Wintering and the permission to pause

Wintering… is this a phrase that you’ve come across before? Defined as “spending winter in a particular place” by the dictionary and more in reference to migratory birds and wildlife, it neglects the fact that we humans are animals too (and thus a part of nature) and that we also experience the effects of winter. 

Wintering can therefore have a deeper meaning and feeling, and a product of calm resilience that comes from the acceptance and appreciation of the quieter, stiller and perhaps less productive times that the season of winter can bring. It recognises and celebrates that just like the fields and gardens require fallow periods to restore themselves in order to provide the optimum conditions for growth and life, we also need to rest so that we can rejuvenate ourselves and be ready for the times ahead. 

With festivities and the accompanying expectations occurring in December and perhaps New Year resolutions set in January, the mid-winter can be made to feel even more arduous because of these commitments or responsibilities. This can result in impacts including: heightened anxiety and tensions; physical symptoms from stress and burnout; effects of disrupted sleep and/or eating patterns, such as poor concentration and lower resilience; and prolonged feelings of overwhelm or fatigue. 

This can be compounded by the fact that we are journeying through the shortest day lengths and reduced daylight hours of the year (known to increase health struggles), and for some, SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can exacerbate debilitating depression and other symptoms.

Spring couldn’t feel further away. The weather can often be wet, cold and unpredictable, leading to increased time indoors and a higher likelihood of social isolation; whilst after all the build-up of seasonal celebratory countdowns and gatherings, the comedown from this peak can create feelings of emptiness and the ‘post-holiday blues’.  

Looking to nature 

However, if we look to and connect with nature more often, we can reframe how we view these winter days and weeks. We can learn to embrace these dormant periods, truly slowing down and resting, and allowing for nourishment and healing.

As ecotherapy shows us, winter and the opportunity for wintering provide the opportune time for restoration in preparation for future growth - just like the spring bulbs underground and the many plants that are yet to bud, we are reminded of the need for patience, and that we do not need to rush.

Frequently, we can feel tired or sluggish, and often with cravings for more food (especially sweet treats) - something we tend to accept that many other animals do to survive the harsher months. This is a usual response to our evolutionary biology as well as our hormonal changes at this time of year, and by acknowledging and accepting these rhythms, we can be kinder to ourselves rather than being berating or harmful. 

Meanwhile, the trees that continue to lose their leaves can also remind us or teach us that we too can shed or get rid of what we no longer need or want, perhaps the things in our lives that might be weighing us down (knowingly or not). This can enable us to go inwards and make time for reflection, opening the door for self-connection and self-care, again providing the opportunity for preparation and plans for the future. 

Ways for wintering in your life 

• Give yourself permission to sleep and rest as your body requires.
• Learn to say ‘no’ and know that not all invitations need to be accepted.
• Try gentle seasonal creative activities, such as art or cooking.
• Practice connecting and listening to your mind’s and body’s needs.
• Get outside to notice nature and wildlife.
• Self-care routines that might be daily or weekly gestures, such as foot baths, hand lotions, deep breathing, and simple stretching.
• Remember to be kind to yourself (both in words and actions).

Through welcoming and practising wintering, we can learn to find joy and connection in the season of winter (which is often argued as the least ‘liked’ season of the year), rather than just surviving it and ploughing on through it with frantic intent to reach the spring as fast as possible.

Wintering gives permission to pause and observe, both the nature around us and the nature of within us - this means that with time, wintering can allow us to be better connected with ourselves, increasing our understanding and therefore resilience, both for the present and for the future.