Winter Blues
Seeking out nature’s wonders can help brighten winter’s dark days and moods. Find clarity and comfort, and uplift your mind, body and soul with time spent outside, even when it’s cold and overcast.
Wintry days can take a toll on mental and emotional health, leaving us feeling like we’re in a funk, moody and fatigued. For some of us, the season can also trigger something beyond the common winter blues – seasonal affective disorder or SAD, a more severe form of the blues linked to less sunlight received by the brain through the eyes and chemical imbalances as the seasons get darker.
Self-care strategies can be effective in lessening the blues and maintaining good mental health. Turn to nature to soak up some of that feel-good light and boost your spirits and well-being:
Nature heals
Nature soothes
Nature restores
Nature connects
The best antidote to the seasonal blues is bundling up and getting out in nature. Connecting to the outdoors generates so many positive benefits, including calmness, joy and improved mental health and immune system.
Come be nurtured by nature to reduce stress and overwhelm. Warm up to our wintry surroundings and be embraced by Ste. Anne’s beauty and serenity with a tranquil countryside spa escape. Find solace and healing as you explore our breathtaking property, a veritable winter wonderland like no other. A simple, gentle winter walk on our woodland trails can light up your life and let the sun shine in.
Like everything else on this planet, we need light to live. It’s a form of nourishment, and even when the day is overcast, there is enough light filtering through to benefit us. So whatever the weather, seek green space – in this case, snowy white space – and connect with nature. Its restorative magic will chase away the gloominess and rejuvenate the heart and soul.
Spending time outside on purpose, not just when we leave for work in the dark and return again in the dark, and done with gratitude, provides a way back to self and to inner peace. Make time to mingle with the everchanging elements and behold the wonders – join hands with winter’s chilly grip and be present and purposeful in embracing the crisp snow, fresh air and soothing skies.
No need to spend hours; there are big benefits to even a short, micro stroll. One study shows that people who spent 15 minutes outdoors report 60% more positive emotions than those who stayed inside.
Step away from stress. Shut down the screens. Inhale peace. Exhale the tension and worries. Let off steam in our outdoor sauna – regular saunas for 10-20 minutes, three times a week during the winter months, can boost immunity, improve cardiovascular health and reduce congestion.
Find renewal as you circuit through our Meditative and Therapeutic Hydrotherapy Pools – soak in the healing forces of mother nature’s water therapy as snowflakes gently fall around you. Feel the happy hormones increase and enhanced clarity and calmness wash over you. Your body will appreciate the improved cardiovascular circulation and immunity boost.
Find pure calm just sitting outside by our outdoor fire circle, wrapped up in blankets and sipping on a mug of hot, organic tea. Listen to nature’s soothing solitude and embrace a sense of grounding in a space that is safe to let emotions flow freely. Leave your worries in the embers.
Rest and retreat, nature and light, are the perfect RX for gloomier moods. Release endorphins with gentle movement, restful sleep in one of our cozy cottages, and delicious dining on natural foods packed with vitamins, minerals and protein. Bring a friend or family member to make beautiful memories to sustain you.
Winter is part of the cycle of life – one that invites slowing down, relaxing and repairing, and celebrating life’s gifts. Feel Ste. Anne’s gentle embrace as you walk nature’s path on your healing journey.
