As I write this, I’ve just turned the fairy lights on. Not Christmas-tree lights, you understand, but a random set of fairy lights I stuck up in my living room, which I’ve come to think of as my November lights. Something festive to fill the gap between Halloween decorations and advent. AKA, one of many things to help myself through the dark months.
I used to think I liked winter. I don’t mind the cold. I can deal with being outside in bad weather, just as I’m more than happy inside where its cosy and warm. But the dark. My god, the dark.
It really gets to me. I find these dark months harder every year.
So this winter I’m taking no chances. I’ve got a seriously beefy SAD lamp (10,000 LUX is apparently what you need). I’m trying to go out in the garden in the morning - even just for a few minutes - to get some daylight first thing. Vitamin D. Daily walks. Delicious breakfasts for extra get-out-of-bed motivation. Candles. A fire in the evening. Oh - and not forgetting those fairylights. ✨
I know I’m far from the only one who feels like this. In fact,
Food is my winter comfort blanket. This year I’m getting really into dough. Lots of work over the last year around reducing my engagement in diet culture has meant I feel happy and able to bake (and then eat) lots of bread and dough based things. I got a copy of the Nordic Bakery cookbook (one of my favourite cafes - in London) and am slowly working my way through. So I guess the short answer is pottering. Being at home. Also candles. X
Oh and YES to this. I loved the Nordic Bakery when I was in London, too. I made a Nigel Slater lentil and tomato soup this weekend and it was an excellent life decision by the time an otherwise uneventful Monday workday lunch rolled around! Xx
I feel I need to see the beefy lamp! I'm glad you liked my list. I think this week marks the turn into the bleaker bit. We need to cheer lead each other through the dark days.
Ooh I just wrote about this topic too! Candles are the best, aren’t they? They make me think of being in ‘olden’ times and there is something so cosy about that. (Though I’m sure Victorian times were bleak!). I just bought a new jigsaw puzzle, haven’t done one since Xmas last year so I’m excited about that. Restorative yoga with fairy lights as well. It’s not the same doing it in the summer! x
Tons of candles! That always helps me. We have a recent asthma diagnosis in our house, so it means we might have to decrease the amount of throw blankets in our home - in the past, those always helped me cope, so I have a lot. Finding a replacement for those this year might be my project.
Also, also. I invested in nice cashmere base layers. HDP made me do it 🥰🤭 with her beautiful list for surviving winter x
I would love to think of myself as a woman who owns cashmere base layers, but I’m not sure I can be trusted… 😂 xx
I've even persuaded myself to buy another one ha ha.
Food is my winter comfort blanket. This year I’m getting really into dough. Lots of work over the last year around reducing my engagement in diet culture has meant I feel happy and able to bake (and then eat) lots of bread and dough based things. I got a copy of the Nordic Bakery cookbook (one of my favourite cafes - in London) and am slowly working my way through. So I guess the short answer is pottering. Being at home. Also candles. X
Oh and YES to this. I loved the Nordic Bakery when I was in London, too. I made a Nigel Slater lentil and tomato soup this weekend and it was an excellent life decision by the time an otherwise uneventful Monday workday lunch rolled around! Xx
My Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser and 70% dark hot chocolate flakes from Bare Bones in Glasgow!
Oh YES to this. I really like the chilli or ginger HC hot chocolate. But those dark chocolate flakes sound amazing... x
I feel I need to see the beefy lamp! I'm glad you liked my list. I think this week marks the turn into the bleaker bit. We need to cheer lead each other through the dark days.
Absolutely. (This is the SAD lamp I have - it’s insanely bright. https://www.beurer.com/uk/p/60815/) xx
It deserves it's beefy accolade and I am now of course jealous!
Ooh I just wrote about this topic too! Candles are the best, aren’t they? They make me think of being in ‘olden’ times and there is something so cosy about that. (Though I’m sure Victorian times were bleak!). I just bought a new jigsaw puzzle, haven’t done one since Xmas last year so I’m excited about that. Restorative yoga with fairy lights as well. It’s not the same doing it in the summer! x
I will have to have a read! (My yoga class does lots of candles and a light-projector thing, which is gorgeous at this time of year). Xx
I need to sink into your words later!
Tons of candles! That always helps me. We have a recent asthma diagnosis in our house, so it means we might have to decrease the amount of throw blankets in our home - in the past, those always helped me cope, so I have a lot. Finding a replacement for those this year might be my project.
Hmm, that's a tricky swap, perhaps a super-luxurious hot water bottle for you?? xxx