Welcome to week 13 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Winter play: Soak up some sunshine!

In this final week of The Winter Project, I encourage you to soak up some sunshine! In addition to squashing the winter blues, sunlight aids in our skin's production of vitamin D. Vitamin D greatly increases your absorption of calcium for strong bones, boosts the immune system, and reduces your risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Challenge for week 13: Whether you can spend time outside or you must settle for an indoor spot near a sunlit window, try to get some sunlight each day this week. Just 10-20 minutes a day in the sun is enough. Keep in mind that sunscreen blocks ultraviolet light which is the key requirement for your skin to produce vitamin D. So apply your sunscreen after the first 10-20 minutes if you plan to stay out longer.

Ideas for catching rays (dependent upon your local weather, of course):

I hope that you find some sunny days wherever you are and that the "polar vortex" craziness that some in North America have been experiencing is behind us!

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As we move through this project, I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and success in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com)!

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to receive free Get Natured updates so you can be included in The Winter Project. The weather outside doesn’t have to be frightful! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
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Twitter
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*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.

Welcome to week 12 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Winter play: Make room for joy!

I joined a book club this year and we have just started our second book. Or, rather, the rest of the group has started the second book and I have been trying to finish the first one. Because I’m on-the-go a lot, I tend to do more “reading” by audiobook. I listen when I run, drive, walk the dog, fold the laundry, etc. Tonight I peeked at my Audible app as I was heading out the door to walk the dog- only 35 minutes left of the book, thank goodness. The book is far less interesting than I expected and I am ready to move on…one more click in my Audible app...ugh, that was 35 minutes left in the FIRST HALF of the book. Bloody hell.

What do you do in moments like this?

Following what brings you JOY is how you fill your tank and find your superpower.

Challenge for week 12: Think about the ways that you are spending your time and what keeps you busy. Are there any goals or projects that no longer feed you or serve your life in a positive way? If you are someone who writes New Year’s resolutions, what about your goals for 2014? Do they give you energy or are there any that feel more like something that you are holding over your own head? Release the old to make way room for new joy! Creating a little space in your life will make room for whatever you invite in- new experiences or things that you would like more time for. You get to decide!

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As we move through this project, I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and success in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com)!

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to receive free Get Natured updates so you can be included in The Winter Project. The weather outside doesn’t have to be frightful! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram


*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.

Winter has finally arrived in Northern California! We had planned to head up to the mountains for snow tubing and winter fun over the weekend but canceled our plans at the last minute. A rainstorm settled in late in the week and didn’t quit until today. The mountain passes were windy and the snow and ice made them risky to traverse. While we were sad to not get up to the snow, we also knew we were safer holed up at home by the fireplace.


Welcome to week 11 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)

Winter play: remember when...

Do you remember the feeling of doing a cartwheel or handstand? How those things seemed so simple and effortless and how you couldn't even imagine a time when you wouldn't be able to do them? I spent hours on our backyard lawn as a kid doing round-offs and cartwheels and imagining our square patch of grass was the tumbling floor at the Olympics. I roller skated in our driveway, doing “fancy" turns when I got to the garage, and rode my bike until it was too dark to see anymore. It felt like if I kept doing these things, I would never lose them and they would be part of me forever.

Challenge for week 11: Think about how you used to spend your time as a child or teenager. What did you spend your free time doing? Think about how you can recapture that feeling of flow in your life today. Schedule some time this week to give it a try!


~..~..~..~
As we move through this project, I would love to hear about your survival skills, struggles, and success in the comments or by email (you can reach me at getnatured@gmail.com)!

Don’t miss out! Subscribe to receive free Get Natured updates so you can be included in The Winter Project. The weather outside doesn’t have to be frightful! xoxo

Other ways to follow along:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram


*Important note: I am not a licensed mental health professional. This advice is not intended to take the place of therapy or medications. Please seek professional care if you are suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms.

Welcome to week 10 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)



Our theme for The Winter Project for this month is: Winter play

Are you familiar with the concept of “flow”? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychology professor and expert on the psychology of happiness and creativity, has written much on the subject and defines "flow" as being fulling immersed in a pleasurable activity with energized focus (hear him talk about it here). In this state you are enjoying what you are doing and thinking of nothing else- you may even be unaware of time passing or what is happening around you. Spending time in play can help to balance feelings of being overwhelmed or too busy in other areas of life.


Challenge for week 10: Brainstorm a list of your favorite leisure activities, ways to play, or things that give you energy. Try to spend time doing at least one of those things this week. Notice how you feel during and after- did you lose track of time? Are you a bit more happy or content?

Winter play ideas:

I made granola today for us to have for breakfast this week and got a few requests for the recipe. This is less of a recipe and more of a formula. In other words, feel free to add or take out ingredients to your liking!


Whole Grain Granola With Dried Cherries and Cacao Nibs
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1/2 cup uncooked amaranth
1/2 cup sliced almonds or pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pecans
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon honey (or more syrup to make vegan)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/2 cup apple juice or cider
1/2 cup dried cherries

 

1. Preheat oven to 290º F (143º C). Combine all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl (oats through cacao nibs) and mix well. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, honey, vanilla, almond butter, and apple juice. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Spread granola onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes, stir, then bake for another 15-20 minutes or until it has begun to brown. Let cool then add the dried cherries. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.