Time to rest…

How leaning into Winter might benefit us all…

Getting a little fed up with the dark nights and generally grim weather? Have you noticed a mood shift now that the sunshine of summer seems a distant memory? Isn’t it time we gave ourselves a break?

Currently I’m a little obsessed with finding out about life in Svalbard, the island near the North Pole where right now the Polar Night has begun and they won’t see another sunrise for three months. This fascinates me, and I’m so intrigued by how the few people who live on this remote island have no choice but to fully embrace the changes that the extreme seasons bring. Nature presents them with obstacles, but also with such beauty (did somebody say Northern Lights?), and they adapt by getting cosy, finding light where they can, and accepting that winter is a time to hibernate and conserve energy ready for the lighter months.

Here in England, we see this in nature all around us – from squirrels storing nuts to keep them going through the winter to trees letting go of their leaves to get ready for new growth in the Spring, nature is slowing down and retreating, adapting to the cold winter months and taking some hard-earned rest after the energetic summer months. And yet so often we don’t feel we have permission to do the same. We keep on going with the same fast, energetic pace, and then wonder why we’re struggling. Ok, so most of our lives don’t allow us to full on hibernate in the winter months, but perhaps there’s something in accepting that we too may benefit from slowing down and retreating when the nights get dark and the weather gets grim… So what can we do?

There are so many healing benefits to getting out in nature @Jules Lowe Counselling

Get out in nature

Of course I’m going to say this, but there are so many benefits to being outdoors, even when it isn’t a glorious summer’s day. Unlike further north, we do still get sunlight, and it’s worth embracing this as much as we can. Getting out in daylight helps maintain our circadian rhythm, and a morning walk, however grey the skies, can have such a profound effect on how well we sleep that night. The benefits to walking in nature are all still there in the winter, and there’s so much to see and explore. Plus there’s something about wrapping up all warm and cosy, or taking shelter under the canopy of the trees and watching the rain, that personally I just can’t get enough of.

Take some time to hibernate

And when you’ve been outdoors, how wonderful does it feel to get warm and dry indoors? We all need time to rest and digest, and this is time to slow down and conserve energy. So many of my clients struggle with rest and the need to be productive, but resting is human need. Our bodies are evolutionary designed to need it. When we were hunter gatherers, the rest and digest time was needed to conserve our energy before we went out to get more food. These days a trip to the supermarket is less perilous and rarely involves risking our lives, but we are still often on high alert in our daily lives. The dangers are less lions and tigers and bears and more emails from bosses, looming deadlines, and in the case of the supermarket, well, other people and worrying whether you’ll have to remortgage the house to fund the weekly shop… but the brain and the body react in the same way.  We need a break from this, a place to feel safe, and luckily for a lot of us this is our own home (I’m aware that this isn’t the case for everyone and if you don’t feel safe, please do know that support is there). If you’re lucky enough to have a safe space to retreat, get cosy, read a book, have a pj day with a hot drink and give yourself permission to rest. It’s not just that you deserve it; your body needs it.

Cosy season @Jules Lowe Counselling

Stay connected

Saying this, it can feel really tempting to fully retreat into the cosiness of our houses in the winter months, but this can also make us feel lonely, especially if we are grieving someone who we used to live with (and if you are grieving, it might be worth reading my Grieving and Christmas blog xx). Look for ways to stay connected with people who keep you energised or feel like human sunshine – a quick catch up over coffee, a leisurely walk or, dare I say it, an actual phone call (so 1990s!) could make the world of difference to you both.

Nourish yourself

The squirrels make sure they have lots of tasty acorns to keep them going over the winter. Your body will have the same urges for carbohydrates and comfort foods, a way of making sure it has enough energy to last through the winter. (Think back to when we were hunter gatherers and didn’t know when our next meal was coming.) It’s worth accepting that a salad possibly feels less tempting, but there are warm, comforting meals that are more nutrient dense than others. Have compassion for yourself and realise that the temptation to indulge is not only all around us, but biologically within us! But at a time when it can feel like you’ve become a human mince pie, maybe just throw in a few vegetables every once in a while - your body and mind will thank you for it! And it’s not just about food – wholesome activities and people can nourish you too, so how many ways can you find to nourish you this season?

Glimmers don’t have to be as spectacular as this - just something that brings a moment of joy and even awe into your day @Jules Lowe Counselling

Look for the glimmers

Unlike the Nordic countries, we rarely have the Northern Lights adorning our night skies and providing a magical relief from the darkness. However, there are so many glimmers that can be found, if only we committed to looking for them. There’s a reason we cover our houses with sparkling lights and candles during the holiday season – bringing our own glimmers into our lives. But they’re also out there to spot, from the way the sunshine makes the frost on your window sparkle to a moment of laughter with friends. The more we look out for them, the more we will spot them – without getting too science-y our brain will form new neural pathways so that we’re more likely to notice them. It’s not about ignoring the dark clouds – it’s important to acknowledge them and sit with them – it’s about also paying attention to the light and holding onto the hope.

The people of Svalbard find a way to embrace the darkness and rest, having faith that the sunshine will return in Spring. So many trees let go of their leaves in the Autumn, with faith that they will be able to grow new, more effective leaves in the Spring. So much of nature stores its energy over the winter months, ready to come back brighter and bolder come Spring. Is it not time we tried doing the same?

And, of course, if you need someone to walk alongside you as you navigate this balance between rest and growth, I’m here xx