Finding solace instead of sadness this time of year

Do you fight and force your way through the darker months?

Expecting the same energy, the same output, the same enthusiasm for outwardly things even when nature around you so clearly draws inwards into periods of rest, preservation and quiet resilience. That was me too - year after year living in frustration and pushing against what my body was telling me. Fearing that if I gave in and slowed down I would fall behind.

Now I trust that the energy, the life, the vibrancy that I struggle to connect to in winter will only be dormant for so long before it comes alive again in spring.

So I honour the seasons instead of expecting my internal world to be untouched by the external changes in the environment around me. I embrace the cold and the darkness and accept that winter is a drawing inwards - allowing my lifestyle to reflect the change.

Things I love to ramp up to find solace instead of sadness this time of year :

• lighting candles and lamps that create a warming ambience

• soft blankets and fluffy socks for coziness and warmth

• Hearty, filling meals that are food for the soul

• romanticising cosy nights in, actively curating time for rest

• slower, more passive yoga practises like yin yoga and restorative yoga, as well as yoga nidra and other guided relaxation practises which require less of me and remind me that it’s okay to slow down

How do you approach the winter months? Do you fight low energy, or honour it?