Embracing winter, with purpose!

I am not a winter person. I try my best to enjoy the cosy and the candles, and sometimes I convince myself that I can confront the darkness with a smile, but at my core I am a woman of the tropics. I am also socially anxious and a huge over-planner, so the lead up to Christmas, with all its pressure and busyness usually ends in some sort of mid-December meltdown (on my husband). And I know I’m not alone, neuroscientist Rachel Barr has said ‘nature slows down in winter whilst we rev up, it’s biologically dissonant.’ 

So, this year I’m trying my best to reframe and do things differently. I want to be more bear. This year, I will become one with winter (lols) and try to do everything like I do my art, slowly, with purpose and gratitude. 

My new season rules, written for my own accountability:

1. I find the dark winter mornings really tough, so I will slow them down by waking 10mins earlier and taking that 10 mins to breathe slowly and say thanks for the day ahead 

2. I will spend as much time as I can outside, whatever the weather. Walking to the studio, walking the dog, soaking in as much natural light as I can

3. I will align my habits with my values. I make original art and run a small business. I tell everyone how important it is to appreciate craft, handwork and to buy independent and yet I’m waiting for an amazing parcel to arrive right now! Sigh. Must try harder

4. I will use the expensive magnesium ‘butter’ that I bought to help me sleep, rather than look at it every night and decide I can’t be bothered. It will become a night time ritual and I will start glowing

5. I will be more realistic and stop planning things or saying yes without careful consideration, because I know that I don’t need another christmas get together that I’ll end up trying to get out of. Instead I will do less, focus the people I love and on really enjoying what I do

6. I will write more. For me, making marks on paper with my own hand is more than just a sign of a tech-free youth. I know that my brain works better when I write things down (and there’s research to support this!). I am also a lover of all things handwritten and fear that these moments and exchanges are being eroded. So I will write cards, send them with love and pat myself on the back

So there it is, the embrace of the slow living style that I know is right for me. Bring on winter! (joke..please be kind winter)