Reimagining Winter: Shifting Your Mindset From Dread to Delight
The crisp air, the first snowfall, the cozy nights by the fire – winter often evokes a sense of dread. But what if we could reframe this season, transforming it into a time of joy and renewal?
Kari Leibowitz, a health psychologist who moved to the Arctic Circle, discovered just that. Surrounded by endless nights and sub-zero temperatures, she expected seasonal affective disorder to creep in. Instead, she found herself embracing the winter wonderland, realizing that our mindset plays a crucial role in our experience of the colder months.
Leibowitz’s journey, documented in her book How to Winter, highlights a powerful truth: we can actively choose to find joy in every season.
Here are nine strategies inspired by Leibowitz’s experience and expert advice to help you shed winter blues and embrace the magic of the season:
1. Ease into the Chill: As the days grow shorter and the air crisps up, designate a "winter adaptation week." This is a time for slowing down, prioritizing rest, and allowing your body to adjust. Skip unnecessary commitments, indulge in comforting activities like reading or taking warm baths, and embrace the beauty of a slower pace.
2. Compose Your Winter Bucket List: Inject some excitement into the colder months by crafting a winter bucket list. Think beyond the mundane – Snowshoeing? Building a snowman contest with your neighbors? Baking an elaborate feast?
Let your imagination run wild, and fill your list with activities that spark joy and embrace the unique beauty of the season.
3. Adjust Your Lighting: Light plays a powerful role in regulating our mood. Consider swapping out your bulbs for full-spectrum lights which mimic natural sunlight and can improve emotional well-being.
And during those cozy evenings, opt for warmer tones – think yellows or oranges – to create a calming and inviting atmosphere.
4. Reignite Old Passions: Winter’s slower pace creates the perfect opportunity to revisit hobbies you’ve neglected. Dust off those paintbrushes, pick up your knitting needles, or delve into the world of audiobooks.
Let the long nights become canvases for creativity and rediscovery.
5. Let scents transport you: Certain scents have the power to evoke powerful memories and emotions.
Infuse your home with winter scents –pine, cinnamon, peppermint – that bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. These olfactory gateways can transport you to cozy fireside evenings or childhood memories of sledding down hills.
6. Embrace the Green: If you have a green thumb, bring some of those beautiful plants indoors for the winter. The greenery can brighten up your space and offer a reminder that life and renewal persist even during the darkest months.
Don’t feel obligated to be a plant parent? Try incorporating other elements like throws, rugs, or artwork in Earthy tones to bring nature’s vitality indoors.
7. Invent a Winter Celebration: Who said holidays are just for summer? Take a cue from Chicagoans Liv Dellanno and Ashley Houghton, who created their own celebration – "February Feast."
This mid-winter get-together celebrates the transition from winter to spring, featuring culinary delights, warming drinks, and a symbolic bonfire to cast off winter woes.
8. Embrace the Outdoors: We often perceive cold weather as a deterrent to outdoor activities, but don’t underestimate the invigorating power of a winter walk. Simply adding 15 minutes to your daily routine can work wonders.
Wrap yourself in your warmest coat, breathe in the crisp air, and witness the frosty beauty that winter offers. You may find yourself surprised by the uplifting effects of fresh air and sunlight streaming through bare branches.
9. Spread Winter Cheer:
Pay attention to your small talk about the weather. Instead of focusing on the negatives, turn the conversation toward the positive.
Comment on the sparkly frost, the fresh smell after a snowfall, or the beauty of a sunset enhanced by winter’s lighter hours. Your positive outlook may just spark joy in those around you.
Embracing winter isn’t about denying its challenges.
It’s about acknowledging its joys, practicing self-care, and rediscovering the beauty hidden beneath a blanket of snow. This winter, choose to see the light in the darkest of seasons and experience the transformative power of a winter well-embraced.
