How have you nurtured your basic needs over the last week? Are you finding ways to get the sleep and care you need? It can be extremely difficult to keep up good habits this time of year. Do your best to eliminate what is working against you (lack of sleep, junk food) and add in things that will help you build joy (exercise, nourishing foods).
Keep up the great work- all of the good you do adds up!
Welcome to week 3 of The Winter Project!
(What is The Winter Project?)
Finding joy in the holidays: Leisure time
In spite of the modern conveniences that are designed to make us more productive, we have less and less time to simply relax these days. All of our things need to be maintained, cleaned, insured, stored, checked, updated, etc. The more “conveniences” we have, the less we have of what we really need- time.
With all of the extras on our to-do lists this time of year, it is easy to start feeling anxiety about having only fragments of time to do anything at all. When you finally do get a moment or two to yourself, you may find that you have forgotten how to relax or that you spend all of your downtime trying to decide what you want to do! Having an idea in mind that sounds deliciously restful can help you to make the most of your time.
Challenge for the week: Make a list of your favorite ways to spend downtime. They can be big or small- the point is to find ideas that give you energy just thinking about them. Looking forward to your favorite things can help you make the most of leisure time. Try to find a little time each day this week to rest, recharge, and reflect. It doesn’t need to take hours- even a few minutes can help press the reset button. Since happiness is cumulative, even little bits of time to exhale and take a break can do wonders for keeping the peace in your mind.
My list of juicy, winter downtime goodness:
- Hands-on projects like knitting or painting.
- Reading a really good book.
- Curling up in my favorite chair and watching a movie or TV show.
- Soaking in a warm bath, hot tub, or sauna.
- Yin or restorative yoga or meditation.
- Time in nature (extra credit for sparkly snow-covered places, sunrises, and full moons).
- Massages and facials.
- Taking photos of pretty things in natural light.
- Playing games with family.
- Good conversation with friends over coffee.
My plan for the week: I will be making homemade (hands-on) Christmas gifts, watching holiday movies, reading a daily Advent book, listening to a serious page-turner of an audiobook while I’m doing chores and walking the dog, having a massage, and taking a family walk under the full moon.
What about you? What makes your heart smile?
~..~..~..~
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
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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.
What about you? What makes your heart smile?
~..~..~..~
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:
*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.
