The Spring Fix: Surrounded by Light

Sometimes, hygge self-care may seem to require more energy than you've got, especially if fatigue is one of your winter blues symptoms. But it's worth it. I spent a good part of the past month re-learning that the hard way, and this post shares the hygge self-care strategy that helped me survive the February blues.
You can use it to help you survive spring, starting with March madness.

Watch this intro video (1 min., 13 secs)...

Did you know that in Denmark, not only is there more light at home, but even the restaurants offer candles for their diners? Winter blues demands light, and not just the light boxes or the hour-long walks when it's sunny.

And for many of us, that need for more light continues into spring.

I used to believe that if you had winter blues, light boxes were the best resource available, you should use them for an hour or so, and if your winter symptoms continued, you were out of luck. Then, I found out about dawn simulators, and thought that your winter blues light kit should have two things in it.

But I didn't understand the principle of surrounding yourself with light. It's all-encompassing! And it means you don't stop until you have gathered enough light that you can tell it's working well. 

"At night, when candles flicker and lanterns glow, the world seems a gentle, happy place. Everywhere you look trees and buildings sparkle with a zillion fairy lights. You’ll never be too far from a convivial restaurant serving up comfort food by candlelight or a low-lit bar where you can hunker down on a deep-cushioned sofa."  - How to Enjoy Hygge in Copenhagen, telegraph.co.uk

Are you using lights in your home?

"In Denmark, it’s all about candles and the the magical sparkle of white Christmas lights, which they fittingly call fairy lights. There are candles in most every home’s windows, and the thousands of white lights that adorn the trees of Copenhagen and create an illuminated winter wonderland." ~ GiveMeCozy.com

I found that adding candles and fairy lights helped each day I did it. But as far as I can tell, this benefit can't be stored. The light boxes, etc., may build their benefit over time and as long as you continue using them each day, you may find that your symptoms remain improved at that level.

But lighting candles today will not mean you'll feel better tomorrow, from what I can tell. On the other hand, today matters, too. And you might feel better tomorrow as you remember yesterday's coziness or happy moments.

I decided that it's all worth it, no matter how long it lasts. I can rinse and repeat. You can, too, right, if it's going to help?

"Several treatment options exist. The most common treatment is light therapy. Patients sit for up to three hours in front of strong light boxes or wear light visors." -healthychildren.org

So if you're like me, and you have winter blues symptoms all through spring, don't let the return of the sun fool you. Keep doing whatever you were doing before, if it worked, including light therapy.

Don't put away the light box until your symptoms are gone. And if you need longer time, consider using it for more than the recommended half hour or  hour.

Half an hour has never worked for me, that first hour helps but not enough, and I use my light box for several hours a day. Obviously, you'll want to check with your healthcare practitioner before making a change in anything they have advised.

But the bottom line message is, if you still have winter blues symptoms, continue to use whatever light has been working all through spring and you may want to try even more, if it isn't working as well as you want. In addition to your light box and/or dawn simulator, consider adding fairy lights and candles and soft lighting throughout the area where you spend most of your day.

And keep those curtains open wide. As weather permits, gets outside under the sun if you can.

If you can be outside during that first day with an extra hour of sunlight, on Sunday, the 11th, it might be a great way to celebrate. Take a long walk before sunset & relish the fact that it's still not dark.

Wishing you all the light you need!

Love, Jeanine