Emerging from "Wintering" - A Self Care Guide for Spring

I am currently reading a beautiful book by Katherine May, Wintering, and I am devouring this as food for my soul. Her words speak so much truth. And right now, I feel many of us are "Wintering" - By winter, she means not just the cold season, but "a fallow period in life when you're cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress, or cast into the role of an outsider." I mean this line pretty much sums up the past two years in terms of a global pandemic and now facing conflict within Europe. It very much feels like looking after each other and ourselves is something we have to cherish and make time for. 

With Spring approaching it's natural to look for hope and with that hope, I definitely feel self-care is at the heart of this. I have decided to put together a series of tips in order to help you come out of winter and step into spring.

Take a little time to Fika

Over the years I have found myself drawn to Scandinavian culture, their outlook on life and values seem very much in tune with my own. Fika, is a term that perhaps you have heard it is often translated as "a coffee and cake break", which is kind of correct, but really it is much more than that.

Fika is a concept, a state of mind, an attitude and an important part of Swedish culture. Many Swedes consider that it is almost essential to make time for fika every day. It means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a little something to eat.

Fika cannot be experienced at your desk by yourself. That would just be taking coffee and cake - this is a shared experience that nourishes relationships and brings calm to your day. Why not try a little Fika this spring and add this simple activity to your own self-care routine. 

Organise your space

Sometimes, self-care is not all baths & candles (though I absolutely love having a good soak) but actually getting those to-do things ticked off your list or simply having a good sort out. Clearing your space allows you to free yourself unused items that can take physical and mental space. This includes all those spaces that perhaps we forget about, understairs cupboard, sideboard drawers and under the bed. Ottoman beds are perfect for this task as it allows you to utilise the space under your bed, whilst still retaining easy access. Which means you can keep on top of any clutter.

Meditate

Meditation is one of my most powerful tools in my tool kit when it comes to self-care. Tending to your mental health is all about recognizing your unique needs and developing practices and habits to honour them. This can feel challenging and even selfish at first, especially if you’re not used to getting your needs met. But it’s the antidote to stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout so it’s worth the practice and dedication and meditation can do exactly this. I use the Calm app - and I'm particularly fond of guided meditation. You can read more about guided meditation here.

Get your sleep

Sleep is so incredibly important for both physical and mental health. Not getting enough sleep skews our ability to regulate our emotions. In the long run, this can increase our risk of developing a mental health condition. In turn, conditions such as anxiety and depression may cause further sleep disruption as you can see it can become a vicious cycle. 

In order to help with sleep, there are a few things that can help. Firstly, ensuring your bed is perfect for you - the size of the bed type of mattress are all very important when ensuring you get a comfortable night's sleep. Temperature definitely can help with sounder sleeping and again this is a personal preference. I personally sleep so much better with the window open - there is something about the breeze on my skin I find soothing. 

Falling asleep is often something people can struggle with, especially when going through difficult times. One of my biggest suggestions, particularly at the moment - is to stay away from the news just before bed (social media should be a given too). Sleep guided meditation (body scans) are my go-to when my anxiety is high - it allows me to relax and un-tense every part of my body and is incredibly effective.

I would love to hear how you like to unwind and focus on selfcare and you can share these in the comment section or on social media channels. 

K Elizabeth xoxox

*Collaborative Post