A Wise Winter

As the festive lights of the holiday season and fireworks of New Year's come to an end, many people begin to feel the winter blues. Winter is a time associated with darkness, depression, and death, so it’s no wonder millions of Americans suffer from a type of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is the result of seasonal changes, particularly a lack of regular light. The combination of less light, social activities, and an increase in less pleasurable weather makes it easy to suffer through winter and anxiously await the arrival of spring. However, there are lessons to learn from winter, and our mental health will benefit if we lean in and embrace it.

The season is fleeting.

Winter, like any other season, is impermanent. For many people, that brings a sense of relief, but I will offer a different perspective. There are natural qualities of winter that make it unique among seasons. Identifying and honoring these qualities can allow for a full appreciation of these three months out of the year. The most notable, in my opinion, is the presence of snow. For most people in the Northeastern United States, snow falls for only a few months of the year. Just as we appreciate the sun in the summer, we should give the same appreciation to snow in the winter. 

There can also be a scarcity of other life due to hibernation or animal migrations. However, many animal species persist during the winter. The North American cardinal and several types of chickadees do not migrate, just to name a few. While their soothing calls can be drowned out in the summer, they can be heard clearly and appreciated in the winter. These small but mighty birds endure the harsh winters instead of migrating south like many other birds. So next time you find yourself outside during the winter, pull out your Merlin app and try to appreciate the calls and songs of the local wildlife. 

The Danish and Norwegian word hygge has been trending in the US in recent years. Hygge refers to the enjoyment we get from a “cozy” environment, whatever that might mean to you. These cultures focus on social gatherings, warm clothes, drinks, food, and lighting during the winter months. Hygge is a good concept to embrace, and can be maximized by going out in the cold. To truly feel the comfort of a warm meal and a home, we must put ourselves in a cold, and more often than not, an uncomfortable environment. Being out in nature and going for a hike can be the perfect balance of joy, resilience training, and a way to fully appreciate the concept of hygge. 

When we focus less on what we don’t have and more on what we do have, especially during the winter, we are radically accepting life on its terms. These practices promote acceptance and allow us to value the sacredness of winter, which tends to improve mental health. 

Nature can be our teacher.

Nature, no matter the season, has wisdom to share with us. Winter is no exception. One of winter’s most important teachings is that we can be resilient. Resilience is an important way to strengthen our mental health. Resilience can refer to the ability to adapt to difficult life experiences. Nature presents many examples of resilience, some of which have already been mentioned: the cardinal and the chickadee, creatures that can withstand the cold throughout some of the toughest winters. Trees and skunk cabbage can serve as other teachers of resilience. Trees, despite losing their leaves, are alive during the winter season. They enter into a dormant state to save energy, so they are not dead; they are enduring the winter. Evergreen trees are an example that, unlike deciduous trees, do not lose all their leaves during the winter. In fact, they shed and replace their leaves, maintaining their continuous foliage. Skunk cabbage, a low-growing plant, can sprout and flower during the later winter. Both plants serve as a reminder that we humans can not only survive, but thrive during difficult times. 

Tips for being outside in nature during the winter. 

Spending extended amounts of time outside during the winter is easier said than done. Here are several tips to help you prepare for a wise winter. 

• Start early, even when it is cold outside, and your bed is warm; an early start can help us get exposure to the sun. In fact, we only need 10 minutes outside each day to receive the benefits of nature. 

• Proper layering and warm clothes are also essential; wearing a beanie, gloves, and the right jacket can help make the cold more tolerable. I would recommend avoiding cotton and focusing on wool or down clothing, as both are excellent insulators. 

• The way we layer our clothing can be important. Too few layers and we will be cold; too many layers and we will find ourselves sweating, which will eventually leave us wet and cold… not a good combination. I recommend wearing an undershirt, a wool/synthetic sweater, and a jacket with a hat and gloves. If you are going to be more active, I recommend losing a layer while moving and adding layers when you take a break. 

• Finally, having a warm beverage, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, during or after a hike can be a nice treat. Fill an insulated thermos and drink it during a break or when you are overlooking a pretty view on your hike.

  
  

Living a wise winter does not mean being comfortable all the time. Winter is the teacher of one of life’s most valuable lessons: pain is inevitable. There will be times when we are uncomfortable, and times when things do not go our way. However, instead of reminiscing about the past or hoping things will magically change, we have to embrace and appreciate our discomfort. By challenging ourselves to go outside and appreciate the lessons of nature, we are modeling to ourselves that we are capable of overcoming challenges, doing difficult things, and finding joy in our pain. I hope to see more people spending more time outdoors. I’ll see you out there! 

Coffee with a view