Gentle practices to enter winter
Scratch that. They're principles, not a "to-do" list
As we enter the longest night of the year, I wanted to share what gentle acts of rebellion can look like.
In what is arguably one of the most manufactured hectic times of the year, pausing from the momentum often feels impossible. But when you are courageous enough to hit the brakes, you’ll start feeling the difference in your system.
Initially, this feels uncomfortable. My people-pleaser used to have meltdowns at the possibility of not getting everything done, dropping the imaginary ball, or risking the possibility of letting others down.
Putting these symbolic brakes on took a lot of effort simply because it felt incredibly uncomfortable.
What I noticed most as I am writing this post, is the notion I had to share a neat list of several curated AF items you can do to celebrate the winter solstice.
Meanwhile, my entire system only wanted to pass along only the one thing that matters most.
Rest.
And by rest, I mean sleep. Can we normalize that in winter we need slightly longer sleep than during the summer months? You can Google the research, but for me the best evidence of all is the deep listening to my body. From the middle of autumn, I’ve been needing in the realm of nine hours of sleep each night.
For the most part, I’ve been able to honour that, but not always. I’ve come to realize my system had to get used to thinking about navigating how I honour my energy capacity when I have competing demands on my time.
On the longest night of the year, instead of a to-do list, I leave you with a few guiding principles that have helped me on my journey to reclaim my energy capacities seasonally.
Rest
Think of going to bed at 8pm. Slower mornings on the weekends. Teaching the kids how to help with their lunches. Fifteen-minute power naps between work and evening routines.
Remove the rush
When planning activities, add extra time for connection, slowness, and memory making. Be present. Savour them. Especially when you are cuddling with the kids and watching a family movie.
Let go of the need to fit everything in
Are you cramming too many things in? What is necessary? What can wait?
Be uncomfortable letting things be unfinished
Protect your inner energy capacities when things don’t go as planned by staying with the discomfort of not finishing all-the-things. At the very least, be okay with postponing them and communicating your energy capacities to those affected.
Working with these ways of thinking is helping me everyday make the switch internally to prioritize my needs first. As we enter winter, may they also help you protect your own energy capacities.
if you enjoyed this piece of writing, your support makes my heart swell.
consider liking, commenting or sharing it so that others may also find their way to origin.
🤍
from the underworld with love,
