Life re-set for heavy winter
We have recently experienced the coldest day of the month of July after so many years.
Up here in the foothills of the mountain, winter doesn’t just arrive; it settles into the bones of the earth. Down in the suburbs, the cold is a passing conversation, a light jacket thrown on for a morning run. But here, it is an environment. A living, breathing shift in reality.
Right now, I am standing by the tall glass door, the warmth of my ceramic coffee mug pressing into my palms. Outside, the weather is a chaotic symphony. The storm moves through the Oaktrees with a loud noise and wild energy, shaking the branches and painting the sky in dramatic shades of charcoal and purple. It is magnetic, unpredictable, and extreamly beautiful.
Because we are cradled by the peaks, our days are cut short. The sun dips behind the rangers far earlier than it does for the rest of the world below, plunging us into an early, velvety darkness. The afternoons are brief, precious, and quiet.
But there is a profound medicine in this darkness.
When the world outside becomes so gloomy, and stormy , the world inside makes me slow down more to the simple quiet .
This mountain winter is a reminder to reset. It demands that I slow my pace to match the shorter days. It whispers that it is okay to rest, to retreat, and to simply "be". The storm outside makes the sanctuary inside feel all the more sacred.
And as I watch the wind whip through the mist, I am reminded of the beautiful, cyclical promise of this earth. Winter is never a permanent sentence; it is a preparation. In the quiet, dark depths of these months, the ground is resting, dreaming, and getting ready. Because no matter how bitter the freeze or how short the days, winter always, inevitably, promises Spring.
My favourite Winter Re-set for extreme colder months;
To truly reset in these colder months isn’t about hibernating until September; it is about actively leaning into the shift. It’s a conscious choice to match the rhythm of the mountain. Here is how I am rewriting my days to find alignment in the freeze:
1. Embracing the Dark Mornings
There is a distinct stillness just before dawn, up here. Waking up early despite the heavy darkness and the biting chill takes a bit of resolve, but the reward is entirely spiritual. I step out for just a moment, pulling the crisp, icy breeze deep into my lungs. It is an instant treatment of clarity. The freezing air feels clean, sharp, and remarkably alive—a sensory reminder that I, too, am awake and ready for whatever the day holds, even before the sun reaches the Valley.
2. The Wisdom of Leafless Branches
When the mist clears slightly, I wrap myself in heavy layers and step out into the elements. Walking through the mountain trails right now is a lesson in surrender.
The trees stand bare, their leafless branches exhibit sharply against the grey sky. They aren’t mourning what they lost; they are resting. Seeing them like this reminds me of the beauty of letting go. Shedding the excess, going back to the essentials, and trusting that the bare seasons are just as necessary for growth as the blooming ones.
3. Trading Blue Light for Bright Ideas
Winter has a way of trapping us behind screens if we let it, so I’ve been intentionally dialing back the digital noise. Instead, I’m pouring that energy into getting creative.
There is real science behind it, too—stepping away from the scroll and working with my hands actually sparks new neural pathways, fires up brain function, and releases a much-needed hit of dopamine. Whether it's writing, sketching, or bringing a new project to life, giving that vibrant creativity into these gloomy days adds color to my world exactly when the landscape lacks it.
4. Nourishment and the Comfort of Routine
A winter reset requires a different kind of fuel. It’s the season for slow-cooked, warm, healthy meals that nourish from the inside out. But part of that nourishment is also about holding onto the simple joys that lift the mood.
Sometimes, a reset means leaving the mountain fog for a brief moment to seek out familiar comforts.
On a recent trip down into the city, we made sure to stop by our usual little Turkish cafe tucked into the corner. Holding a warm cup in a bustling, familiar space, tasting those rich, comforting flavors—it’s a beautiful contrast to the solitude of the mundane life. It reminded me that joy doesn't have to be grand. A warm meal, a favorite corner, a momentary escape—these are the anchors that keep my spirits high.
Final thoughts:
This is the art of the colder months. It’s a delicate balance of stepping out into the wild chill and retreating into cozy sanctuaries. By slowing down, creating with our hands, and savoring the simplest of pleasures, winter ceases to be something we just endure—it becomes a season we truly live.
A Final Note of more Support for you to achieve the content mindset:
The winter months teach us that darkness is a natural part of the cycle—but you don’t have to navigate the heavy seasons of your life alone.
If you are finding it difficult to lift your mood as the days grow shorter, or if you are carrying a heaviness that feels harder to shake, I want to share something deeply personal and practical with you.
I’ve poured my heart, lived experience, and intentional strategies into creating an online therapy session for your mind: "I Wish I Knew This Earlier."
I Wish I Knew This Earlier
A carefully crafted course for navigating low mood and depression.
When you are in the thick of a heavy season in your life, the road back to yourself can feel entirely hidden. This course is the gentle, step-by-step roadmap I wish had been handed to me. It is designed to help you understand your emotional terrain, implement gentle daily resets, and find your way back to a place of warmth and light—even on the hardest days.
Click here to learn more and begin your journey toward brighter days.
No matter how long the night feels, remember: winter always, inevitably, promises the Spring. Take care of yourself today. ❤️❤️
As always, I'd love to read your comments here. Share your practice, your life and your thoughts about the blog with me, as you were my friend or my sister.
With loads of love,
Iresha Kariyawasam
beautiful thoughts Akki ♥️🥰. ATM am experiencing summer however I’ll practice all the steps when it comes to winter ❄️