At the end of winter, we put the puffer jackets away, spot ducklings in the rivers, and breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that soon we’ll have warmer days. Spring brings its ‘new life’ and bright colours, then all of a sudden, summer is upon us. We try to head to the beach for a swim after work and we enjoy eating dinner later in the evening! We have barbecues and eat outside until the mosquitos decide that it’s time for their dinner.
Then we blink, and autumn is here.
Autumn is my favourite season. I like stomping on the dry leaves scattered across the footpath – it makes me feel like I’m a kid again. I like how the air gets more brisk each morning, and how I have an excuse to switch to my winter duvet.
I wasn’t built for scorching summer days or the dampness of winter. While spring evokes a feeling of hope, autumn brings an impending sense of doom – the clocks will change, and eating meals outside will be a faint memory.
All the beauty of autumn becomes overshadowed by the idea of winter. Autumn is the prelude to winter.
To me, winter equals sadness. It’s the most expensive season of the year, and with that, it brings isolation and exhaustion. It’s a lot of slipping around in mud and getting my clothes dirty. Winter is frosted windscreens and freezing hands on my drive to work. It’s tossing up between wearing jeans and being warm, or wearing jeans that get drenched during the dash from the car to the office (and consequently, being cold).
This year will be different. I’m determined to change my attitude towards this dreaded season. I’m prepared.
I’ve come up with a simple strategy to get through my winter blues. I’m going to focus on these three things:
1. Spending time outdoors.
I love going for walks after work, but when winter rolls around each year, I become a hermit. Once I get home, home is where I’ll stay. This year, I’m going to encourage myself to go outside. Maybe the rain will clear at lunchtime, and I can spend 10 minutes outside appreciating how green everything is! Maybe I’ll go for a wet-weather walk without a raincoat, admitting defeat and embracing the freezing droplets of water as they cascade down my skin. Maybe I’ll go for more sheltered walks – or have a dedicated pair of walking shoes for the muddy tracks (my current shoes are white, and I’d like them to stay that way). I always feel better after spending time in nature, so this is at the top of my list!
2. Keeping on top of my health.
It’s almost impossible to avoid a cold during winter – but I’m going to be as prepared as I can. I’ll keep some Berocca in my tote-bag for those mornings when I wake up with a sore throat (my bedroom can get very cold). I’m going to try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and I’ll fill my body with nutritious kai (lots of garlic & ginger)!
3. Staying connected to friends and whānau.
I mentioned earlier that I like to be a hermit. It’s so easy to just snuggle up in bed, or next to the fireplace – reading a good book or watching a TV show. It takes so much more effort to get out of the house and spend time with friends. I’m going to try to have two ‘events’ per week. One might be having dinner with my parents and then playing a board game. Another might be grabbing coffee with a friend, or inviting them over for a cuppa. I might spend some time dreading it, but I know that I’ll enjoy spending quality time with my loved ones.
I’ve also been attempting to practice gratitude, especially when I’m feeling down. I’ve come up with a list of things I love about winter, something I’ll refer back to when I’m having a bad day.
I love:
- Curling up by the fire.
- Snow on te maunga.
- Roast Dinners.
- Frost on the grass.
- Trips to the laundromat.
- An excuse to stay indoors and watch movies all day, or play board games or video games, or do a puzzle.
- Baking and hot lunches.
- Picking up new indoor hobbies; making friendship bracelets, knitting, or learning how to play an instrument with YouTube videos.
Armed with positive thoughts and great intentions, I think I’m ready to tackle this next season. We’ve already been blessed with an abnormal amount of sunshine this May; perhaps June will follow suit. Regardless, I’m going to dust off my puffer jacket, find my woollen blanket and do my best to stay positive!