Approaching the Solstice

[fidgiegirl]

How do you take care of yourself in these short days?

It's a hard time of year. Just one month to go, I tell myself - then the days will start to get longer again.

[citrine]

I have not been doing a good job lately....just taking my vitamin D and sleeping when I need to. I miss the sunshine so much!

[Rosemary]

Two more days of warm weather before the cold begins. I've been spending as much time outside as possible in the early to middle part of day when the sun is strongest.
I have been using the treadmill when I need an energy boost and moving around/standing as much as possible when indoors, rather than sitting.
I have been alternating many days of very clean diet with a day here and there of too much holiday sugar. It is hard to attain dietary perfection in this season. I do well when eating at home, ok at restaurants, and not well at social events with friends where there is a ton of food.
I have not been taking my vit D - I need to get back to this. I can feel the difference, and know that my normal level is quite low.

[sunnyjoe]

I'm also having a hard time. Thank you for pointing out that it's now just one month to go :) It's been relatively warm here so I'm getting outside as much as possible. Taking a few minutes just to let the sun soak in. Costco had "happy lights" in stock and I picked one up. I've only had it a few days so not sure if it will do anything. I'd been wanting to get one and this one was well rated and a decent price. We'll see!

I found a website that graphs the sun's rise and set times for any latitude you enter. I graphed my current latitude vs. where I grew up and I see that I grew up with much more light in the morning (Southern California vs. SE Michigan). So I try especially to get in the light early in the day. Being off daylight savings time helps me now but the shift in March is really hard.


(edited for grammar) :)

[KayLR]

I have been thinking about this very topic the last couple days. The weather has just been so miserable, and I have not gotten out to walk and get fresh air like I am accustomed. It takes a toll.

Also, I had a really rough time getting into a regular, normal sleep pattern after the end of daylight savings time. Finally I am sleeping more normally, but I have to force myself to stay busy after dinner rather than going into hibernation mode, or I'd be ready for bed at 7:30 some nights!

I think I just need to force myself into more activity. I know I'll feel better. And even if I'm walking in the rain, I don't think I'll melt.

[Laser_Cat]

Yeah I hate these shorter daylight hours as well =( For me I just try to work in the garden as much as I still can, basically just preparing the bed for the spring. (and taking care of my houseplants helps as well, although they hate my west facing windows this time of year) Kay if you try out that light, let us know how well it works for you!

[cattledog]

Honestly, I like the short days. I think it's a nice change of pace. I go to bed earlier (so does my kiddo) and we get more sleep. We also seem to have more family time since we don't go outside much in the evening or my DH can't work on projects in the garage. When it's cold, we bundle up and go for a walk during the day (disclaimer: I'm a SAHM now- but when I worked I would go out on my lunch hour when I could). I think it's important to get out of house once in a while and get some sunshine/daylight, even if only for 15 minutes. In December, we like eating dinner early some days and taking drives to look at Christmas lights.

[CathyA]

I take all my Vitamin D every day. I suppose in days of old, Thanksgiving and Christmas were supposed to lift your spirits, but for me, those holidays make everything worse. Its so hard to have to speed up so much, when nature is telling us to slow down.
For some reason, I'm waking up earlier and earlier. I usually fall asleep anywhere from 10:30-11 and get up around 6:30. But now I'm up later and waking up anywhere from 4:30-5:30. I wish I could sleep in, but I just wake up for no reason and can't get back to sleep. I don't feel too tired during the day, so I suppose its not hurting me. ?
Sunshine is good. But I still think we live an existence in this culture that is so out of sync with nature.
But thanks for reminding me of the Solstice. YAY! Just a few weeks away. :)

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yea it's a hard time of year. I'm not going to complain about the weather because of where I am.

But I read two things in the last two days (a yoga website and opened an old book I own) that said we are supposed to slow down this time of year. Not shop like crazy or go out to dozens of parties, but slow down, and sleep more - rest. Even on a purely physical level we probably need more sleep just to avoid getting sick this time of year (it's the time of year everyone gets sick generally). And to my whole being it's just so appealing that this time of year could be PEACEFUL and restful. Should be a time of recovery for the body (by whatever means you use - more sleep, meditation, restful forms of exercise, whatever). But that's kind of how it is naturally, in the natural world, not in hibernation everywhere, but it is darker, more peaceful. Only when we lay on top of that natural world one crazy cultural structure that we have this time of year here and then it's not.

So that resting appeals (depression and stuff wants rest anyway, depression probably overstates it - I don't mean full clinical, I just mean holiday blues). I think it's ok to plant some small metaphorical seeds of things you would like in the new year (start a new hobby project for instance) but it should be taken slow and restful, not crazy and active, just in honor of the time of year and against the current of the culture this time of year which tell us: more, more, more, faster, faster, faster! I also have some slight urge to throw a donation at some charities for the holidays, out of next months savings (oh noes! oh yes), but only because it appeals to me as a ritual.

[Simplemind]

I'm not far from KayLRZ and I second the motion that our weather has been dark, wet and miserable. As much as I love cuddling in with a good book next to the fire I can also tell how I start to shut down on energy. Comfort food can be my downfall so I push to get myself outside unless it is raining sideways. We set up a treadmill in our garage so I get on that and open the door for some natural light on top of the regular light. I toss back Vitamin D and mix in some nice green teas in the afternoon. This year I have a vacation to look forward to after Christmas. That is when the post holiday/birthdays/anniversary slump puts me in the dumps. I think knowing there is some light at the end of the tunnel is going to do me a lot of good this year.

[fidgiegirl]

I started back on my Vit D last night, and have been trying to take advantage of the warmer weather for some runs.

Just knowing I'm not alone helps . . . I'm not a crazy lady, after all. Whew.

[awakenedsoul]

I guess I'm unusual, this is my favorite time of year. I'm in Southern California, though, so I'm getting enough sun. I love to go to bed really early. I used to have to teach and commute by bus and bicycle late at night. It's a luxury to be home and able to go to sleep early...and to listen to my body's natural rhythm.
My cottage gets a lot of light, so I open my curtains in the morning, and let that stream in to the kitchen. I also run the dogs every morning on the Walkydog. I dress warmly, in my wool pants, a cashmere sweater, and my wool show jacket with leather sleeves from 1985. It blocks the wind when I'm on the bike. I wear a scarf and soft gloves, too. It's so important to me to be comfortable. I love having the heater on in the a.m. for a little while. The dogs curl up in front of it. They look so cozy. I've been doing yoga mixed with pilates before bed each night. It's really been helping my muscles and joints. I've got to stay in shape or I get back and hip pain. I also have been knitting some Christmas projects, and that's been fun.

Our hot hot summers are brutal...so Fall and Winter are just heaven to me! Of course we're spoiled with the weather here...


Hope you feel better fidgiegirl.