In the depths of winter, many of us barely see daylight. It's dark when we leave for work, dark when we come home, and the hours in between are spent under artificial light. No wonder winter can feel so heavy.
A short daily walk in daylight, done slowly and with attention, is one of the simplest ways to make winter feel lighter. Here's a ritual to try.
When and how long
Aim for the brightest part of the day, usually around midday or early afternoon. Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough. Even on grey days, outdoor light is much brighter than most indoor lighting.
The walk, in five movements
1. Leave the phone in your pocket. On silent. This walk is for you. 2. Breathe the cold air. For the first two minutes, notice the temperature on your face, in your nose, in your lungs. Let it wake you up. 3. Look for the light. Where does the sun touch the buildings? How do the bare trees look against the sky? Winter light is low and golden when it appears; follow it. 4. Notice three winter details. Frost on a car, a bird in a bare branch, smoke from a chimney, a lit shop window, steam from a café door. 5. Walk back a little more slowly than you came. Let the last minutes be the calmest.
Make it pleasurable
Dress warmly and beautifully: a good coat, a soft scarf, gloves you love. Plan a small reward: a hot drink from a café on the way, a stop at a bakery, a bench in the sun. Winter walks are easier when they end somewhere warm.
Why it helps
Daylight, movement and attention all help lift the mood and steady the day. But the deeper gift is a change of perspective: instead of enduring winter from behind a window, you're meeting it, and finding that it holds its own quiet beauty.
Something warm for afterwards
The First Letter is a short sensory meditation on receiving a letter, perfect to read with a hot drink after your walk. It's free, with a sample of my magazine, "(meditating) On Art". A warm end to a cold walk.
Remember to take as much time as you need, and meet me at the next one.
Love, Evi