5 Ways to Help You Cope as the Nights Draw In

It's no secret that as autumn and winter set in, many people feel mixed emotions ranging from fatigue and lack of energy to full blown sadness. In this post we've included five easy ways to help cope as the nights draw in.

If we look at the principles of slow, seasonal living, we're encouraged to embrace the longer nights as a time of reflection, self care, creativity and most importantly, as a time of reset. Many people don't realise it, but during the spring and summer, the expectations we put on ourselves are vast, the illusion of longer days can come with an increase of perceived or real pressure. Embracing the darker months can help us reach our full potential when the longer days arrive once again. There's something to be noted from the animals that hibernate during the winter and thrive during the summer, obviously, as humans with responsibility, hibernation isn't a possibility (as much as I'd bloody love to sometimes!), so we've included five ways to embrace the changing seasons.

1. Get Outside and Spot the Sun

The longer nights can really mess up our sleep patterns, making us feel like we should be in bed at 5.30pm and not wake until it's light at 8.30am, thus affecting mood and productivity. Everyone knows, messed up sleep patterns not only make us feel crappy and less productive but can have negative impacts on our overall health too. A study done by Washington University found that watching either a sunrise or sunset can help us reset and retain our circadian rhythm, vital if you want a restful, good nights sleep (they also found that light that mimics sunrises/sunsets also help but we're advocates of being outdoors so would always take the real thing over artificial lights).

So, a couple of times a week, check the sunrise or sunset times and make the effort to go outside and watch, do nothing else but soak up the sun's journey. You could make the effort to tog up and head out for a walk, or just take a brew and blanket out into the back garden, if you're driving, pull over safely and take a couple of minutes. Use it as a reason to slow down and get outside, too often we use the bad winter weather as an excuse to not venture out, but remember the quote 'there's no such thing as good weather, or bad weather... only your attitude towards it'.

By doing this and helping our bodies stay in their innate rhythms we can help maintain positive mental health too, it all has a knock on.

2. Eat Seasonally

Eating seasonally is all the rage at the moment, with lots of influencers jumping on the trend for environmental reasons... which yes, as a farmer, 100% we should eat local, seasonal produce and the environmental pros are just one of the great reasons to do so (as well as the preservation of important farm and growing land). But food isn't just classed as seasonal because it will only grow in certain conditions or didn't need to arrive on a plane from a hot country during the winter for example. The land and it's produce are clever, there's no doubt about it, the things that grow at certain times of the year do so because the provide us with nutrients and vitamins which we need at the specific time of year to remain healthy... eating local food, grown naturally for the nutritional content... that's true seasonal eating.

Yes, you might have to alter a few recipes but it really will make the world of difference to how your body feels during the winter months. For example, kale and brussels sprouts are packed with iron and vitamin K, helping maintain good blood health and energy levels, cabbage is a great source of fibre, helping keep our digestives systems working well when we might be less active during the winter, and carrots contain vitamin A, brilliant for skin and eye health, important when we may be indoors more.

As cold and flu season looms we can start incorporating winter squash into our meals, as they're anti-inflammatory, full of anti oxidants and contain magnesium, something which can help control cortisol levels. Not to mentions the autumn and winter foraging potential, elderberry syrup is a fantastic thing to have in the pantry for sniffles and sore throats, it's a little bottle of immunity support and tastes great!

3. Make Your Home a Haven of Texture

Lots of textures from rugs, plush cushions and cosy blankets not only look inviting but create a feeling or warmth and consequently safety. Obviously, it's personal choice but we recommend warm colours like rusty oranges, warming reds or luscious greens. Make blankets readily available and don't punish yourself if you want to grab a blanket in the middle of the day or take a cosy pillow to the office, they're not only a reward for the evening, comfort isn't limited to a time of the day. You can take pleasure in swapping blankets and cushions around your space, it feels like we see a lot more of our homes in the winter so making simple changes like this can stop a space feeling stagnant.

A basket of blankets or a new squishy pillow can make all the difference.

4. Stimulate the Senses

We've already mentioned textures above, but lighting and scents also make a big difference too. To work with the seasons you need to embrace them, warm white or orange lights instead of bright white and yellow follows the idea that simulating the colours of a sunset or sunrise helps maintain our important natural rhythms, so swap out a few bulbs in rooms you relax in or invest in some seasonal lighting that you look forward to getting out every year (shameless plug, we've got the cutest mushroom lights in our store, you should check them out).

Scents and aromatherapy are also a great way to enhance a space and boost mood. Lighting a good quality scented candle while you're working can seriously boost productivity (trust me, I know, as I take a big whiff of the marshmallow roast candle burning on the desk... again shameless plug, they're in our store, made here at Evans & Moose and they smell cracking).

Taking these small steps to keep our mood lifted and our senses awake during the time of year when things feel like they're shutting down can really help us manage the darker months.

5. A Winter's Project

Listening to the seasons means we're encouraged to take a look inward during the darker months, so it's perfect time to indulge in some 'you time' and therefore a perfect time to start a new or pick up an old hobby.

Now, we understand that there can be a lack of motivation for this during the dark nights, so maybe set yourself a challenge with a goal at the end, for example reading a certain amount of books in a timeframe or have a monthly family game night that becomes a staple on the calendar. Pick up a paint brush and try and learn a new skill, never baked before? Go on, try it... all of these things can make us feel a sense of achievement without pressure.

A lot of people can feel lonely during the winter, take it back to basics, and strike up a pen pal relationship with someone, a family member, friend or someone further afield. Take dedicated time to write and the same to read the reply (blanket, brew and a letter from a friend... perfect). We know sometimes seeing post arrive can be daunting, so we advise maybe using specific stationary or a special stamp/sticker on the envelope so you know the letter inside is a positive one.

Of course, we recognise that sometimes the feelings the dark months can evoke are deeper than mentioned, and many people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), if things get too tough, start by implementing the above but also reach out, friends, family, professionals, strangers in a coffee shop... you'll be surprised, there will always be someone.

As longer nights embrace us once again, it is vital to approach this season with an open heart, return the favour and embrace this season, finding joy in the little moments that make winter special.