How to Work with Nature to Thrive this Winter
I used to really struggle with wintertime. But now it’s a season that I look forward to as part of the natural balance of the seasons in the wheel of the year. Winter is cold and dark for a reason. Once you know its purpose and how you can work with it instead of against it, you can experience winter in a fresh way that will bring you more health and peace. Winter isn't just something to survive; it's a sacred invitation to move in harmony with Earth's ancient patterns. Today, I’m sharing my top 5 tips to work with nature to beat the winter blues and thrive this season.
1. Greet the sunrise
I know this sounds really hard, but, trust me, it’s a game changer for mental and physical health in any season, but especially winter. Just a minute or two outside, right at sunrise with naked eyes (no glasses or contacts), helps to set your circadian rhythm for the day. This is important because all of the systems of your body run on this internal clock and function better when aligned properly with day and night. Sunrise has the exact right mix of light waves to start your biological clock and kick off a beautiful cascade of healthy hormones to help your body function effectively. This practice can positively affect mood, digestion, cognition, sleep, and more! You can use the Circadian App to alert you when the sun rises each day to keep you on track.
2.Embrace the fire
There's something deeply primal about sitting by a fire when it's cold outside. It’s easy to forget the power of fire when we live in climate-controlled homes that make it 72 degrees inside no matter what the temperature is like outside. But I believe reconnecting with fire in the winter can be a powerful practice. Sitting around a fire has been shown to lower blood pressure and trigger the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin. The repetitive patterns of a crackling fire can help ease anxiety and lower stress levels. Fires have also been shown to improve social bonds, reminiscent of our ancestors who gathered around winter fires, sharing warmth, wisdom, and community through the long, dark nights.
3. Bundle up and hike
I know, stepping outside might be the last thing you want to do, but it's often exactly what you need. It’s easy to be more sedentary when it’s cold outside but movement is essential to maintain muscle and cardiovascular health. Not to mention, outdoor movement is an excellent way to boost mental health. The secret? Good gear. As they say, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." Layer up, get a solid wind/water-resistant coat, and don't forget quality gloves and boots. My winter game-changer is a versatile balaclava that I can adjust to go up over my nose or under my chin, depending on the temperature. Pro-tip: To make your hike even sweeter, bring a thermos of hot chocolate along with you or as a special treat for the end!
4. Honor the darkness
We can take our cues from the natural world to turn inward and rest during this season. Just as the plants send their energy into their roots during winter, we can work on rebuilding our energy reserves for the growing season ahead. The cold and dark of the season are clear signals for our bodies to understand that it’s time to rest. Our bodies need total darkness and deep sleep to run key repair programs in our cells and body systems. You can protect and amplify these mechanisms by blocking out artificial light after sunset in and around your home. Most modern light bulbs and screens give off too many blue light waves, signaling our brain that it’s the middle of the day. This can create so much disruption for our circadian rhythm (see tip 1), that it’s difficult for our bodies to get into the true, deep, reparative sleep that we need. Try dimming or turning off extra lights at night. You can also use blue-blocking glasses after sunset, especially if you’re looking at screens. These are the ones I use.
5. Nurture your seeds
Just beneath the snow and cold soil, seeds are resting, preparing to germinate. This is a beautiful metaphor for nurturing our seeds of creativity and generativity during this time. Winter is a great time to explore a new creative hobby like painting, drawing, knitting, singing, dancing--whatever makes you feel alive. The outcome or production of these efforts are not important. The process is. For me, I love to get lost in good novels and start planning my gardens, of course! Suppose you’re looking to grow more of your own food or medicine or add natural beauty to your property this coming year. In that case, winter is the perfect time to make a map and observe patterns like water movement and wildlife interactions. This can help you make better decisions about garden placement and plant selection. It’s also a great opportunity to expand your knowledge of native plants you can add to improve the ecosystem where you live (check out Doug Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home).