There Goes The Sun (and It'll Be Alright)

A few tips for surviving the colder months when SAD creeps up

In the weeks leading up to the winter solstice — marked Dec. 21 this year — I find my trusty SAD lamp reaches BFF status. If this were 2006, that little lightbox would reign supreme in my MySpace Top 8 for the foreseeable future. The decreasing hours of sunlight really take a toll, and while I crave the cozy comfort of winter, I can’t deny that I’m dreaming of longer sunny days.

The winter solstice marks the deepest part of our short daylight hours in North America, holding space for the longest night of the year. We’re left to peer out into the darkness at its most extreme grip on our days, waiting for the sun to claw back possession of our time as we eek toward the summer solstice in June.

Despite how gloomy it may feel, there’s something uniquely beautiful about this time of year. Solstices remind me there’s a time for work and play, rest and calm. I think it’s worth recognizing and honoring that balance of nature. Here’s a few ideas of how you can salute the day, even if you too are taking a daily vitamin D supplement and spending 15 minutes each morning in front of a glowing box.

🚶🏽‍♀️‍➡️Take a nature walk. It’s easy to hide away indoors this time of year — I personally love to rot on the couch under a blanket from December through March, rewatching Outlander and knitting mittens. However, exploring the woods this time of year offers a glimpse at nature in its most dormant state. Wooded areas often feel more delicate and quiet; without leaves on the trees to block sight and sound, you can see farther and hear the softer skitters masked in the bustling seasons.

🕯️Light a candle. If you, too, have uttered “It’s getting dark so early now,” the only solution is to give yourself a little more light. Simply lighting a candle at dusk on the solstice, as the longest night of the year begins, serves as a small reminder that brighter days are ahead.

🌅 Watch the sunrise at Stonehenge. You don’t need to book a red-eye flight to get a view of the sun slowly glowing over those famous stones. British history non-profit English Heritage livestreams each solstice sunrise at Stonehenge. Another option: brew yourself an early cup of coffee and watch the view from your own balcony or backyard.

💤 Commit to a little rest. Seriously. Last year’s algorithms were encouraging me to undertake a “winter arc” and while it sounds tempting, I want to advocate for the opposite: it’s time to pause. The idea that we must constantly be moving, growing, working towards a prescribed set of goals invalidates the very real need our bodies have for rest. The solstice is a natural reminder that all things in life require give and take — and in this season where nature has slipped into a long slumber, it doesn’t hurt to add sleep and softness to the top of your winter season to-do list. Stop scrolling and go to bed on time, y’all.

Art notes: The feature image “Sunset over West Lake (‘Le Grand Lac’) in Hanoi, Tonkin, Indochina” is part of the Albert Kahn collection, dated to 1915.