A Deeper Rest: Dimly Lit Winter
Here in our home, we are weaning off of summer and autumns light and into a darker season. What once were long, busy days with full sun until later into the night is now dark and cozy by early afternoon with a need for a good, deep rest. As we feel this shift happening out of doors, there are a couple of ways I like to mimic the season indoors so that we can move with the seasons as opposed to living against them. I believe this is the way we were meant to live, the way The Lord made for us, to ebb and flow alongside the natural change that each season brings instead of ignoring it or worse, resenting it. After all, winter comes each year with no choice of our own, why not learn to enjoy it?
My convictions came full circle when I learned, on a scientific level, how connected our bodies are to the sunlight which varies depending on the time of year and works in tandem with our circadian rhythm to regulate every system in our bodies. Put simply, our hormones, which tell our body what to do, are activated by light! So, when our eyes register light it sends the message to our body to produce Cortisol, a stress hormone which releases in the morning to wake us up. And when our eyes register darkness, our bodies produce Melatonin as a way to prepare our bodies for rest. This is why you might feel more sluggish on a gloomy day or more motivated on a bright, sunny day. This is also why it is recommended not to look at screens in the hours before bed, as it tells your body to produce more Cortisol to keep you awake when it should be producing Melatonin to get you to sleep. With this in mind, you can see how the early nights of winter prompt us into a deeper and longer rest. And studies actually show that we need more sleep this time of year.
It makes me think of how many lived before us… waking up when the sun rose and going to sleep when the sun set. This all changed in the late 1800’s when the light bulb was invented which made it possible to have a substantial amount of light no matter what time it was. Aside from the dim lighting of candles, lanterns, or firelight it was unheard of to have “lights on” after dark. It’s almost as if this was an intentional design? That what’s most beneficial to our health aligns with the very basic order God created.. what a concept! And although we do not live in the 1800’s anymore, I do believe that we can and should return to the traditions that have always served us. Here is what it looks like for us:
Tips For Deep Evening Rest:
When you begin to notice the sun setting, start by turning off the brighter, overhead lighting in your house. I like to leave on a few lamps with incandescent bulbs for warm lighting as we ease into the night. Sitting outdoors to watch the sunset is also a great way help your body make this transition on a hormonal level. (same benefits apply when watching the sunrise in the morning)
Once the sun is officially set, we have a no-screen rule we like to live by. This includes T.V. screens as well as phone/computer screens. We are not perfect at this and we do enjoy a movie at night here and there, but it certainly isn’t our normal. I am aware that this is a foreign concept to many modern homes as it was to us in the beginning, so my advice is to wean off slowly and find screen-free activities you like. I will say this has probably been the most beneficial practice, especially when it comes to our quality of sleep.
Invest in a bulk-order of candles. We use 100% pure Beeswax Tapers. I love the natural honey scent and air-purifying qualities of beeswax. Buying them in bulk will save you money if you plan to burn them every night like we do! Candles are a great way to add cozy, dim lighting and really creates an atmosphere of peace and comfort in the last hours of the day. A couple hours before bed, I will transition to turning our lamps off and keep only the candles burning.
Take a hot bath or shower! There is just something really comforting about the warmth of the water before bed. For a bath, these are my favorite salts. Magnesium is also an important mineral for good sleep, and most are deficient in this due to the poor quality of our water… but that’s another conversation for another day. If I can soak in magnesium before bed, I know I will go to sleep quickly and stay asleep all night.
Make a hot cup of caffeine-free herbal tea. This is what we usually drink when we get into bed, but find a sleep-tea that works best for you! Something you’ll look forward to drinking each night.
And along with your tea, a good book. These two are just quintessential to a cozy winter evening. At this point in the night, I can’t get very far in any book without dozing off to sleep, but that’s the point!
One of the great privileges of keeping a home, and I believe a special gift that women have, is the ability to create an atmosphere and a “feeling” within four walls for the people that you love. And aside from the more obvious benefits like having a more settled nervous system, well-balanced hormones, falling asleep more easily and sleeping deeply when you do, or waking up early with renewed energy, I hope these tips make your home feel like a safe place to curl up when the cold comes. That is the most important part. It is a ministry. Keep loving your home. Talk soon!