Six Things to Do during Winter
During these weeks around the winter solstice on December 21st, each night lasts over 15 hours. It can be challenging to feel connected to nature with so much darkness. In our house we have decided to embrace the darkness and have tried to do things that can only be done in the dark or when you have more time indoors. All the following have been researched by experts and proven to give peace of mind and body:
#1: Sit outside and study the night sky. Start with the things in the sky you know and see if you can learn the patterns of how they change over the course of a month. An example of an activity you can do from the warmth of your home is to observe the phases of the Moon. The full moon is on the 4th, so over the course of December you could observe its phases until the next full moon in January. This December also provides a wealth of other celestial objects to observe. Saturn is visible in the southwestern sky from sunset to about midnight while Jupiter rises in the east at about 8:00 pm and is visible all night. Both are bright enough to be seen with the naked-eye. The Geminid meteor shower is active until about December 17th with the peak being on the 14th. This meteor shower is centered in the constellation Gemini and at its peak can produce 150 meteors per hour. It just so happens that Jupiter is in Gemini currently and is second only to the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. So, if you can see Jupiter, you are looking at the right place to see shooting stars.
#2: Now that the dark and cold keeps us indoors, use the time at home to try cooking some new dishes. Cooking can be a very mindful activity that helps to relax us after a busy day. Years ago, Kris and I developed a brownie recipe that we regularly use. It is special to us since it is a tradition in our family and always brings a smile when we make it.
Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Brownies
Combine the following into a medium bowl:
1 cup of flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup baking cocoa
1 ½ cup of sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
Add:
½ cup hot water
½ cup melted margarine/butter
¾ teaspoon vanilla
1 egg slightly beaten
Mix well
Pour into a greased 9X13 pan
Bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes
#3: Build a fire inside or outside and spend time just watching the flames. This can be a mesmerizing experience which should not be surprising since fire was the only nighttime entertainment for much of human history. Take caution since it is so relaxing to watch a fire, you may fall asleep and miss most of it. Fire, unlike screens, does not produce the type of blue light that makes your mind become active and keep you up at night.
#4: Once a week have a “Lights Out Night” when you have only candles or low lights for illumination. Also, disconnect from devices for the evening. You may find that you sleep better these nights with the lack screen light and media produced anxiety.
#5: Learn a new craft. Making or growing things also is meditative way to spend your time. There is a special pride that comes from making things with your hands. Years ago, we made Christmas gifts of the above brownie recipe and ingredients. It took a lot of time to layer these into a quart mason jar and was at times frustrating. However, when all was done, I took pride in what we created.
#6: Read a book. There is a body of research that explains the benefit of reading printed books. It is relaxing when you do this, but again just like with watching a fire, beware the over relaxing effects of this activity!