A November Reset
In Vermont, November is one of my least favorite months. It can be challenging for many to adjust to the duller, colder weather. Growing up on the farm, I dreaded absolutely dreaded; I tell you! the gloom and doom of November. The doldrums. It’s an awkward period between the vibrant fire of the forest that was the foliage and the arrival of the first real snow. The trees are lackluster, skeletons of their former selves, bracing the blustery wind with the impending snow on the way. Just snow already! I’d say silently to the sky. Anything but freezing rain!
As creatives and photographers, it can be quite the challenge to muster up some creative juice or inspiration when the weather is dull, gray, and frankly energy-sucking. Are you as sensitive to this seasonal change? It’s partly why I moved to Maui…
Caring for our creativity is just as important as caring for our well-being and ourselves in these cozy, gloomier days. As we naturally spend more time inside, sometimes that creative energy and ideas can become emotionally trapped inside with nowhere to go.
We see the same thing day in and day out since we naturally are spending more time indoors.
It’s dark when we wake up and dark when we finish our day or return home.
We don’t get out as much…
We can feel more isolated and alone…
The stress of the approaching holiday season…
All of these can inhibit our creativity and workflow.
A few key things that have helped me “emotionally and creatively” (not exaggerating) survive November are looking outward and inward.
Outward to new goals and plans for the new year.
Revitalizing our dreams and prospective clients.
Spending as much time outdoors as possible, be it a walk or simply taking a blanket outside to sit on the porch with a book.
Take a scenic drive to a new place and create a mini visual story of the journey.
Give ourselves a photography assignment outdoors. It could be capturing your town or neighborhood, visiting a local farm, or anything interesting. It could be indoors as well, but I find fresh, cold air to be invigorating, and even if it’s cloudy, you can still receive some essential Vitamin D. (My free 7 Day Visual Storytelling Mini-Course will help with that!)
Looking at the beauty found in the natural world wherever we are…maybe it’s the ice crystals on the frost or the muted colors of the November sunset sky.
Finding a sunny spot in the house and journaling. Or finding time to pick up that book that’s been on our bedside table.
Pull up a chair or the table to a bright sunny window and tuck into a nourishing and wholesome meal.
Giving ourselves grace on the days when we don’t feel our best or feel simply blah. And most importantly, ask ourselves, what do we need right now?
Marking exciting things in our calendar to look forward to.
Tidying up our desk, creative space, or studio. Decluttering and donating what we no longer need or use.
All of these, in essence, embody a feeling of hope and optimism. About ourselves, where we are going, what we are looking forward to, and giving us the space to feel inspired.
I know how easy it is to unravel into a negative spiral, especially in November. For those of you who also have Seasonal Affective Disorder, I hope these restorative suggestions will help you and your creativity through the gloom.
