THE UNSEEN’s December Column on How to Get Through that Winter Tiredness
Dear reader,
in the darker months of the year, many of us struggle with winter tiredness. It feels like our bodies want to go into hibernation and an overall fatigue seems to follow us everywhere. This can come from a vitamin D deficiency, so the first thing to do to get through the winter is to take your supplements. Secondly, don’t try to fight the tiredness. Take that nap! Read that book that‘s been on your TBR for months. Really lean into slowing down everything. Here are my ways to celebrate the slowness and sleepiness in the darker months, apart from spending a ton of money on an overpriced mulled wine and rushing to get all my shopping done before the holidays.
Lighting a fire can help bring back some warmth into our spaces. Maybe you have a fireplace, maybe you just like lighting a lot of candles. Fire brings some light back into our lives during those short and dark days that can sometimes feel as if we don't get any daylight at all.
But the light we do get can be rather spectacular. Winter can bring some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. During the lighter months of the year, I wouldn’t usually get up at 5:00 am to see the sunrise. But 8:00 am? That feels doable. I also like to enjoy the lights that a lot of people put up in December for their Christmas decorations. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, they’re still nice to look at. It’s the perfect opportunity to go for a walk through our neighborhoods. Enjoying the slow moments still means taking care of - and moving our bodies.
Building a shower or bath routine can also be part of self-care and can help with our mood and also with warming up from the cold outside. I love to take bubble baths, but if you don't have a tub, a nice warm shower can feel like being engulfed by a hug.
On the topic of hugs – a cup of tea feels like a warm hug to me, personally. I love a sleepy-time tea; it’s my favorite part of the day to make myself a cup and unwind on the couch. What really brought my tea game to the next level is my self-made lavender syrup. Lavender can also help with relaxing and getting better sleep through compounds like linalool. Lavender also interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA, which can help quiet down our nervous system after a stressful and sometimes agitating family gathering. So the syrup can be the perfect addition to our nighttime routine.
Another way of calming down and slowing down can be to meditate. For me, reading is a form of meditation; for you, it can be listening to that new album that your favorite artist dropped. Reading, for me, means drowning out the loudness of the outside world and giving me space to breathe. Try to focus on just the one thing, either reading or listening, and let's not do a million things at once.
We can also use our slow evenings to think about what we want to achieve in the year ahead. Maybe you want to do a little end-of-year ritual. I personally like to do the 12-night ritual. Before Christmas, I write down 13 wishes I have for the universe on a piece of paper. This is also a time to reflect on ourselves and what we want to change. Starting on the 25th of December, I burn one of the wishes each day without looking at them. These are the wishes I give into the hands of the universe. The last wish is the one that I have to work towards. Important to note is that this is not the time to perform. You can clean your room with smoke each night, or you can go outside to burn your wishes. Everything is up to you; there is no right or wrong. Do whatever feels right to you.
You might want to create a 2026 vision board. I personally like to look for pretty pictures on Pinterest that fit my goals or the overall vibe I want and then build a collage in Canva. Focusing on what's ahead can also help with reflecting on the year that's passed. Think with intention and care and unwind your mind.
WRITTEN BY
Philine
I love expressing myself through writing. But also through fashion and art. My body is a museum for all the cool tattoo artists I've come across. As a booklover and helpless (hopeful) romantic I love to indulge in the sweeter stories of life. Writing is my way of empowering women and fighting the patriarchy. I also want to bring the joy and community of female friendships to everyone through my texts. Your online bestie if you will, that shares the best books, crafts and maybe a recipe from time to time.
