Beyond the Monotony of January

The (not so) hidden gifts of winter

“Wintering brings about some of the most profound and insightful moments of our human experience, and wisdom resides in those who have wintered”

”Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times” by Katherine May

January tends to be a dull month in Alaska—and judging by social media, it’s much the same elsewhere. The festive energy of December comes to an abrupt halt, leaving a void that winter weariness is all too eager to fill. I don’t know about you, but once Christmas is over, I’m ready to fast forward straight to spring

This year, it seems like I might just get my wish… knock on wood.

Apart from a surprise snowstorm in October, snowfall has been sparse. For some, that’s a welcome change after two record-breaking winters that had us shoveling until our arms felt like they were going to fall off. For others, it’s a disappointment—especially the snowmachiners (that’s snowmobilers for you non-Alaskans), snowboarders, snowshoers, and skiers longing for their winter playground.

I have mixed emotions. On one hand, the idea of an easy, early spring is appealing. But on the other, I was really hoping to get in some cross-country skiing this winter. So far, it’s only happened once.

It doesn’t look like I’ll be breaking out my skis anytime soon either. It’s been raining off and on for the past week, and what little snow remains has been packed into a layer of icy concrete. The conditions are not ideal, to put it mildly.

How does one stave off cabin fever without the time tested cocktail of fresh air, exercise, and sunshine?

For me, the answer lies in simple pleasures— the quiet moments of contentment that often get overlooked. Subtle beauty shines in the presence of stillness, silence and most importantly—boredom.

The soft call of an owl in the dead of night.

Running outside when the sun breaks through the gloom and soaking up as much golden, winter light as I can before it disappears again.

Hearty family breakfasts at 1pm, because no one has anywhere to go and we all slept in.

A last minute road trip to the mountain to capitalize on 25 inches of fresh powder predicted to fall overnight.

Arriving to find no new snow, but marveling at the rushing creeks and the green grass where drifts should be.

The quiet simplicity of January birthdays, when everyone is partied out, and cake and companionship feel like more than enough.

I could go on endlessly. When I slow down and truly pay attention, I’m struck by the abundance of these small blessings. It’s humbling to realize they’ve been there all along, quietly waiting to be noticed and appreciated.

What if all we really need to navigate the monotony of winter is a shift in perspective? What if the stillness is an invitation—a chance to look beneath the surface of daily life and discover what quietly endures beneath the noise?

Maybe that’s winter’s gift to us all: the opportunity to slow down, embrace the quietude and see that the stillness is anything but empty.

Yoga for the Winter Blues | Yoga With Adriene

30 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

This is a classic! Adriene published her “Yoga for the Winter Blues” class ten years ago and it has racked up nearly 800,000 views! It’s a good one folks. I remember doing this one a lot when it first came out. It was one of the first videos I ever added to my “favorite yoga classes” playlist.

Qigong Routine For Winter to Warm the Whole Body Up and Heat | Qigong Meditation

12 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

This was such a refreshing experience. I loaded it up on a gray winter day when I hadn’t moved my body nearly enough. I was feeling sad and restless, hoping for something to shake me out of the melancholy, and this was the perfect choice!

Because there are no words, you can really have your own experience. I stumbled through many of the movements, but that made it fun. The challenge of trying something new was uplifting, and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself as I worked through the sequence. I’m really looking forward to revisiting this. It’s such a lovely break from the norm.

10 Minute Guided Mediation for Sadness + Hopelessness | Caren Hope

12 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

Caren suggests practicing this meditation lying down, but I practiced sitting up in the driver’s seat of my truck and It was just fine. Actually, It was more than fine…it was amazing.

I’ll admit, I felt a twinge of disappointment at first when I realized it was a body scan meditation—I was hoping for different from the Nidra I practiced that morning. But that feeling faded as I settled into the practice. It was so relaxing! By the end, I felt a deep sense of inner calm that carried me through the rest of my day.

This is a wonderful resource for a midday reset or anytime you need to find calm and unwind.

Alright friends, I hope these practices serve you well this week. If not, may you discover some simple pleasures to light up the dark January days.

See you next Sunday.