I know it’s been a few weeks since I last posted but January is always a rough month for me. However, I was asked to write the wellness blog for my Center this month at work. I decided I’d share it here too, enjoy:
Every year as January rolls into February, the temperatures stay cold, the days stay short, and I begin to loose motivation. Things I typically enjoy, like working out and having dinner with friends, become a chore. All I want to do is get home from work, put on sweatpants, and watch television or snooze. I don’t want to put on layers of clothes just to take the trash out or walk down to the mailbox. I’d rather just stay indoors where it’s warm. This hibernation typically leads me into the winter blues. It’s normal for many people, especially those living in colder climates, but it doesn’t have to happen!
Recently, I learned about the idea of hygge, which is a Danish concept related to surviving the long, cold, dark days of winter. Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a state of mind. In English it is described as coziness, charm, happiness, contentedness, security, familiarity, comfort, and kinship. Practicing hygge means participating in simple rituals or activities, such as making hot tea or lighting a candle, with happiness and a positive spirit. This same attitude is then brought to the spirit of going outdoors into the cold. Alfred Wainwright (1907–1991), famous for his hiking guides, wrote, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
I believe that if Danish people can battle their winter blues with hygge and suitable clothing, then so can I. It just takes 5 minutes of energy to get off the couch, put on winter clothing, and go enjoy the beautiful outdoors. After all, sitting on the couch feeling miserable will not beat the winter blues.
Fortunately, I live in Atlanta with its relatively mild and short winters, but they can still suck a lot of the joy from the first few months of the year. So, this year before spring hits, I’ve decided to put on a warm coat, go outside, and live life a bit fuller. Just this week, I took a chilly walk and was thrilled to see few flowers making their first appearance of the year.
Another way I’ve tried to practice hygge is to eat outdoors during my lunch break. Going outside when I don’t have to might sound silly, but I spend 8 hours a day in an office with no windows. When I get to work, the sun has barely risen, and by the time I leave, it is setting and my vitamin D exposure is almost nonexistent. That 30 minutes of being outdoors, no matter the temperature or weather, has become invaluable to me. If it’s raining, I sit under a covering; if it’s absolutely freezing, I take refuge in my car; but mostly I just soak in being outdoors and remember that this season is temporary. Honestly, it is my favorite part of the day no matter the temperature or weather.
Additional ways I beat the winter blues are to give myself time to be in my home crafting or reading a book — hygge. Making the decision to leave home or be active indoors might feel monumental sometimes, but at the end of the season when spring is blooming, I will remember that I’m in a much healthier mindset than if I had just slept though winter.
If you’d like some more information, try the book The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. Disclamer: I have not read this book but the reviews look promising. Let me know what you think!
Have a great February! Fortunately, the groundhog did not see his shadow so we are in for an early spring this year. Woohoo 🙂
Perhaps you hate posts without pictures? Perhaps you hate the winter? You do you, boo.
Best,
michelle.
Best, michelle. 