Sunday Reflections on the February Hibernation: Week Three

Recently, one of my favorite bloggers commented on one of my blog posts and told me that my blog posts make her happy (love that!) and said she hoped that I was finding happiness this winter, too. Because it's one thing to write about how others can create hygge moments but another, altogether, to create them yourself. So I have wanted to share exactly how I'm doing, so you'll know I am practicing what I preach & telling it like it is.

Shadow Boxing with February

"SAD symptoms are associated with seasonal changes in light, often occurring only during the autumn and winter months, with the most difficult months being January and February. Outside of the winter months, SAD can be triggered by long stretches of cloudy weather or working year-round in a dark environment without natural sunlight." -EcoHealth Wellness Center & Detox Spa

This has been a difficult week inside a difficult month. Proof that hygge practices do not cure winter blues.

They can help make winter much happier, and I have had far more happiness each winter since bringing hygge into my life! But nothing I know of will make winter perfect.

And when it is at its most difficult, I think you'd have to consciously create hygge moments the entire time you're awake in order not to feel the winter-ness. Who'd have the energy?

So even my hygge moments were not as happy as they usually are. And every time I met one winter blues challenge, another rose up to meet me.

That is the truth about how it went.

The Plan When You Have a Really Hard Winter Week

(like I did!)

* Hygge more
* Clear your schedule or schedule light
* Hunker down as much as you can, in total comfort
* Drink hot chocolate, read more, rest more, hug more
* Fill every space you inhabit with as much bright light as you can. Think more.
* And pause enough to make sure you don't miss the moments that are happy & hygge

Hygge can't fix everything, but I still believe we should throw ourselves at it shamelessly, with everything we've got. February days might be grey but hygge will give them moments of light and that's everything!  Don't you agree?

My best moments this month, in general, and last week in particular happened when I was drinking gingerbread tea, reading, spending time with family, watching movies, eating comfort food, and infusing my space either with the light of the sun or candles + fairy lights.

Speaking of which, remember my mentioning that I ordered more fairy lights for the family room? They helped a lot!! In fact, my mood brightened immediately after threading them through the grapevine wreath & turning them on that first night.

If you have been hunkered down, too, what has worked for you?

And what will happen for you when spring comes? It's common for those who experience winter blues at the extreme end of the continuum to have it continue on through spring and then come to an end during early summer.

That is my experience. Is it yours, too?

Next month, I'll be writing about how to hang in there and hygge with the best of them if winter is not really over for you. But I'd love to know what else you'd like for me to write about, here at the blog or in my newsletters.

Do me a favor. If you have winter blues, please take my survey below.

It's super quick. Only 4 questions & 2 are multiple choice.

And this way, I'll know more specifically how I can help this spring. I don't want to assume that your experience will be exactly like mine. Thanks so much!

Love to you!

Jeanine