If you're new, check out the official Bloom Where You're Planted podcast page to check out my Lifestyle Strategy + Peaceful Productivity podcast!
This podcast was meant to be something fun, but honestly left me feeling kind of… off. Winter is a hard subject for me, and it feels really vulnerable to share something so silly sounding with my listeners. Winter has always been a hard thing for me; I love to be outside but when it's below freezing, the uncomfort that comes along with it just puts me off. It means I'm staying inside, not being in nature or with plants, and I generally just hibernate and wait until spring comes along. If I could just hide in bed all winter long, I probably would, but there's a lot I'd be missing out on, so it's definitely not a perfect solution.
The thing is, I exist on this planet and on this planet, expectations don't fluctuate with the seasons (nor should they). But, equally important, the sun is giving less energy to the earth right now, and that means less energy for me to live my life. The sun is farther away, and it shines on us a lot less. Its cloudy, it's dark by 5, it's not like I'm going outside to ground myself or be in the sun's energy, so not only are we expected to keep performing, but we have less resources to pull energy from.
Winters in the past have meant depression, especially when I was in school. My winter semesters often left me out of control, especially when I was busy. I thought I was the only one who could be experiencing seasonal depression like this, and as deadlines slipped away and teachers' disappointment grew, I became more and more out of control, while grasping at straws to get my shit together.
In an effort to move past this cycle in my life, I've decided that winter must mean comfort, at least for me. I can't completely eliminate responsibility in my life for this time (I wish though, right?) but I do my best to minimize my obligations. Do I have a crazy work week coming up? Can I take a few social events off the table to leave myself more time to recoup? Do I happen to have a quieter week ahead? How can I take time to really fill my tank and feel comfort for this season?
Leaning into comfort seems super basic, and I'd be lying if I said that this winter has been easy for me, but it is a simple habit I've implemented that feels helpful. This has been the easiest winter I've had in a long time, I've gotten a lot more done, I don't feel a strain on any of my relationships, and I've even implemented some really nice habits into my life. All in all, it's been a banner winter so far, and I think it's because winter gives me the permission I need to set clear boundaries and listen to my body when evaluating my life.
Implementing comfort mainly means actively checking in with my self and my energy levels and doing my best to a) prioritizing only the necessary and b) taking as much time as you can to comfort yourself or refill your tank. Your body needs a different kind of care during this harsh season, so be aware of that moving forward.
Here are some of the little indulgences I've made room for this winter:
- Davids tea strawberry matcha
- Soup + Comfort Food
- Warm Socks
- Hot Showers
- Body Shop Banana Shampoo + Conditioner
- Planning my garden for spring
- Getting out of my house/going outside
- My cuddly cats warming me up on the couch
- Chillin with a heating pad
- Coconut oil for extra moisture in my skincare
My podcast, Bloom Where You're Planted, is turning into something that I really feel that I’m sharing important things on. I feel so good whenever I do it, and often times I feel like I can't stop smiling when I'm done recording. I really hope that comes across in my recordings! As always, so much love for all of my readers and listeners, and I'm so so happy to get to connect with you in this way. I love hearing from you guys, so if you're feeling it, please leave a rating or review on iTunes (even if that's not the way you tune in). It's such a good way to give back to the podcast if you're looking for a way to do so.
Lots of love!
Andrea
