Embracing the Darkness
Leaning into the darkness starts with embracing the season and finding joy in what you can do - even if the days are shorter and the weather colder. Often times we focus on what we can’t do during the colder, darker months and that can lead to a lot of resistance and mental health problems.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter, they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare and adapt.”
How can we go about embracing the darkness?
Find Activities your enjoy - Make a list of hobbies that you can do during the dark, cold months that bring you joy. This is a time for deep rest, so choose gentle activities that are soothing to the soul and the body. If you have specific hobbies that only seem doable during the summer, research how you could continue the hobby in the winter. Bonus if the activities allow you to spend time with loved ones.
Get Outside (especially during the day) - Make a plan to get outside for 15-30 minutes per day, especially during the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. Listen to a podcast, your favourite album or a good book. Or even better, listen to a “mindful walking” recording and take in the sights and sounds all around you. Embracing the winter requires taking it all in.
Make your home cozy -Light candles, put up twinkly lights, brew some soothing tea, bundle up in cozy blankets, make a comforting soup and add warmth throughout your home. Lean into this season of hibernation and rest.
Take Vitamin D supplement - Vitamin D is essential for most actions in the body, but many of us in the Northern hemisphere are deficient. Get your levels tested then speak to a dietitian, nutritionist or pharmacist to find out what dose is best for you. Vitamin D helps prevent seasonal effectiveness disorder (SAD) and can make the cooler, darker months more bearable.
Change your mindset - Instead of viewing winter as a season of constraints, create opportunities to make it distinctive. Embrace the differences of the season. Focus on the things that you actually enjoy about the winter such as skiing, skating or even movie marathons inside.
“Winter can be a glorious season in which the world takes on a sparse beauty and even the pavements sparkle.”
Courtney Rae Jones is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She is also a Culinary Nutrition Expert having completed her certification in alternative & specialized diets through the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. She specializes in digestive health and balancing women’s reproductive hormones. Check out Courtney’s website at www.crjnutrition.com.