I’m a “fair-weather kind of girl” that loves the outdoors. Hot summer days hanging out on patios chilling with friends or going for family picknicks throwing around a frisbee and playing Bocce Ball. I love camping, going to the cottage, swimming and having long walks on the beach, hiking, golfing, cycling, pickleball and basically every outdoor sport. All things that are wrapped around the warmer months. And when my garden has been tidied up and the outdoor furniture is tucked away until spring, I find myself indoors with little to do.

And there’s a reason for that. 

I have Raynaud’s Disease. It’s a medical condition in which the spasm of small arteries causes episodes of reduced blood flow to the arterioles. These episodes typically result, in my case, fingers, toes, ears, nose and lips to turn blue and then white causing pain and numbness to these areas for several hours. In short, I look and feel like a Smurf and a corpse at the same time! 

And so, living in Canada, starting in November, always seems to me as a month in limbo where I brace myself for what’s ahead. It’s the time of year where all the spectacular colors of fall have faded to grey, daylight hours are squeezed into a small window, and the chill of the pending winter months have slowly crept in. The Fall Fairs have all come to an end and no family holiday to plan and look forward to celebrating.

It’s my month to Feed My Soul so I don’t fall victim to the winter blues or as some would like to label it as SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

Now, I’m not the type of gal that likes to slap labels on everything, but I do find that there is an overall shift I experience in the month of November. But with that shift, I discovered, comes opportunity, the opportunity to reflect on life and embrace the season with a positive attitude, a toque, mittens, scarf and puffer coat. Seriously.

To start I focus on my Emotional Hygiene. It’s like my physical well-being, however unlike focusing on being active through sports, working out, and going for walks etc., I focus on a kind of mental gymnastics of wellness. The idea here is on how I keep in-check with where I’m at, mentally and emotionally, to prevent a ride down a slippery slope that can lead to anxiety, depression, and a negative mindset.

I find journalling a great way to start. Here I can focus on things like gratitude, daily habits, loving self, compassion, dealing with emotional pain and how to stay clear of rumination. You’ve heard the term “You Are What You Eat” when it comes to nutrition, “You are what you think” runs true when it comes to your mental health.

Try this one out! Look into the mirror and tell that beautiful human looking back at you that you love them. It’s probably the hardest and quite frankly the strangest thing I have ever done but after a while it becomes fun, and you might even find yourself laughing and dancing at the same time!

Next, “Detox from Technology.” That’s a hard one at the best of times seeing we are attached to our phones, working on our computers and watching our favorite series on TV. And yet, the season that lies ahead with daylight-saving hours being long (and dark), you don’t want to look and feel like a passenger on “WALL-E” when spring arrives.

To start, I make a list of things I have neglected to do indoors over the warmer months such as decluttering my house, painting rooms and re-arranging my furniture for a fresh new look. Then comes the list of new things I’d like to try that spark my curiosity and creative outlet, such as trying my hand at photography, getting out the keyboard and learning how to play piano, and cracking open my sewing machine to make new and exciting things. No, these are not monumental lists of tasks I need to accomplish, but rather, something to start and keep me occupied instead of hanging out on technology for hours and not achieving anything. It works for me! And I sure hope it works for you too when you need it.

Feed your soul, fuel your fire.