Seasonal Living - Surviving January
January is generally considered the harshest month of the year, with the third Monday being acknowledged as Blue Monday, the day we are likely to feel most depressed and unhappy. This year Blue Monday falls on the 19th. It is already a long month, many of us were paid early in December and most of us spent our money on gifts and food in the first week of receiving it. This financial pressure can add to the feeling of overwhelm and sadness. Days are still cold and dark and the nights are long. It doesn’t have to be this way though, instead we can embrace the season and let the natural rhythm of life guide us.
Winter is a time for rest and introspection, now that the busyness of Christmas is over we can take this time to rest, reflect and nurture ourselves. Here are a few suggestions for slowing down, incorporating restful nurturing rituals into our days and embracing the last few weeks of winter.
Restorative sleep: Many of us need more rest and longer sleep during the winter. Maybe you need to turn off the TV and go to bed an hour earlier. What does your bedtime routine look like? Maybe light a candle, diffuse grounding essential oils, practice a sleep meditation or journal to help calm your mind.
Cozy Evenings: light a fire if you are fortunate enough to have one, light candles, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket and read by candlelight or listen to some relaxing music. Have a ritual bath or a home pamper evening once a week.
Slow Mornings: Start your morning slowly, ideally don’t reach for your phone chasing that dopamine hit for at least an hour after waking. Step outside and take a few deep grounding breaths, light a candle, journal, sip your coffee or tea mindfully. I find my day flows best when I spend the first hour in silent solitude, sometimes this means setting the alarm so that I am awake before the rest of the house, but it is definitely worth it, even ten minutes of silent reflection can set the tone for your day.
Nurture your body with nourishing foods: The sap is still below ground, trees and plants nourishing their roots waiting to emerge slowly. We too can strengthen our root chakra, feeding ourselves nurturing root vegetables, and hearty stews. Taking your time to prepare a meal mindfully can be a calming and centering ritual.
Intentional Rest: During the winter months our bodies naturally need more rest, honour your body by going to bed earlier, take a nap or simply enjoy an hour of guilt free rest.
Be Mindful with your media: unfollow anything negative or energetically draining, if you’re watching TV choose uplifting programmes, better still have a digital detox, either fully or have a set amount of phone free time each day.
Embrace Nature: Go outside, just step out of your door and take a few deep grounding breaths first thing in the morning. Wrap up warm and enjoy a crisp winter walk, noticing how the cold air awakens your senses, spend time listening to the birds. Go outside at night wrapped in a blanket with a warm mug of something and spend some time moon or stargazing. The stars are so clear on these crisp winter nights.
Indulge in a solo tea or cacao ceremony: Brew an herbal tea or a delicious cacao and drink it mindfully, breathing in the aromas before sipping slowly, feeling the warmth spread through your body.
Embrace your home: Declutter, making space for new energy. Just getting rid of a few small unwanted items can lift our energy. Cleanse with smoke or an essential oil spritz, open a window, even for just a few minutes to let the crisp clean air refresh your space. Then set new intentions, add cosy blankets and soft lighting, bring in seasonal décor by collecting items like pine cones of evergreens on your winter walks (don’t forget to ask permission from the nature spirits)
Create a vision board: Spend some time visualising your dreams for the year ahead, create your board using inspiring pictures and words and place it somewhere it can be seen, reminding you to focus on what is important to you.
Relax with a bath ritual: Add Epsom salts, your favourite essential oils, maybe some flowers, or the bubble bath you received for Xmas, light candles and relax.
Finally this is not designed as a list of things you need to do. The idea is to embrace things that feel good to you not to add to the never ending to do list, there is nothing worse than setting an intention to do more or be better and ending up feeling like we’ve failed
Happy New Slow Year
