Surviving (and attempting to thrive) during the Cold, Dark Winter

Fall. A time of transitions, acceptance, and letting go.

Or, if you’re like me, your annual period of seriously questioning your decision to live in the midwest and frequently checking the weather for various parts of California.

Whichever feels true for you - here are some ways to make the cold, dark winters a bit better.

Get Outside

Going outside when it’s dark, 17 degrees, and the ground is frozen into one single layer of brown, dead earth….there are certainly more appealing things. No matter how you feel about winter, getting outside regularly (ideally every day), even if for just a few minutes - and even when it’s dark, 17 degrees, and brown - is essential for surviving the midwest winter.

Here are a few things that help.

Wool base layers.They are warm, cozy, and they don’t get smelly - so you can wear them multiple times without washing them. REI brand and SmartWool are both great.

Snowpants, even when it isn’t snowing. Yes this can make you look ridiculous, and no this isn’t stylish but trust me this makes all the difference in the world.

On extremely cold days, I’ll add ski goggles as well. Yes - again, you might look slightly ridiculous wearing ski goggles when a) you’re not skiing and b) it isn’t snowing, but if you also hate being cold and hate that feeling of your face freezing into one single expression, these are the way to go.

Hand and foot warmers stashed in all pockets, in the car, and in your purse. Once you open a package, they often last for up to 8 hours - keeping your hands and feet warm all day. Sometimes, after using them outside, I’ll ‘recycle’ my used foot warmer and put it inside of my slippers back at home.

Good, warm boots. There are many brands - and it’s possible to find a very warm boot that isn’t expensive. Just go for lined, and waterproof. And if you have to decide between the two, I recommend picking function over fashion.

Find something that feels joyful to do outside during the winter - whether cross country skiing, winter running, or perhaps just brisk walks with lots of layers.

Make Your Environment Brighter

Consider waking up with a natural light alarm clock. This allows you to wake up gently, with light that simulates the sun. It’s much less jarring than a typical alarm clock, and is particularly helpful on the days (like today) which make us wonder if the sun will ever come up. This is the one that I have currently - smaller and more compact than those I’ve had in the past - helpful if you tend to overcrowd your nightstand with heaps of books.

Happy Light. Last year was my first year trying a happy light. Personally, I have found the natural light alarm clock to be more helpful (if I had to pick), but I’m anxious to see how this works over the winter with a bit more consistent use. Note: my friend who is much more expert on this topic than I am recommends getting a Happy Light with at least 10,000 lumens (thank you, C)!

Solar Tube. If you own your house and are open to having someone drill a hole through your roof, consider a solar tube. It’s a quick, easy install (takes less than a day for the installers to make this happen) and is much less expensive than many other home renovation projects. Just search “solar tubes” in your area to find a retailer and installer.

Open the blinds, open the curtains, do everything possible to let in as much natural light as possible - especially during those short and precious moments of daylight. Oh - and if you can sneak it in before the snow flies, consider getting your windows cleaned. It makes such a difference!

Keep a few plants inside - or, maybe even try to grow your own from seeds. Bring some life inside. Wildewood has a fabulous selection of both plants, and fun ways to grow things from seed. As a bonus, Kate is so knowledgeable about plants - and incredibly patient and kind when it comes to helping those of us who don’t have a green thumb to figure out the plants we are least likely to kill (current winner on my end: the snake plant).

Create Warming Rituals at Home

Consider starting your day with a winter wellness potion. Current favorite: a chunk of fresh ginger, a squeezed lemon wedge, local honey, and a cinnamon stick. My neighbor Sandy recommends keeping a similar combo in the fridge (honey, cinnamon, and lemon) all winter and simply having a scoop each day; she swears by this daily ritual to stay healthy throughout the winter.

Stock up on your favorite tea; perhaps you add a few new varieties to the mix.

Consider sipping hot water with lemon - or your favorite herbal tea - throughout the day as an alternative to cold water. Bonus: from an ayurvedic perspective, like increases like, and opposite balances - which means that warm food and warm drinks are often much more balancing as the weather turns cool.

