Colder months mean more time spent at home. Add to that a pandemic and well, let’s just say there really is no place like home. We’re well into Autumn and the days are growing shorter. For me, darker days mean more stillness and time for reflection. We live in a world that prioritizes a “go-go-go” attitude despite evidence of the detriment to spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. Under the limitations we’re living in now, maybe it’s time to embrace a different approach to life, one that balances the “go-go-go” with the “rest-rest-rest”.
Preparing for the darker days ahead means carving out time to simply be and rest. I’ve been a little quieter, finding solace in slices of solitude and retreating into my sanctuary. I’m taking extra self-care with my favorite spooky films, dreaming up new offerings, and indulging in seasonal treats. Being naturally introverted makes things easier but even I have my limits. So here are my tips for making the most of staying home and cultivating balance, making it easier to rest:
- Set up a daily, constructive routine. Waking up at the same time every day, usually at sunrise, helps me immensely. Rising with the sun makes the most of the little time left in the day during colder months. Try sticking to a routine for 30 days straight and you’ve got yourself a new habit.
- Designate a spot for yourself-and only you-to practice your favorite rituals or hobbies. Whether it’s the corner of your bedroom for reading or an entire room to practice painting, having a space that’s yours makes you want to show up again and again. This is especially helpful if you’re working from home and are having a hard time separating work from rest.
- Invite the season into your home with decor that inspires you to slow down. Add details that bring much-needed warmth to colder days like candles, flannels, and throw blankets.
- Strive to do something every day that tends to your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs. My go-to’s are yoga, journaling, reading, and meditating. Some days will be easier than others to make this happen. Some days it may not happen at all and that’s ok.
- If you have a pet, set aside together time where you cuddle and play. Giving my cat my undivided attention for at least 30 minutes a day is a lifesaver.
Spending more time at home also means new opportunities to create space for inspiration. You might as well surround yourself with things that represent the energy you desire in your space. Sometimes we need visual cues to remind us of what we’re missing. Something that does just that is "Repose", a drawing of a tired muse who had given her all on a particularly hot day. It was a rest well earned and a reminder to all hard workers: Take a moment for yourself.
So what are your thoughts? Are you finding it more difficult to rest now that you’re home more? Let me know in the comments. Need your own visual cue? Head over to The Art School Collection to purchase your very own "Repose".