How to Rejuvenate Yourself in the Middle of Winter
Just for you, I’ve written a feature article on tips for taking care of yourself this time of year.
It happens to so many of us – the holiday season passes, and we find ourselves in February feeling tired, moody, overwhelmed, and maybe even antisocial.
Here are some common experiences of the winter months:
- You feel unusually tired or irritable
- The holiday season has left you feeling bloated
- The holiday season has left you with more work on your desk than usual
- You notice an internal sadness that is trying to get your attention
- Your body and muscles ache
Especially as women, we are sensitive to seasonal changes. Winter can sometimes hit hard. The good news is that you can empower yourself to navigate around the “February Blues” and turn your winter into a season that is soulful, nourishing, and healing:
Get More Sleep: The days are much shorter this time of year, leaving the nights to be much longer. This is not just an inconvenient part of nature that we should fight against by staying up and out late into the dark night. Just like animals that hibernate this time of year, we are meant to sleep more during the winter months, and the lack of light makes it much easier.
Create Sacred Time for Yourself: Along with shorter days, the cold weather in the winter is another one of nature’s cues for us to make time to go inwards and spend time alone. Journal, meditate, draw, cook hearty soups, nap. Learn about yourself. Midwinter has a very different feel and energy from the warm days of summer that draw us outdoors to be social and in the world.
Nest: Because we are inclined to stay in during the winter months, it’s a perfect time to make our homes more comfortable. Our homes reflect our inner life, and when they are nurturing and inviting, we feel better inside.
Get a dose of sunlight during the day: Seasonal depression is a fact for many people. Even if you don’t suffer from it, you may notice you’re a little slower or sluggish during the winter months. It’s important to get your dose of sunlight as often as possible. So, even it’s just a 5 minute walk around the block, be sure to get outside and expose yourself to some rays (but, of course, wear sunblock!).
Do Less: What I’m about to say might upset some of you: It’s ok to slow down. The intense energy of the summer sun fuels us to move quickly and get lots done. Winter is a perfect time to slow down, do less, and take luscious and juicy care of ourselves (again, think “hibernation”!).
Dream More: The long winter nights invite us to dream, to vision our futures, to open to new possibilities. Before taking action, we must know where we want to go, and this time of year is perfect for listening to our inner wisdom and dreaming up new futures for ourselves.
Want to keep this great feeling throughout the whole year? Start today to! Make better decisions about your life using your body’s wisdom.
Our bodies contain treasures of important and valuable information about our lives – everything from what types of food are good for us to eat, to what our ideal bedtime is, to knowing who our mates should be or what career to choose, to making a decision about a home we are thinking about buying.
This body wisdom is called intuition, calling our intuition to action can help us navigate our lives with more ease and confidence.
Many of us, however, aren’t in practice of hearing and listening to those valuable clues and facts that are bodies give us everyday. Luckily, there are ways that we can embrace our bodies and our body wisdom, and begin to hear valuable information about our careers, our finances, our relationships, and our lives.
Here is an easy and quick 4-minute technique that will support you in beginning to become re-acquainted with your body wisdom. Often times I begin coaching sessions with this simple meditation and the results are fantastic:
1.Make space: Set aside about 4-5 minutes just for yourself in a quiet and nurturing space. Sit in a comfortable position on the ground or in a chair.
2. Breathe: Close your eyes and take at least 5 deep breathes. Breathe through your heart, down into your belly, and to the outer edges of your body so that you feel yourself expand as your breathe in. With each inhale, see if you can open up; with each exhale, allow yourself to release and let go. Use this conscious breathing to connect to the present moment, and to connect to yourself.
3. Connect with your heart: Now, still keeping your eyes closed, place a hand on your heart and connect with your heart. Breathe deeply into your heart and let it expand with each inhale.
4. Ask for wisdom: With your hand still on your heart, ask your heart the following question: “What’s most important right now?” And then simply listen. You might hear the answer or see the answer or just know it deep inside. It might need a little time to rise up and make itself known. Continue to breathe and be present as you listen.
And, voila! Connecting with your intuition is as simple as that! Of course, there are much more advanced techniques, but this heart-centered meditation is a great place to start to reconnect with your body and benefit from all the wisdom it has for you. And remember: this is a practice. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work for you the first time you try it. Keep at it, and you’ll be sure to see results!
About the author
Joanna Lindenbaum, M.A., has 12 years of teaching and coaching experience. She invites women to think bigger, to embrace their power, to create compelling and exciting goals. Her clients achieve extraordinary success in business, career, and life. www.soulfulcoach.comTags: abundance, get the life you want, Joanna Lindenbaum, rich life, soulful coaching