Living Seasonally
I live in the midwest.
If you also live in the midwest (or basically anywhere north of Tennessee) you understand true seasons. That’s not to say people who live south of Tennessee don’t experience seasons, but the gap between summer and winter certainly widens the further north you venture. As someone who lives in Michigan I experience four distinct seasons every year. Something I have learned on my wellness journey is that these seasons affect us WAY more than we even realize. Here are some of the best ways I have learned to really embrace and live into the current season that I am experiencing, winter edition.
Why embrace the season?
I think this goes without saying but I truly believe we can choose to either fight or embrace the season we are in. This absolutely applies to figurative or life seasons, but more specifically it applies to literal weather seasons. Every season absolutely has its positives and negatives, but if you get creative you can find ways to experience a lot of joy whether it’s 90 degrees in July or a negative ten, gloomy day in February.
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1. Dress for it
Okay this may sound obvious, but you have to dress for the season you are in! I like to say there is no bad weather, only bad outfits. While that isn’t entirely true (hurricanes are clearly bad weather I am certainly not arguing you can dress for that), in the general day-to-day, it is. Enjoying winter weather truthfully has to start with wearing appropriate clothing.
One way to dress for the unpredictable weather of winter is to layer up. Wearing a thinner, long sleeved base layer, a nice knit over that, and a winter coat is a great start, but if it is REALLY cold you can even go for some fleece lined jeans and thick socks. A lot of your body heat is released through your feet and head, so if you wear a nice thick pair of socks (Smart Wool are my go to) and a super warm hat (Carhartt of course is a fan favorite) you will be really shocked at how much it steadies your body temperature. Your neck is also a big source of heat loss, so scarves will greatly affect your warmth as well. Add in a nice pair of mittens (gloves are good for carrying things but mittens are warmer) and you should stay pretty warm even if you are spending a lot of time outside.
I know this sounds obvious, but trust me, I usually walk two to four miles every day and I am usually too warm even in super cold winter weather. It took me a lot of years to invest in a really nice, quality winter coat, and I have never looked back.
2. Create the environment
I know there are people who will hate to hear this, but it is super important to your health that you get outside even in the winter. Many of us tend to become quite sedentary during colder months and this can cause us to get into some major ruts! Fresh air, a little sunshine (even if it is gloomy and cloudy), and a change of scenery can be so important to stay inspired and motivated. The best way to do this is to plan it! Maybe schedule a walk every day or make sure you are doing an activity outside your home at least a few times a week.
These days, of course a lot of us are spending way more time at home in general. In addition to getting outside more often, you should also put some energy into your space at home or work! Where are you spending most of your time? Whether it’s an office, home office or just your dining room table there are plenty of ways to embrace the winter gloom and create some super cozy spaces. Cinnamon, pine or peppermint candles or cozy oils, super cozy blankets or heat pads, and warm glowy lighting are just a few ways to create a super cozy ambiance in your space. It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane day-to-day and forget about how your environment is affecting you.
Think about it in terms of your senses. How can you create a pleasant environment using smell (candles, oils or baking), touch (soft blankets and cozy sweaters), sight (good lighting or seasonal decor like fresh pine branches or cedar garlands), taste (warm foods and drinks like soup, tea or a nice latte), and hearing (playing cozy music blends like this Cozy Blend from Spotify).
3. Activities
Each new season is also a new opportunity to switch up our activities. I am convinced that I enjoy winter more than many people because I have been embracing real winter activities since I was young. There are a lot of outdoor activities that can and should be enjoyed in winter like ice climbing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating, downhill skiing or snowboarding, sledding and fat tire biking.
There are also a lot of indoor activities to take advantage of when you’d rather not be spending a ton of time outdoors like catching a movie, rock climbing, board games, fowling, bowling or even trampoline parks. Just because our days aren’t full of beach walks, park picnics or sunny hikes doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of activities we can’t embrace on our own or with friends.
Variety truly is the spice of life, and if you are trying to stay motivated and inspired creatively in the depths of gloomy winter, trying some new things could really improve your quality of life during the colder months.
4. It’s the little things
Finally, winter is a great time to treat yourself in small, but impactful, ways day to day. Staying hydrated is really important when the weather is drier, so investing in a nice new water bottle or humidifier are some simple ways to feel healthier throughout winter. Getting some new body lotions or oils or some new tea could just be a small way to take care of your body and mind throughout the cold months. Investing in our health and wellbeing usually boosts confidence and motivation, and doing simple things like taking a walk every day, getting a nice new kind of coffee for your mornings or investing in a new winter hobby are easy ways to do that. One of my favorite things I use ALL winter long is my Ember mug that keeps my coffee hot as long as I need it to 😍
Whatever your perspective is on winter, if you live in a cold place, there are a lot of ways to really enjoy the season. I’ll be honest, I usually find myself in Florida for a couple of weeks in February, and I am no stranger to seasonal depression, but I really do think we can embrace our winter season in some super simple but effective ways!