My Winter Thrive Guide
By Tanya Henkel
I have dreaded and hated cold gray weather as long as I could remember. I suffered from winter blues/SAD for many years. I grew up believing that my happiness was directly tied to the weather. As I have been untangling the web of my wintertime depression, it has been helpful to finally see my unconscious patterns, thoughts and habits. I would start stressing, dreading and feeling unsettled about the upcoming winter in July! I would leave the present moment of my “favorite” season and plunge into the unknown future that I would decide was going to be horrible six months ahead of time. When I really look at it, my happiness was tied to something completely out of my control. Here we are, spinning in space on a blue marble and I am worried that the weather does not match my desires. Tying my inner state to something natural and that will happen despite my feelings about it is silly. Last winter, I threw my full intention into overcoming my wintertime depression. I decided that I wanted to love and enjoy every season. I did a lot of inner work and research and found ways to truly enjoy this season. Not only did I succeed, but last winter was also the first winter in ten years that I did not take an anti-depressant (which I used to start taking in October each year). Despite my success, I felt the fear creep in once again this past summer. The familiar dread came over me, but this time I recognized it for what it was – an old program running unchecked. I reviewed my journal entries from last winter and found that my fears were unfounded – they were completely mind made. I had a great winter last year and I now have the tools needed to do it again. So, for those of you who might relate to my story, here is my Winter Thrive Guide.
1. Bring plants inside. I have never had the urge to have indoor plants. I didn’t really want to take care of them and I was convinced, based on past experience, that I would kill them. Last winter, my very thoughtful mama plated a few monstera plants for me. I did not kill them. Since these beauties only need to be watered once per week, I put a repeat task on my Outlook. I found tremendous joy in giving nourishment to these beauties in the middle of winter. I miss color during Cleveland winters and the beautiful green leaves give me a sense of peace and joy. I run my fingers along the leaves and fill my emotional cup with nature’s color.
2. Candles. I purchased battery-operated LED candles from Costco that have timers. In the middle of winter, the candles come on around 4:30PM and fill our home with warm light. Rather than falling into an early darkness, the house becomes welcoming, warm and cozy. Finding ways to really create a space that feels loving and warm in the winter has been a game-changer. Blankets, throws, pillows can help create an environment that gives you a warm feeling in your belly. Look through Pinterest for ideas and head to TJMaxx for inexpensive ways to bring that winter-cabin feeling into your home.
3. Sun lamp. I purchased a sun lamp that I keep on my desk. I turn it each morning when I sit down to work and leave it on for about 30 minutes. A sun lamp is a special light that mimics natural outdoor light that is believed to have a positive impact on serotonin and melatonin and helps with winter blues.
4. Daily meditation. Try it. Set a timer for just 5 minutes, close your eyes and focus your attention on your breathing. Yes, your mind will wander – that’s perfectly normal. As soon as you realize that your mind has wandered, bring your attention back to your breath. There is no such thing as doing this wrong. If you want to learn more about meditation, please message me. I am more than happy to tell you about it.
5. Daily outdoor walks, during daylight hours, no matter the weather. This was the most important change I made last winter. In the past, I used cold, wet, windy, gray weather as my excuse not to get outside. I have always “hated” the cold and made sure I did not feel it. The change of this attitude was the best medicine for me. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. I made the commitment to get outside around lunchtime each day and I held that appointment with myself, no matter what. I felt resistance every time, but as soon as the cold fresh air would hit my face and lungs, I would relax and be reminded of why I came out in the first place. I need to connect to nature every day and I do this very naturally in the summer. Winter was a problem because I found myself trapped inside. It doesn’t have to be that way. I found that walking in the rain is exhilarating. I put a large rain poncho over my winter jacket and hike in sleet, slush and freezing rain. I purchased warm, waterproof boots that give me zero excuses. This was a gamechanger. Getting outside each day makes a huge difference in my mood, energy and mental health.
6. Daily movement. After many years of trying to find an exercise form that I actually enjoyed (and therefore would stick to), I found that daily walks, yoga and dance are my favorite types of movement. Find yours and do it.
7. Take a bath. Oh baby! I have heard so many women state that they are not bath people, that they don’t have time for baths, etc. Giiiiirl, just try it. This is a self-care tool that not only helps to relax you, but grounds you, connects you to your body and warms you up big time in the winter. I make it an experience – candles, essential oils, music and plants all around me. Find your recipe and find time. Commit to a bath once per week during the winter and watch what it does for your psyche. If you are saying “I don’t have time” then I can help with that! Message me for info.
8. Community. We need one another more than ever. Find a way to connect to your people. In an effort to do this, I have started to hike with two friends on Tuesdays at lunch. If you would like to join us, please let me know. We will be connecting, talking, sharing and taking care of our emotional needs. Stay connected. It will help.
If this seems like too much and you believe you don’t have the time because of your family/work/support/etc., please click here. We can show you that you can make time, and we can show you how.