16. The Tunnel - Finding the Light

For the ‘Live Up To You’ 2020 project we post one little wellbeing idea/suggestion/technique each week that you and your friends are welcome to self-experiment with in your life and see how it works for you. Here is a link to a self-care template you are welcome to try.

Finding the light…..

Here in New Zealand we are ‘bang, smack’ in the middle of Winter and I am writing this post on the day with the least daylight hours (June Winter Solstice). I always think it’s like being in the middle of a tunnel where things have slowly become darker and darker until you feel like you are engulfed in blackness. I can handle the freezing nights and the white morning frosts, because usually they are followed by beautiful, crisp, sunny days. But……….on those grey days, wet days, miserable days, I really struggle. Like the weather my mood darkens and I fall prey to the ‘Winter blues’. Even though I really want to ‘curl up in a ball and hide for a while’, the reality is I have to ‘show up in the world with a smile’.

Our modern lives don’t appear to be in sync with our natural, seasonal, biological tendencies. So during these times when life just seems a little harder, I’ve learnt that this is when I need to practice self-care strategies more than ever. If I can recharge and restore my emotional and energy reserves I’m far better placed to get through the tunnel and find the light at the end of it.

Here is my simple ‘self-care’ checklist that helps me feel that I’m taking care of my health and wellbeing.

Step 1.

Pause and Take Notice (chill, slow down and create some space)

Step 2.

Check Physical, Mental/Emotional, Social and Spiritual needs:

Basic Physical Needs:

●      Sleep (am I getting enough quality sleep?)

●      Nutrition (am I eating nourishing food that is restorative?)

●      Water (am I drinking enough?)

●      Exercise (am I moving enough?)

Basic Mental/Emotional needs:

●      Positive Emotions (what can I do to experience more of them?)

●      Thinking (what can I do to help me think clearer?)

Social/Connection needs:

●      Do I need more connection? (how can I reach out and connect?)

●      Do I need less connection? (how can I create some time, space to myself?)

●      Do I need better quality connections? (How am I showing up? How are others showing up? Am I relating to others in a way that is uplifting, energy giving and caring? am I being treated with kindness and compassion?)

Spiritual/soul needs:

●      Am I living in line with my values? (what do I need to adjust to make sure that how I’m living lines up with how I want to be)

●      What do I need that will fill my soul?

Step 3.

Choose 1-2 simple strategies

Step 4.

Embed the strategies

Now the aim is not perfection here, it really is just progress. I know if I can just keep putting one step in front of the other, I will find the light at the end of the tunnel and feel better. Please note this is just a strategy to deal with my ‘Winter blues’ and it works for me. You are welcome to try it but it is not intended as a replacement for professional help and support.  

Here is a link to a self-care template you are welcome to try.