lacy red hearts and candy.

. Make plans for fun things to do in the future, like a special dinner or a trip. It gives you something to think about and to look forward to.

. If possible, volunteer for an organization you admire – like Eastern Agency on Aging. People donate their services at the holidays, which is wonderful, but then they are gone and many of the agencies still need help. And there is nothing like helping someone else to make you feel better.

. Take a class or just get out of the house. Check the calendar section of The Weekly for a list of things to do. You might be amazed at all that is going on right outside your door.

I hope these suggestions are helpful and that you find yourself in the pink in no time.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or visit www.eaaa.org. TTY 992-0150.