About this episode
This is from an email from Kelly Nolan, the host of the Bright Method Podcast. https://kellynolan.com/podcast If you struggle with that 5pm darkness, I wanted to share some tips from this community on how to make this time of year a bit brighter, pick and choose what sounds great and doable for you! Here are tips from other women: Embrace the cozy! "Fires in the fireplace! We chose our house specifically because it had a wood burning fireplace. It makes everything so cozy, and it also is something we only do when the weather gets cold so it’s something to look forward to in the cold/dark months up here in Alaska." "Cozy things like Hallmark movies, a faux fireplace, and candles when it's dark out" "We received a tea advent calendar last year. It allowed my husband and I to sit each evening and relax together. We started a cool weather tradition with it. So now that it's cooler, each night we make a cup of hot tea and sit and relax. It gives us something look forward to." "Leaning into autumn with hot chocolates" Getting outside: "Early morning walk" "I try to get outside and walk midday! As long as I can in the fall!" "Daily walks! And NOT reaching for cup after cup of coffee even when it’s still pitch black at school drop off " "I got a really really good down coat so that I can get outside as often as I want without discomfort!" Making the dark fun "Make the dark fun. To the extent that it's safe to do so... take walks under the moon, roast marshmallows on your grill, get breakfast for dinner at a diner. We lean into the dark and cold here because the alternative is fighting it and not winning. " "We got our young kids light sabers so we could continue our after dinner neighborhood walks" "On the nights we’re home, really embracing the dark with candles, dimmed lights, etc." And some more tips! "Using my SAD lamp like there’s no tomorrow" "A fall bucket list! Having small things to look forward to as a family is so life giving! And, in a perfect world for me as a south Florida girl who was raised in Colorado, I just get so excited to be able to enjoy the weather outside again" Embracing the season brings hope along with the reminder that the short, dark days of winter don’t last. Find a way to have a few go-to rituals that remind you to celebrate and appreciate today.