Winter has fully arrived. At this time of year, nature all around us slows down, and animals begin their hibernation period. In the past, people would sleep for longer periods of the day with their animals in an attempt to keep warm during the colder months. Scientifically, your muscles move slower in cooler temperatures (based on the principles of thermodynamics, which is the branch of physics dealing with how energy relates to heat, work and temperature) and, according to the Met Office, the end of ‘the growing season’ for lawns is marked by five consecutive days below 5oC. So slowing down, resting and sleeping more in cold temperatures is normal for humans, plants and animals. Yet, in today’s society, we hardly ever slow down at any time of the year and being busy seems to be the default response to “How are you?”
What are the benefits of slowing down, and how can we do it?
Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced stress – Remember a time when you had a huge list of things to do and not enough time to do them? How did you feel? Probably very stressed, with your stomach in knots, your mind racing, and your blood pressure rising. Slowing down and fully relaxing helps to reduce stress, which actually makes it easier to cope when you have several tasks to complete.
- Better health – When you’re constantly in a rush, the impact on physical health can be problematic. Taking time to slow down and relax can ease muscle tension, digestive problems, mental fatigue and sleep issues.
- Better emotional awareness – if you allow yourself to slow down, it can help you become more in tune with your emotions. When you know what you’re feeling, you can begin to identify healthy ways to regulate your emotions.
- Improved creativity – there’s a cliche that we get our best ideas when we’re in the shower. There’s a lot of truth to this, and it’s because we’re not distracted or rushing or multi-tasking. In the shower, we allow our minds to wander, and this can lead to creative connections and new ideas. Slowing down is a great way to let the mind be more creative.
Some ways to slow down:
- Ask the experts – Take a tip from residents of some of the darkest places in winter, such as Svalbard, which is located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. At this time of year, Svalbard is entering the polar night, where the sun sits below the horizon until the end of January. People living in Svalbard and other Arctic Circle locations use this time to get cosy indoors with friends and family. They also make the most of being outside in the fresh air when they can and getting as much exercise as possible.
- Fully relax – This doesn’t mean endless scrolling on social media or binge-watching a box set on TV. These may seem like relaxing activities, but they can be too stimulating and lead to physical issues such as sleep disturbance and headaches. Instead, try more restorative activities such as cooking a meal, reading a book, going to a sound bath, or simply taking a bath at home. Doing yoga, going for a walk, playing with your pet dog, meditating, breathwork, journaling, drawing or painting, or listening to calm music or audiobooks.
There are multiple ways to start to slow down, and it’s a case of experimenting to see which ones work for you. And the next time someone asks how you are, tell them you’re enjoying a very quiet and very slow time.
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