How showing up for your health can help you get through February
It might feel endless right now, but this month won't last forever
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February has always been a complicated month for me. The holidays are over, spring feels impossibly far away, and here in the Northeast, the gray skies and frigid temperatures seem to stretch on endlessly. And with cold and flu season raging, this time of year presents its own unique challenges for anyone living with cystic fibrosis (CF).
This year, I’m being more honest with myself about how seasonal affective disorder compounds everything else. It’s not just CF fatigue; it’s the weight of short days, limited outdoor time, and the mental fog that creeps in with the early darkness each evening. Adding chronic illness to seasonal depression creates a feedback loop that’s hard to break during this cold month.
When you’re feeling down and unmotivated, caring for yourself feels more burdensome. When you skip or rush through treatments, you feel physically worse, which tanks your mood even further.
Getting through the cold
I’ve learned that acknowledging this pattern is half the battle. The other half is having strategies ready before your motivation completely disappears.
On my lowest days, the couch is magnetic. My energy level is low, and I’m reaching for warm comfort foods. But I’ve discovered that movement and exercise, however minimal, help both my body and my mood.
As it did during the COVID-19 pandemic, YouTube has become an unexpected ally. I’ve found gentle yoga channels, short meditation sessions, and even chair exercises I can do with low motivation.
The key for me has been letting go of the expectation of perfection. Ten minutes of stretching count. Five minutes of breathing exercises count. Movement doesn’t have to be structured or intense to matter.
Keeping connections
February’s timing is cruel. When winter isolation is at its worst, cold and flu season continues to demand that we stay cautious. I’ve had to get creative about connection. Phone calls have made a comeback. There’s something about hearing a friend’s laughter, the pauses and tones of their voice, and the realness that texts can’t replicate.
Last week, I joined a virtual webinar. And on Sundays, I attend virtual church services. Just seeing other people on the monitor and being there this way helps me feel more connected. I’ve also started virtual coffee and writing dates, regular video calls with a few friends to catch up on life or to write. These connections remind me that I’m not alone in managing this disease, in struggling with motivation, and in finding February particularly hard.
Showing up for my health
I’m also reframing how I think about my daily treatment routine. Instead of viewing it as a chore or a reminder of my illness, I’m trying to see it as an act of self-care and a tangible way to show up for myself when everything feels difficult.
Some days, this reframing works beautifully. Other days, it feels like I’m lying to myself. But even on the harder days, I do these things anyway and feel better afterward. I’ve set phone reminders, created a simple checklist, and removed as many barriers as possible. I have a designated spot for my medical equipment and prescriptions. My medications are organized. I’ve made it as easy as possible for my low-motivation self to follow through.
It feels endless right now, but February won’t last forever. I’m learning that managing CF during the hardest months means treating myself more gently, staying connected even when isolation feels safer, and moving my body even when my mind resists. It means recognizing that on some days, simply completing treatments is enough, and that that’s not giving up — it’s showing up.
If you’re reading this and struggling too, know you’re not alone in finding this month particularly heavy. Each day, try your best to show up for yourself — one treatment, one phone call, and one small movement at a time. Spring is six weeks away. We can do this!
Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.
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