I love this. Winter feels warmer here in Mallorca than it did in Brighton, but the inner call to slow down and tune in is just as strong. I have made BIG changes to my life and business this year in order to flow with my natural rhythms. Im new on substack and happy to find your words. Following with interest.
I love this, I struggle to keep up with the pace expected in January. It is a time I create so much artwork. I do need to remember to spend more time outdoors, even if it’s cold. The cool air always feels so nice when I step out for a walk
This is awesome! I love how you describe winter. I went into this winter with the goal to mindfully soak up, learn from and align.
Here we are now in the last month of Winter - Pisces Season - it’s all about rest, recovery and release! I hope you enjoy as much as I will - from this article I am pretty sure you will!
Loved finding this post as my newsletter theme this month is Wintering ❤️ I too am a tea & hot water bottle lover! If I could have boiling water on tap… 😅
Love this! I enjoy Winter so much, but the 9-5 still demands the same output and productivity and that’s just not feasible for me. When Winter arrives I’m in an entirely different energy.
Oh yes, Jo, you and I are very much aligned when it comes to January. I long to have it all to myself, to simply wrap up, sleep long, and gently potter. The only downside to our life planting a field into a woodland is that winter is prime bare-root planting season! But one year, the planting will be all done, and January will be mine!
I hope you can find some moments to yourself this month, but yes, I also hope that next January is most certainly all yours to do whatever you like with. Wrapping up, sleeping and pottering, may it all be yours!
Thank you so much for your beautifully written survival guide to winter. I think I found it particularly comforting to know that someone else feels like they need to put into words how to survive the season but honestly, the way you’ve written it, makes me want to savour it and not wish for brighter days. So thank you, I have a new found appreciation for winter 🙂
Thank you, I'm glad it resonated :-) Morning rituals are great for setting the tone and intentions for the day. It feels like this is even more important in winter.
Gorgeous article. I winter in similar ways to you and whereas some idealise taking two months off in the summer, give me the chance to take two months of in winter to just rest and potter and be - bliss! I light candles at breakfast, I plan hearty and nourishing meals, I go to bed about an hour earlier than in spring and summer, I make sure there are blankets all over the house and I read books set in winter too.
Thank you, Sarah :-) Very happy to hear about your love of taking two months off in the winter—me too! It's a relief to know that not everyone lives for the summer. I used to feel so strange for liking winter when everyone seemed to be waiting for the hot months. It's only in recent years that I've met more like-minded people. It's lovely to hear how you also enjoy the cosy season! Happy January and all it's hunkering down :-)
Thank you for this. I am finding this Winter particularly hard as there has been massive upheaval and stress this year and particularly this past 4 weeks. However, a big change is now taking place which I feel will facilitate the next moves we make to enable us to hopefully find our peace. Your post has reminded me I need to take care of myself and pause and breath.
Thank you Suzanne. It definitely seems to take more effort to look after ourselves in winter. There's no getting away from the starkness, and it feels much harder to do when there's less light and less warmth to help us along with it. In some ways I think it really is an act of love. I hope you find some joyful, peaceful and cosy moments to help you through.
I love this. Winter feels warmer here in Mallorca than it did in Brighton, but the inner call to slow down and tune in is just as strong. I have made BIG changes to my life and business this year in order to flow with my natural rhythms. Im new on substack and happy to find your words. Following with interest.
I love this, I struggle to keep up with the pace expected in January. It is a time I create so much artwork. I do need to remember to spend more time outdoors, even if it’s cold. The cool air always feels so nice when I step out for a walk
This is awesome! I love how you describe winter. I went into this winter with the goal to mindfully soak up, learn from and align.
Here we are now in the last month of Winter - Pisces Season - it’s all about rest, recovery and release! I hope you enjoy as much as I will - from this article I am pretty sure you will!
Until the Spring Equinox! ⭐️💚⭐️
Loved finding this post as my newsletter theme this month is Wintering ❤️ I too am a tea & hot water bottle lover! If I could have boiling water on tap… 😅
I LOVE winter!
Love this! I enjoy Winter so much, but the 9-5 still demands the same output and productivity and that’s just not feasible for me. When Winter arrives I’m in an entirely different energy.
All of these! Especially no ceiling lights 😅🧡 Winter well x
Thank you, Caroline. Gentle lamplight all the way! 💡 enjoy the cosy journey towards spring 🩶
I loved reading this, it felt so cosy.
That’s lovely to know, thank you. Stay cosy! 😊
Oh yes, Jo, you and I are very much aligned when it comes to January. I long to have it all to myself, to simply wrap up, sleep long, and gently potter. The only downside to our life planting a field into a woodland is that winter is prime bare-root planting season! But one year, the planting will be all done, and January will be mine!
Love your manifesto 🤍
I hope you can find some moments to yourself this month, but yes, I also hope that next January is most certainly all yours to do whatever you like with. Wrapping up, sleeping and pottering, may it all be yours!
So lovely! And just what I need to cultivate myself right now.
Thank you Bonnie! January can be a hard month, so I hope you're finding some calm and cosy moments to yourself. X
Thank you so much for your beautifully written survival guide to winter. I think I found it particularly comforting to know that someone else feels like they need to put into words how to survive the season but honestly, the way you’ve written it, makes me want to savour it and not wish for brighter days. So thank you, I have a new found appreciation for winter 🙂
Thank you Rhiannon, you're welcome :-) and I hope you're finding comfort and cosiness as we move through January.
Beautiful words, I love the idea of having a winter ceremony, especially one that starts with a kettle and candles.
Thank you, I'm glad it resonated :-) Morning rituals are great for setting the tone and intentions for the day. It feels like this is even more important in winter.
Gorgeous article. I winter in similar ways to you and whereas some idealise taking two months off in the summer, give me the chance to take two months of in winter to just rest and potter and be - bliss! I light candles at breakfast, I plan hearty and nourishing meals, I go to bed about an hour earlier than in spring and summer, I make sure there are blankets all over the house and I read books set in winter too.
Thank you, Sarah :-) Very happy to hear about your love of taking two months off in the winter—me too! It's a relief to know that not everyone lives for the summer. I used to feel so strange for liking winter when everyone seemed to be waiting for the hot months. It's only in recent years that I've met more like-minded people. It's lovely to hear how you also enjoy the cosy season! Happy January and all it's hunkering down :-)
Beautiful words Jo. I felt myself nodding to each of your reminders. "It starts with a boiled kettle". What a perfect start 💖
Thank you Debbie :-) I'm glad it resonated. I hope you've found some toasty and calm moments in this cold snap.
Thank you for this. I am finding this Winter particularly hard as there has been massive upheaval and stress this year and particularly this past 4 weeks. However, a big change is now taking place which I feel will facilitate the next moves we make to enable us to hopefully find our peace. Your post has reminded me I need to take care of myself and pause and breath.
Thank you Suzanne. It definitely seems to take more effort to look after ourselves in winter. There's no getting away from the starkness, and it feels much harder to do when there's less light and less warmth to help us along with it. In some ways I think it really is an act of love. I hope you find some joyful, peaceful and cosy moments to help you through.
An excellent recipe. Thanks for sharing it Jo.
Thank you Michela :-) You're welcome. I hope you're staying nice and toasty up in NE Scotland.
Friday night saw -17C 🥶 Jo, so plenty of layers required! Now quite balmy, but less picturesque.
That was verging on Arctic! Glad it's a bit milder now.