These are a few of your favourite things...
Last week’s Rev Up for the Week email was called “Why it’s NOT going to be a long winter”. At the end of the email I asked you all for your tips for keeping your spirits up through the darker months. I had over 20 offerings of winter survival in my inbox on Monday morning and all of them warmed my heart. More little pieces of positivity kept trickling in all week long. It’s comforting, isn’t it, to know that we’re not alone in these struggles, that others’ journeys are helping create the worn path for us to follow – and that in turn, even when we feel like we’re not making much progress, we’re still helping to mark out the path for people behind us too.
So this week I simply wanted to summarise what you all sent me. So these are a few of your collective 'favourite ways to survive the winter months'. Here goes!
1. Take in the simple pleasures
Last week I talked about gratitude. We forget that even in pandemic, thanks to medical science and consumer capitalism*, we have been given the golden ticket to live predator-free, for longer than anyone else, with more resources and choices than any of our ancestors. There’s a lot to love. You all reminded me of a few lovely ones though, like eating party food in front of the fire with the kids watching ‘Strictly’, playing backgammon, listening to records and reading books. I’m personally grateful for the chance to watch the livestream of Nubya Garcia’s incredible gig at the Barbican last week. Music is always my go-to for transcendence.
It’s been a while (like a couple of years) since I made warm winter vegetable soup, and I’m going to give myself permission to curl up on the sofa with a good (fiction) book. As you probably know if you follow my podcast, I read A LOT of business and non-fiction books, but when I’m sat on the beach, I know I’ve fully gone into holiday mode when I start on a novel. Why don’t I do that at home?!
Tea and crumpets, jam on toast and jacket potatoes were also mentioned. It seems contentment is best served with butter.
(* Altho please see David Attenborough's latest thing on YouTube - we probably need to abolish consumer capitalism, or at least rewrite the rules)
2. Christmas rituals
Christmas preparations, like putting up lights or making cards were mentioned. Christmas is also such an evocative time, in that it reminds us of our own childhoods. For me, it's watching The Snowman. As they fly over Brighton Pier, it takes me right back to childhood Christmas's visiting my gran down here.
If you're not a Christmas fan, then as I mentioned last week, the winter solstice on December 21st is a big date to hook onto. It's not that long til the nights get shorter and the days get longer. A couple of you shared with me your own winter solstice rituals, like lighting a candle in each room and then going round together blowing them out to celebrate the coming of light, or going outside with mulled wine to look at the stars.
3. A bit of productivity… obviously.
I feel like I've been on a roll this past week or so (despite the obvious 'election anxiety' that seemed to last forever. Someone suggested the very useful idea of moving your hours, so you're doing things earlier in the day and then unwinding for an earlier bedtime, so that you're spending more time working in the daylight. Another technique mentioned - which to be honest is useful all year round - is Julia Cameron's Morning Pages. This is something I did myself for a good few years. The idea is simple: wake up and immediate write out, longform, a stream of consciousness onto 3 pieces of A4 paper. The technique is design to help you connect with all the gunk in your own brain. It's as powerful as any other form of mindfulness, and fuels creativity by helping you understand and then get beyond your own (often negative) thoughts.
And of course, it helps to have a good list! (by the way, if your own productivity systems are in a mess, I'm starting my winter'6 Weeks to Ninja' cohort this coming Thursday, so you have literally three days to push the button and join us.
4. A bit of self-care indulgence (aka non-productivity!)
Whether it be candle lit breakfasts, Bubble baths, buying the expensive jam or giving your partner a massage, it feels like lots of people on this list know how to look after themselves. What permission do you need to give yourself this week, or what do you need to say no to, to make space for a tiny bit of indulgence? Because you're worth it...
5. Tips for dealing with the darkness
I was comforted to know I'm not the only person to suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). So if you regularly find yourself feeling a sense of dread, crying for no reason in the hallway, or just feeling your energy sapped as the nights draw in, then one possible reason is SAD. Of course, a lack of vitamin D has a very real impact on our bodies. I personally use a vitamin D spray through the winter. I found out about these through Colette Heneghan, my co-author for How to Have The Energy, which is released in January.
The other thing to invest in is a 'SAD Lamp'. Mine sits on my desk and I try to put it on for about half an hour in the middle of the day, usually when I'm on a Zoom call and don't need to concentrate my eyes on the screen. I have no idea what my make and model are, but one of you suggested a good criteria here when you buy one is to make sure it's a minimum if 10.000 Lux.
Candles and fairy lights, both outside and inside (there’s something very scandi chic about bringing light inside!) can also bring us that little bit of comfort - my own garden is draped in fairly lights, predominantly so that my early morning 'commute' down the garden to my garden office is magical, not gloomy. I literally never tire or seeing this when I wake up (I have mine on a cheap little timer switch I bought from IKEA).
6. Stay fit & look after your health
A fitness challenge- I'm inspired by the people telling me they've just written fitness plans to run a10k before Christmas, lift weights and generally get in shape. We have our government-mandated exercise time during lockdown, right? So why not treat that as compulsory (because it's good for us) rather than mandatory. I've been on a bad phase with my running recently, but did a lovely 5k along the seafront in Brighton on Saturday morning that seems to have reset me, and I'll be trying to get out a bit more regularly this week.
And of course, plenty of winter-warming fresh ginger and lemon tea every morning (pre-coffee) to help stay hydrated and battle off the colds.
I don't think I'm on board with the prescription of sea-swimming as being good for your health, though. Never say never, but hmmmm.
7. Reconnect with the people you love
A Simple Mantra: make the most of the opportunity to spend time at home with my family. Has anyone else noticed this year has rekindled old friendships? Something about the pub quiz Zooming, the whatsapp checking in, and the general sense of reflection. I've certainly had a couple of great conversations that have gotten me back in touch with old friends (although that's also happened through starting this email list, actually, which I'd never have expected).
8. Look ahead
I loved the idea of planting bulbs indoors and outdoors to represent hope for the future! I think I'll be doing some of that this winter. According to you lot, will-writers are working in a boom industry right now. Maybe it's looking ahead to future holidays, or festivals, or anniversaries. Maybe it's with an eye on productivity: writing some project plans, getting everything into good shape for the busier or more exciting times ahead. And of course, for those of you who love to follow the rules, know from me that it's OK to break the 'New Years' Resolution' rules and start planning ahead right now. So how can you create some space this week to think about the medium or long terms? Make it happen.
9. Get cold outside
There's definitely something wonderful about being out in the cold, wrapped up warm. Nature, the sea, wind, rain, just being in a wood, watching confused sheep in a field... And of course if you get soaked, it makes the warm shower or warm mug of tea when you get home all that much nicer.
10. Get cosy inside
A couple of you mentioned the concept of hygge. Apparently, “The true essence of hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness and it's basically like a hug, just without the physical touch”
And doesn't that feel so apt to help us play out this year? My friend Martin added "I'd prefer sunshine and beaches, but now I have hygge and plans". Indeed.
A big thank you to all of you who replied last week! It's a privilege to be writing these every week and my goal is always to drop a little productive or positive thought into your inbox every Sunday evening. If you're relatively new to this list, know that I'm always on the look-out for suggestions to help me meet this goal.