Back in May of this year I finished a book “How to Winter” by Kari Leibowitz where she discusses her own journey of acceptance and growing love for a colder season. Her research took her all over the world: Tromsø, Reykjavik, Edmonton, Copenhagen, Hokkaido, plus other, extremely northern, destinations.
I struggle with winter despite being Russian. A stereotype, of course, but with a grain of truth to it. Interestingly, I used to love winter when I was a kid growing up in Russia. Winters were cold, snowy, and fun.
Now that I am an adult I struggle (or I think I struggle?) with SAD (seasonal affective disorder), to the point that I have considered purchasing a light therapy lamp. Research is mixed on those, and I didn’t want to shell out $$.
Around the onset of daylight savings I feel my energy waning, my mood spoiling, and irritability presenting itself. I feel the desire to crawl into a hole and hibernate till mid April.
Let’s unpack different suggestions that the book gives. Some recommendations are truly just common sense. I will also see how I can apply those to my own life.
Heat up, cool down: go to a sauna, take a bath before bed, or do a polar bear plunge. I already go to the Korean sauna nearby but I truly want to make it a regular activity, especially in winter. Korean sauna is costly: $65 per visit. I bought a 10 pack for $400 so that’s $40 per visit. I’ll pass on the polar plunge.
Get outside. Advice included to get some appropriate clothes, translate summer activities into winter ones (i.e. beach going becomes beach combing). For me not having appropriate winter clothes is the culprit. I do own one pair of thermals but that is pretty much it. I don’t really need it- I go from car to *place* and back. My goal is to get a quality wool under layers. We have started ice skating so that does make me feel alive.
Rituals. Getting more fire into one’s life. Doing it outside, in a fire pit, using a fire place, or lighting candles. The author also zeroed in on celebrating winter by way of a variety of rituals, big, medium, and small. I don’t quite remember her examples, but a small winter ritual could be lighting a tea candle upon returning from work, a medium could be a weekly winter hike (with layers, see above) and a big one could be celebrating something each month. November: Thanksgiving, December: Christmas, January: R’s birthday, February: Valentine’s day and T’s birthday.
Mood. The section on mood setting was about coziness, keeping lights low, finding awe, and finding low arousal activities (in other words, slow hobbies). I have no trouble with coziness or slow hobbies- I already have them. Awe is harder but ties in with mindfulness, regardless of season. Also, engaging your senses.
Rhetoric, in other words, use positive vocabulary when talking about winter and stop whining. I’ve been known to growl when rain hits the back of my neck, so instead of saying “it’s bloody cold out” she encourages to say “oh it is so cozy in here” (meaning inside). Not sure if I’ll have enough self-discipline to remember the positive talk.
Lastly, embracing rest. That’s my favorite since I am chronically fatigued and welcome any opportunity to rest. The book also recommended instituting a “winter adaptation period” so about a week before Daylight Savings Time, prep yourself and the house – stock up on teas, hot chocolate, blankets, check the house for drafts, etc.
What is your relationship with winter? Do you like it, hate it, or feel neutral? Do you feel SAD-er in winter? How do you address it?
This month I am participating in #NaBloPoMo2025. A running list of participants can be found on San’s NaBloPoMo page as well as more information about this lovely initiative on this NaBloPoMo page.
Mom of Children 