Draw an evening bath or, if you’re like many people I know who either hate baths or find them to be impractical, consider just a foot bath - dropping your feet in warm water for a few minutes each evening as a way to warm up, and wind down. I’m currently eyeing these gorgeous looking bath soaks over at Good Day Market.

Light candles - just make sure that they’re natural, so that they don’t negatively impact the air quality in your house. My favorites are beeswax (especially beeswax tapers, for dinnertime); there are also many great natural soy varieties. I’m currently enjoying the black currant natural soy candle from Public Goods.

Boost Your Immunity (and your mood)

Load up on Vitamin D and Vitamin C. As a bonus, there have been several bodies of research that have found that people low on Vitamin D are more likely to test positive for COVID.

For something really fancy, that sort of feels (and looks) like sunshine in a cup, consider Goop Glow.

Current favorite Vitamin D is through Public Goods (minimal packaging; ships straight to you; great alternative to Amazon). Currently trying to get myself on board with this thick, gel form of Vitamin C - which many swear by - but is incredibly gross in texture.

Find a Tropical (Feeling) Oasis

In past winters, my version of this was a weekly “spa ritual” - a combination of the hot tub, the sauna, and the steam room at the gym. It was pure delight, and really did feel like being at the spa (sort of).

Our local botanical gardens have an incredible indoor space, which feels balmy, tropical, and absolutely delightful in the middle of the cold, dry winter.

In the last year, one of the most helpful things I’ve discovered is the use of an infrared sauna. Many wellness facilities have added them and allow you to use them for periods of time - like you would with a tanning bed back in the day or a float tank.

Speaking of float tanks, the water temperature of a float tank is a bit too cold for my liking (you’ll notice a theme here…), but many friends swear by these as a favorite way to unwind and escape for just a little while.

Embrace What Is

My friend Rebecca recently put this beautifully - that part of thriving in winter is embracing what winter is all about. It’s a time of hibernation, of slowness, of stillness. Rather than fighting this, what if we lean into it?

Perhaps we use the increased indoor time to pick up a paintbrush, or tackle the decluttering project we’ve been avoiding. Or - perhaps we simply allow ourselves to slow down, read, and enjoy this natural period of renewal.

Additional Brilliant Ideas from the Women of Women, Water, Leadership, and Land

Back in early March, two weeks before our world shut down, I had the privilege of spending a few days in Northern California, leading a retreat for the most exquisite group of women. During a recent call, we brainstormed this very topic - how to survive and thrive as the weather turns cool. Here are some additional brilliant ideas.

Spend $9.99 to get the “good” seed catalogue. Save it to read during the winter, as a way to get excited about planting in the spring. Take a look at Baker Seeds and Seed Savers Exchange for inspiration.

Celebrate Robert Burns Day (January 25th). Find other holidays to celebrate in January, February, and March.

Participate in a collective challenge (running, outdoor movement, etc)

Bundle up and host an outdoor movie night.

Run your diffuser with lovely oils and scents.

Embrace candle season, tea season, and movie season.

Pick up a “winter project” - ie, knitting - or consider grabbing an at-home craft kit from Revel.

Invest in winter running gear that you’re excited to wear.

Use a heated mattress pad or a heated blanket.

Find a joyful way to exercise indoors - a rowing machine in the basement, an indoor bike, or your favorite yoga instructor’s online courses. A few great online yoga classes to check out: Mary Beth LaRue; Andrea Russell - fantastic for clear and precise instruction where you don’t always have to be looking at your screen; Yoga With Adriene (a fan favorite among many of my clients).

Clean out the (literal, and metaphorical) cobwebs. Invest in cleaning supplies that you’re excited to use - or make your own from essential oils and vinegar; consider a fall cleanse of space, mind, and body.

For additional Reading - this great post over at Cup of Jo, and this post on how cities can make the most of a pandemic winter.

What are your favorite tips for surviving (and thriving) during the winter? Feel free to drop me a note anytime and let me know.