Winter Survival Guide
Despite the frosted ground and frigid temperatures we have been experiencing here the last few weeks, winter hasn’t even officially begun yet! Not until December 21st. But in my mind, winter is here. My first “real” winter in quite some time.
Every time I told someone I was leaving sunny and warm California for cold and rainy England I got questions and funny looks. I was (am) confident about my decision, though. I felt I was ready for the cold. Something in me was drawing me there. I was excited about it!
Well, after experiencing it again, I’m reminded of why I avoided it in the first place. But, it’s also reminded me of how magical it is. Jury is still out on how I feel about living in colder weather but my love for the cold is not the reason I am here. I am here to experience the energy that a true winter season brings.
I needed to go to the cold for a reason.
I am drawn to living connected to and aligned with nature. The seasons are a beautiful way to orient our lives in this way.
For me, it felt impossible to tap into the energy of winter when I was living in an endless summer.
Winter forces you to slow down. It forces you to feel in ways that warmth does not. It lights up your senses, shoots all the way into your core. It forces you to be present, breathe, feel alive.
The cold can definitely impact my mental state. In order to avoid this as much as possible I have had to find the magic in the smallest things. I have had to choose to see the light when my brain wants to find the darkness. This does not only apply to the external season of winter. The energy of winter is in other cycles of our lives. For example: for women, our inner winter can be known as the time when we bleed. Or, we may all experience an energetic inner winter at times in our lives.
My inner world has gone through winters, I have fought them off. The energy of winter is the hardest for me to embrace. I have had to embrace the desire to draw inward, slow down, soften. The exact reasons I chose to walk into the cold are the parts that are most challenging for me. Because of this, I decided to create a survival guide packed with tools we can all turn to when experiencing a season of winter in our lives.
Enter: Winter Survival Guide
Tools to help us tap into the energy of winter and use it to our advantage, regardless of where we are.
Teas - Of course I drink tea year round but tea in winter is essential. My favourites - ginger to warm you up, elderberry and echinacea to boost your immune system, and anything with cloves and cinnamon for the holiday spirit.
Activities that slow you down - Winter is the time to pause, move slower, rest. These activities can be different for everyone, but it is crucial to find the activities that support the slow, restful energy the winter asks of us.
Nature - even though it can be cold outside and/or we are drawn inwards, getting outside is vital for our mental health. Even if just for one minute, feeling the fresh air, getting sunlight, and connecting to nature helps ground us and boost our mood. It can remind us that there is life outside of the cocoon we may have wrapped ourselves in.
Align with the timing - The sun sets earlier and rises later. Our bodies naturally orient themselves to this switch and, if we are able, it could be really beneficial to give into this and set up our schedule in alignment. Allow ourselves to go with the flow of nature and embrace it, versus fighting it. Something that helps me do this is by watching the sunset. It reminds me of that dramatic shift from day to night and allows me to shift into that energy as well.
Journaling - Oh how I love my journaling. Winter is a perfect time to go deeper inwards, reflect and create intentions. This does not have to be structured or done in any specific way. If you would like support I did a blog post about how to: create intentions. However, all you have to do is grab a pen and paper and give yourself one minute to write down anything on your mind. You may be surprised where that leads you.
Create a winter music playlist - This can be a fun activity to do on a cold, slow winter day, and it also provides you with a soundtrack that can set the energy whenever you need it.
Yoga - One of my favourite things to do in the winter time is a sunset slow flow. While the sun is setting, I put on music (see: winter music playlist), light my candles, and let myself move as slowly as possible. If you don’t know where to begin for a sequence, you can look up slow restorative flows on youtube or feel free to reach out to me for my guidance.
List of your favourite indoor activities - create a list of your favourite activities that you can do no matter what the weather is outside. Some examples are: reading, crafting, puzzles, dancing, boardgames, movies, baking. Having a list provides you with something to turn to when you feel stuck on what to do. Make sure to include a wide variety of things you love and can enjoy depending on different moods and situations.
List of your favourite solo activities - Even if you are living somewhere that is not cold, the energy of winter draws us inward. When we are in this time of our lives, it can be helpful to have on hand a list of activities that you love to do when you want to be alone and that nourish your soul.
After fighting them for so long, I am learning to embrace winters - internally and externally. The winter energy is not one to fear or run away from. Winter energy is a crucial part of the cycle of our lives. When you are equipped with the right tools, it can become a time of ease and softness that we all so desperately need.
