January 27, 2017

---

In my life, the new year does not really start until the vernal equinox around March 20. I try to use Winter to hibernate and enjoy some peaceful (or not so peaceful) thinking and planning. The coming of Spring brings about a forceful, steady, prodding energy which helps push me forward into some of the intentions and ideas I spend January and February laying out.

Here are some of my tips for your own Winter hibernation renewal. You never know, a shift in your thinking or a shedding of an old useless pattern might just give you the space you need to create real changes or improvements in your life.

WINTER HIBERNATION RENEWAL TIPS

Don’t Over-Plan
Give yourself a full weekend each month (January, February & early March) that is entirely not planned if possible. If you work on the weekends perhaps you can find a day or two (in a row preferably) that you can use instead. Hold this space for spontaneity, relaxation, clear-outs, hikes or walks, wellness, trying new recipes or anything that comes up! It is in these unplanned spaces that we bread new ideas!

Buy A New Notebook But Don’t Use It
I got a beautiful bright red notebook for Christmas. I have not written a word in it although I carry it everywhere with me. Instead I write all thoughts and ideas throughout January and February on paper. I like loose sheets that I can turn over and use every bit of. Maybe sometimes I put them into a folder. Often they are doodled on quite intensely. Once I compile the sheets of paper that make the most sense in my life come March, I migrate them into my new notebook. But not until March!

Catch Up On Correspondence
Make the calls you have been meaning to make and take the time to write the thank you notes even if they are months old. Correspondence is more and more a lost art and it is so simply fulfilling. When you talk with or reach out to the people you love, or even new friends, you make a commitment to love. This commitment, and the mirroring back of love from your friends, can show you things about yourself you might not have known or things you didn’t remember but you need to.

Resist Fear
When a new year starts, we often set lofty goals for ourselves, goals we would never be able to meet. We often miss setting goals that are more attainable because we fear the outcomes are too small. As you prepare for March, allow yourself the gift of no fear days. It might be just one day in the entire three month period or it might be one day per week! Make a promise to yourself that on this day, you will fear nothing. You may notice that something makes you uncomfortable and you would never do this or that but try your hardest, just for this one day, to do the opposite. Challenge yourself. You will get something out of it.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Now is the time to give yourself earlier bedtimes than usual and just be okay with it. If you find 20–30 minutes in a day, take a nap! Getting more sleep can help you be more clear-headed and often you can have your best thoughts when you are resting.

Be Simple
As I write these words I find I am having a hard time telling you what this means so I will just keep it simple. If you can, shed anything that is keeping you in a place of over-busy-ness. Can you simplify? If so, do. You can pick back up on the things you discard come March but maybe you won’t even want to.

~

I enjoy looking at the year in chapters. This is my chapter to plan and lovingly hold space. I hope no matter what chapter you are in you are finding moments of clarity.
xo, MAV

Share