The power of rest

Should we follow animals and hibernate in winter? In her best selling book Wintering –the power of rest and retreat in difficult times, author Katherine May says slowing down is ok.

“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter,” she says. “They prepare. They adapt.”

May sees winter as both a season and a time in life when we feel out in the cold. Reflections on her own experiences mingle with an appreciation of nature’s coping strategies.

How to think about rest

• See resting as healing your mind and body

• Think about nature as a reminder that nothing lasts forever, including pain, loss or hardship. By tuning into nature’s rhythms we can navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and patience

• Treat yourself with kindness and give yourself permission to rest.

Five things to do indoors during winter

• Have friends round for a night in

• Watch a favourite film or TV show under a blanket

• Start a book you’ve been meaning to read

• Put soft, clean sheets on the bed and go to bed early

• Put bird feeders outside where you can see from a window.

Wintering - the power of rest and retreat in difficult times is available in bookstores and eBooks.