How to Live Seasonally - Even When You Hate Winter
I’m a true summer baby. I was born in August and love nothing better than long hot summer’s days. I could quite happily live in a country (or a small island in the Mediterranean) where it’s warm and sunny most of the year. I love wearing light and loose summer clothes, spending as much time as possible outdoors and enjoying wild swims on hot days. Writing this, I’m feeling nostalgic for the warm, dry springs we’ve enjoyed in recent years. I’m struggling with the wet and cold weather we’re currently experiencing. Everything seems to be growing slower than usual and I’m still bundling up in winter clothes. I can’t help but look back over photos of this time last year, when I was frolicking outdoors in summer dresses, our garden was in full bloom and I was swimming in our local dam.
I often talk about living more seasonally, and embracing the small joys of each season rather than constantly looking forward to your favourite time of year. I hate being cold and honestly, I really hate winter and can’t wait for summer every year. This may come as a surprise if you scroll through my Instagram and see all my snow-filled photos from the beginning of the year - but I try to lean into enjoying the parts of each season that I can get some joy out of, in an attempt to live more seasonally. I mourn the end of summer, but rejoice at watching the trees turn red in autumn, and as soon as Christmas is out of the way I am making plans for late spring but throw myself into enjoying the snow with the enthusiasm of a small child.
To live seasonally, you need to live in the now. Yes, you can still look forward to your favourite season and make plans, but don’t spend your whole life looking to the future. Slow down and appreciate all the small joys in everyday life. That could mean growing snowdrops in your garden to welcome the first signs of spring, or heading out with a sledge to throw yourself into the snow. If, like me, you struggle to find the joy in certain seasons, sit yourself down with a pen and paper and write down a list of what you love about every season. Think beyond the weather - consider moments when you have felt happy, events you look forward to, seasonal food you enjoy eating and the nature that surrounds you.
Here’s a short version of my seasonal lists of joy:
WINTER
Wrapping up warm and walking in deep snow drifts in the hills
Lighting a fire and getting cosy with a blanket and a book
Cooking hearty stews and curries that taste better eaten on chilly nights
Burning candles in the evening
Pine trees covered in snow
SPRING
Growing flowers and vegetables from seeds on my window sill
The first day that it feels warm enough to swim outdoors
Spending time in the garden, planting and prepping
Blossom, rhododendrons and camellia bushes in full bloom
Watching lambs frolic on the fields above my house
SUMMER
Wild swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea
Watching our garden burst into bloom
Camping weekends by the sea
Eating outdoors everyday
Lounging on my hammock with a book
AUTUMN
Walking through the woods as the leaves change colour
Wrapping up in warm knitwear
The smell of wood smoke in the evenings
Huddling around a bonfire
Fresh apples from our neighbour’s tree
One of my favourite books is A Wilder Life, a season-by-season guide to getting in touch with nature by Celestine Maddy. This beautifully presented seasonal living bible is split into four chapters, one for each season. I love to read the relevant chapter as a new season approaches, getting myself excited for the upcoming months. Each chapter is split into Growing, Cooking, Home & Self-Reliance, Beauty & Healing and Wilderness - all full of inspiration for seasonal activities and imagery that gets you excited about the season ahead. This book was a game-changer for me when it comes to living more in tune with the seasons. If I’m feeling uninspired or frustrated with the time of the year, I read a few relevant pages to give myself a little seasonal boost. The book is based around the seasons in North America, but I find most of it to still be relevant in the UK.
Another way that I try to live seasonally is with my travels, although I often feel conflicted by this. Most of the time I like to visit places that are experiencing the same season as where I live - I love visiting the Nordic countries in Autumn and Winter, for example, and I will usually take holidays to hot, sunny destinations between June and September. For me, I enjoy keeping my travels synced up with the seasons as it gives me the opportunity to seek out the places where I can experience that season at its best. It rarely snows here in winter (this year was a welcomed anomaly) so I enjoy visiting places like Norway and Finland for a true winter experience. I do feel quite conflicted with travelling seasonally though. Honestly, I’d never turn down the chance for a holiday in the sun, at any time of year!
As you learn to take pleasure in the nuances of each season, more small seasonal joys will open up to you. Take gardening for example. I first got into sowing my own seeds a couple of years ago with growing vegetables, and this year I am focusing on growing my own flowers from seed. At first, I saw this as a spring activity where I would reap the rewards in summer - but some of the plants that I grow flower or fruit into autumn and winter. This year I’m planning on taking this one step further and planting seeds and bulbs throughout the year, to ensure that I always have something growing and something to look forward to the leaves unfurling and buds appearing.
To live seasonally, you can still have your favourite season that you anticipate its arrival, but you will only truly be content if you can find beauty and joy all year round.