Fight the February Funk

Is it just me or is February one of the worst months of the year? It’s short, dark, cold, and just feels like we are waiting for the next thing to happen (mostly spring). Last year, I read an article in the NY Times about a group of friends who each submitted a few daily tasks that were random and focused on self care and fun. It was a fun project last year and I think we were about 90% successful in checking everything off the list, so we are bringing it back this year with a formal name, Fight the February Funk.

Three of us each came up with 9-10 things and then we put them in a random order. Each day, you complete the task. Sometimes, it requires sharing with friends which always makes it a little more fun. Send this to your friends and have them play along.

We made sure everything on the list could be easily accomplished (or slightly modified if necessary) and this year I wanted to share with more people in case you could also use a little mood boosting to fight the February funk. There’s an easy graphic you can pin below to remember each day and if you follow along on Instagram, you can see how we are doing each day.

28 Days of Fun Activities to Fight the February Funk

1. Clean off your desk and add something happy to your work space. Take a before and after picture.
2. Find a song that makes you smile or want to dance and start a playlist.
3. Start a book you’ve been meaning to start, but haven’t yet.
4. Do at least 15 minutes of yoga.
5. Paint your nails.
6. Take a nap.
7. Make a snowman and share a picture.
8. Take a bath with bubbles or bath oils.
9. Start your day with a nostalgic cartoon (think Recess, Looney Tunes, Disney, etc.)
10. Light a candle with dinner.
11. Try a new podcast and share it with a friend.
12. Eat every color of the rainbow (a bag of skittles counts, but try harder).
13. Unfollow 5 accounts on Instagram that do not bring you joy.
14. Write down 3 things you like about yourself.
15. Take a 10 minute quiet walk outside.
16. Order in from a restaurant you haven’t tried before.
17. Buy that thing you’ve been eyeing for yourself but you’ve been waiting for the right moment.
18. Drink 8 glasses of water today.
19. Write a haiku about your morning.
20. Send your grandma (or another family member) send snail mail.
21. Watch the pilot of a 90s sitcom that you haven’t seen in a while.
22. Do a 10 or 15 minute meditation.
23. Read the lyrics of a song and memorize it.
24. Go somewhere where you can be alone and scream REALLY loud.
25. Draw or color something in nature.
26. Find a TikTok or Reel that makes you happy and send to your friends. If you don’t have a group chat filled with hilarious internet videos, today is the day to start it.
27. Send a compliment or thank you to a co-worker who has made your life easier lately.
28. Think of a great childhood memory from a vacation. Journal about it or share on social media (bonus points if you have photos).

Let us know if you’re going to join us, so we can follow along with your February fun.