The Perfect Slow Living Winter Afternoon || How To Make The Most Out Of A Day At Home
A slow living winter afternoon can be very good for your overall well-being. It really chases away the discontentment that can come with colder weather.
Instead of allowing yourself to fall into a pattern of simply waiting for the winter months to pass, embrace them by taking advantage of the opportunity they provide to slow down.
I want to share a glimpse of the way I like to spend these days with you, in the hopes that it encourages you to live fully this winter season as well.
I spent most of my life struggling with mild seasonal depression, and I am happy to say that learning to glean the gifts that the winter season has to offer has freed me from that burden.
This is a time to enjoy the lack of sunlight and warmth, rather than fight it. This season allows us to cozy in, and engage in the things that are harder to fit in our schedules at other times of the year.
Make Bread Dough To Bake Later In The Day
After the morning has passed, and I’m ready to take full advantage of a slow living winter afternoon, I like to get a batch of dough rising to make homemade bread for later in the day.
There is definitely a simple pleasure that can be found in a slice of fresh, homemade bread with dinner on a cold day.
And it takes so little time to make, it seems silly not to do it. Besides, it’s nice to have the oven on. It makes the kitchen toasty warm on a winter’s day.
It will take about 2 hours for the dough to rise before I can put it in the oven. Just enough time for me to bundle up and get outside for an invigorating afternoon walk.
Get Out And Breathe In The Winter Air
I’ve never been the type of person who finds pleasure in keeping an exercise routine. There have been many times in my life when I have tried to commit to different forms of working out, both at home and at gyms. It just doesn’t seem to line up with who I am.
I have learned to embrace the fact that a simple walk, most days of the week, combined with a basic stretching routine is what really works for me.
As I’ve grown to appreciate how much of a difference it makes in the way I feel, not only physically but mentally and spiritually as well, I find it easy to make this activity part of my normal routine.
There are times in the winter when it is just too nasty to get outdoors and go for a walk. But, whenever it’s possible, I make sure to fit it in.
It’s colder today than it’s been, and the wind is blowing. But, other than that, the weather is decent for walking. So, I’m going to take advantage that despite the temperature.
Cozy Up With A Good Book
It’s pretty inevitable that an outdoor walk on a slow living winter afternoon leaves me feeling a little chilled to the bone. But soon the oven will be on to bake that bread dough, and that will help chase the chill away.
Until then, I’ll make a cup of hot tea and settle in on the couch under a cozy blanket with a good book.
I’d planned to treat myself to an indulgent cup of chai spiced cacao. But, I’ve been filming this afternoon for my youtube channel, and I want to save a few moments of time. So … hot tea it is. Still indulgent!
I find it hard to fit in time to read most of the year. I remember when I used to read a lot. It seemed I always had my nose in a book, and I loved it.
The winter season provides me an opportunity to lose myself in a book the way I used to, and I treasure that time.
Make A Pot Of Soup To Warm Your Bones
A big pot of steamy soup simmering on the stove changes the atmosphere of the whole house. And when it’s time to put the bread in the oven, it’s also the perfect time to get that soup brewing.
Besides, for me, a slow living winter afternoon wouldn’t be complete without a little time spent in the kitchen. And the meditative practice of cleaning and chopping ingredients for soup is just what I need to scratch that itch.
Soup making is a soul feeding activity, that I adore. I even wrote a post on the art of soup making because I want to share my love of it with others.
Today I’m going with a simple old-fashioned classic; chicken noodle soup. I haven’t made a pot of this soup yet this year, and I’m long overdue.
Once it’s on the stove, it will feel good to walk out of the kitchen knowing that dinner for this evening is pretty much complete.
The soup will simmer on low all afternoon. And soon I’ll pull the bread out of the oven, and set it out to cool.
Then this evening there will be a nourishing cooked from scratch meal waiting for me to enjoy.
Get Lost In Your Favorite Hobby
And while I enjoy the tempting aromatics wafting from the kitchen, I’ll spend a little time indulging myself with one of my favorite hobbies; sewing.
I picked up some spring themed material a little while ago to make reusable cloth napkins. I’ve been using too many disposable paper products lately, and I’m looking to change that.
I should be able to get a few sets done before winter is over. And that’s going to feel really good.
Being able to spend some time engaging in hobbies I love is one of the highlights of my slow living winter afternoons. Like reading, my hobbies are something that I don’t always have as much time as I would like to have to enjoy them.
So, when I find a moment or two that allows me to squeeze them in, I try to take full advantage.
Pamper Yourself A Little Before Dinner
My slow living winter afternoon has been full and very satisfying. But, it is coming to a close. I’m going to need to settle in to work on my laptop for the evening very soon.
But, before I do, I want to pamper myself. At least a little bit.
Indulgent self-care is so important, and it’s an activity that can be very hard to find time for.
Yet, a mere 15-20 minutes is all it takes to treat yourself to a little personal care that isn’t a part of your daily routine.
One of my favorite ways to indulge myself is to sit with my feet submerged in a homemade foot soak. It gives me a little more time to stick my nose in that book I talked about earlier too.
An oatmeal face mask is a nice way to go as well. But today, I am going to treat myself to an exfoliating coffee scrub. I had one gifted to me by a friend, and I’ve been dying to try it. It smells divine.
Besides, I’m really looking forward to a long hot shower, some comfy pj’s, a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a slice of homemade bread to close my slow living winter afternoon.
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