Winter Is A Launch Point For Your Year

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” — John Steinbeck

The holidays are over and it can feel like a dark vacuum just sucked all the fun out, only to leave us with bitter cold and (literally) dark days. We refer to this effect as the “holiday hangover”. This makes it all too easy to look back and miss all the fun from the holidays instead of looking forward to what’s next. Not an ideal way to start any year. Consider winter as a launch point for the year and focus on the forward.

We have mentioned before that winter isn’t our favorite season. So we look to the winter and happiness experts in Scandinavia. Unsurprisingly and continuing their multi year streak, the Nordic countries fill up spots one through four on the yearly happiness report1. It’s hard to argue with an approach which has kept them top ranked year over year. We have tried their tactics and admit that hygge is a (not so) secret weapon2. Yet, this mentality is not about hiding under your blanket on the couch. Quite the opposite, it emphasizes earning the cozy end of day break. Staying active, both physically and mentally, is the best way to start off the year3. Basically, the heart of winter is used as a time to recharge and accelerate.

Earning rest is the best way to improve the feeling of down time. Much like fasting makes the following meal taste like the best meal you have ever eaten. Getting out and being active in the snow makes coming home to a warm fire all the better. Pushing yourself to start that project you have been putting off allows you to guiltlessly watch your evening show on the couch. Not feeling motivated to get out? Then take the natural occurring hibernation to review your strategy for the year and reflect on what you can improve. The idea is to start your goals here and now. Lean into the season’s changes to recharge and relaunch into a successful year ahead.

Action: Do something each day which let’s you earn the downtime at night.

Further Reading:

  1. World Happiness Report 2024
  2. I Practiced Hygge and It’s Kind of the Best Thing Ever
  3. Why are Scandinavians so happy?

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