As winter approaches
for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere, we are reminded once again of how good
it feels to require less of ourselves.
The cool, fall air is invigorating as we prepare for the time of
darkness. Traditionally, winter means
that the pace slows down, except at the holidays, of course! We can hunker down and begin to focus on
things at home that have been neglected while we’ve been out enjoying the sun
and surf all summer. Surprisingly,
however, I’ve heard many people comment that they do not like winter. For some, it is because of the cold and the
difficulty in getting around in poor weather conditions. If you are an elderly person, this is a very
common problem. But I’ve heard the
resistance to winter in people’s voices from people still young enough to go
downhill skiing, so I know it can’t all be attributed to that. As I dig a little deeper into the thinking of
my acquaintances, it appears that many do not have a joyful anticipation of
winter for an entirely different reason than the cold, it’s because of the
darkness. Now, granted, our family lives
far North, and our winters do contain a good deal of darkness. Where we are, in
midwinter, the sun sets a little after 4PM and rises after 8AM. But we’ve also experienced the same
discontent with the darkness in the far South on many occasions, because
although the days are still longer, the sun is very often covered by clouds and
even if it rarely snows, it rains buckets.
Our bodies get accustomed to a certain length of day and a certain input
of daylight and when it begins to dwindle, so does our enthusiasm.
In many ways, this is
healthy and good. We cannot spend our
lives always in high gear, or we will absolutely burn out. But in other ways, this shortening of the
days can come with real consequences that affect more than just our ability to
do things, it affects our attitude and our physical health. Sunlight has many benefits, but among the
most important of its benefits is Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your bones healthy & also for
improving your immune system so that you can fight off things like influenza
when they are lurking about. It can also
be an important mood booster and has even been used with other things to aid in
fighting depression.
When we do not get enough of this crucial vitamin, we can
have symptoms ranging from to a down mood, to soft or fragile bones. A deficiency in vitamin D can also contribute
to weight gain. But, because the sun is
obscured by clouds or night, does not mean that we need to live with sadness,
lethargy or depression. There are many
things that can help you to deal with the coming darkness.
1. Take a supplement.
Vitamin D supplements are widely available and can be used unless you
have other drug interactions. They can
make the difference between an awful day full of gloom and a day that is
bearable. I won’t say that you’ll be
full of energy and sign up for the next marathon that comes near you, but you
might be able to talk yourself into doing the chores a little easier!
2. Alter your diet for a few months to include some foods
that support your new needs. In
Scandinavian countries that experience long periods of darkness, they make sure
to incorporate fish & fish oil in order to meet their needs. It’s because these foods have vitamins A and
D! Also make sure that you load yourself
with fresh vegetables of different colors so that your nutritional needs will
be satisfied.
3. Go outside as often as possible. I know that this is likely the thing that you
DON’T want to do, but it makes a huge difference in your ability to cope. Even if it is cloudy, natural light will
stimulate your body in a way that indoor lights cannot do. You don’t even need to do much, even having a
chair outside to sit is better than nothing. If you are elderly and feeling the
hard press of darkness, make this a regular practice. Fresh air and natural light
do wonders. If you know someone who is
elderly, help them get the appropriate gear and find a nice spot to go and sit
with them to chat outside for a while. Since many people in America do not
appreciate going outside in all kinds of weather, it also has the added benefit
of taking you away from crowded indoor spaces where germs are more easily
spread.
4. Exercise. If you
can do this outdoors it will make it even better, but even exercise indoors
will boost endorphins in your body and give you a shot of “feel good” hormones
for a bit.
5. Embrace the things you CAN do. You can invite people over for a cup of cocoa. You can sit in the longer evenings and whittle or knit. Make things you’ll look forward to using in the winters, like an afghan or quilt or a wooden spoon for your homemade chili! You can read without guilt and without thinking of all the things you should really be doing outside. You can light candles. You can bake or can to heat the house up a bit. You can make bonfires, even in the snow, to enjoy the darkness outside at night. If a person only dwells on the things they cannot do, there are bound to be negative consequences & I think that is largely what has happened in our culture as winter approaches each year. People begin to think, “I cannot go out easily.” “I cannot go to the lake anymore…I cannot sit on the patio…” But the reality is you can do most of the things you were able to in the summer, just in a different way. You may not be able to swim in the lake, but you can walk around it, then go for a swim at an indoor facility. You may not be able to sit on your patio in shorts, buy you could still clear an area to sit in your warm clothes and maybe even light up the grill. You may not be able to meet friends to eat at an outdoor restaurant, but you could invite them over for hot apple cider, fresh bread and cheese.
Be creative!
Much of what holds us back in winter is also meant to slow us
down. So take the time to enjoy the
slowness. Heaven knows we don’t get that
opportunity often in our high paced world.
Make winter your new favorite season as you approach it with
gratitude.