6 Ways to Celebrate Yule as an Introvert
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As we approach the Winter Solstice, Yule and Christmas, I thought I’d share some easy celebration ideas for introverts. Because even though I love this time of year, as I get older I am also kind of over it. It’s no secret that the holidays can feel really lonely for many people, while others (like me) just feel general overwhelm by everything we are supposed to be doing. So here are six ways I celebrate the season that bring me joy, without the added helping of stress and burnout.
Refresh My Space
I feel like this is my go-to advice for any time of the year. But I stand by it. Cleaning your space and giving it a mini-makeover can help signal positive changes and a shift in energy. If you are like me and the thought of doing a deep clean right now is totally overwhelming, focus on tidying up the space you will be in the most during the holiday season. For me this is my kitchen and my living room. I gave each room a decent clean i.e: I vacuumed, did a quick declutter and cleaned out the refrigerator. That’s it. No baseboards were cleaned, no floors were mopped, no windows were washed. Then I set out some holiday decorations on a few shelves, strung some lights and put up our Christmas tree. I didn’t worry about any other parts of the house. Some years I do go all out and decorate the whole house, but if I am not feeling it, I don’t force myself. Keeping it super simple allows me to enjoy the process without it feeling like a chore.
2. Journal on Reflections and Hopes
Journaling is another go-to advice that works any time of the year. Yule and the Winter Solstice signal the turn of the Wheel of the Year toward springtime and is a good time to both reflect and look forward. I like to make myself a cup of hot black tea and get cozy in my favorite chair and just write whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I will start with a theme, like what I want to do or be in the coming year. But I always keep it loose. To make this feel extra special, I use these pretty journals all year long.
3. Create Gifts for Loved Ones
I am not really an arts and crafts kind of person, but I do enjoy making small batches of gifts during the holidays. I always try to keep my gift ideas simple to make. In the past I’ve made homemade soaps, candles, candies, air-dry clay ornaments and jarred baking mixes. I will set aside an afternoon and work on gifts while re-watching a favorite holiday movie (this year it is The Family Stone). If making gifts feels like too much, consider mailing out a handwritten letter in a holiday card to your closest friends and family. I love getting notes from my friends and family and enjoy displaying the cards during the holiday season.
4. Get Outside
Another simple way I celebrate Yule is to take a walk in nature. The winter woods next to my house are quiet and beautiful this time of year. If you don’t have access to groomed winter trails, just walking through a downtown area or city park decorated for the holiday season can be a nice break in the day. Cold fresh air always makes me feel better.
5. Enjoy Some Seasonal Treats
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the food, especially the treats you really only have during this time of year. I keep a small container of eggnog and chocolate candies on hand, for a festive treat after dinner during the work week. I also keep a stash of ribbon candy in my kitchen. Literally no one else eats this but me. It reminds of my grandparents house, which is one of my favorite memories.
6. Give Yourself Something You Would Have Loved as a Child
This is something I’ve only recently started doing, in part because I finally have the budget to treat myself. As someone who grew up with a lot of trauma, I tend to ignore my own needs and put others first. So this year I am going to give myself specific gifts that are just for fun and enjoyment and allow me to explore a new side to my creativity. What would your inner child enjoy this year?
The holiday season can be a bit of mixed bag for many people. The pressure to do.all.the.things can really dampen the holiday spirit. So, whether you are celebrating solo or with others, I hope that you have a wonderful Yule and are able to take some time for yourself.
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Returning to the Mat
A few weeks ago I shared on Instagram that I’ve picked up my yoga practice, after a several year hiatus. I’ve done yoga off and on for nearly a decade, but it’s been four years or so since I really practiced regularly. So for the past two weeks I’ve committed to doing a Yoga With Adrienne video after work.
The first practice back on the mat was hard. I wanted to cry because I felt so weak and heavy at the same time. But by the end of the practice my mind felt clearer, like someone came in and cleaned out the cobwebs. All the problems I had brought with me to the mat felt lighter and more manageable.
Yoga is magical like that.
As I like to keep things real around here, I feel compelled to share that I am not a yogi. I have never enjoyed exercise, formal or otherwise. As a kid, I would be the first one to tap out during a game of tag at recess. I only started exercising as an adult because I wanted to lose weight (thank you diet culture). Physical activity was just another chore on my to-do list. Something to be checked off and never truly enjoyed.
Even though regular exercise had a profound effect on my mental health, I would get frustrated when the scale didn’t budge. That frustration would turn to anger and then sadness and any exercise routine would fade away. Until l I started another diet / lifestyle change / wellness journey. And the cycle would start all over again. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
I walked away from diet culture in 2020, with the help of this book on Intuitive Eating. Anyone who has actively rejected western diet culture knows that changing the way you view your body, food and your overall place in society takes time. And so I am still very much in the process of untangling the benefits of exercise for my well being from the need to look a certain way in order to be more acceptable.
In short, for the past couple of years whenever I’d start trying exercise regularly, my lizard brain would be like “She’s Going on A Diet! Cue the binge eating/ self loathing cycle!”
After some big ups and downs, I have finally (I think) landed in a place of peace with exercise and physical activity. I do yoga, talk walks, and occasionally go hiking, because it makes me feel good. After being mostly sedentary during the pandemic, I realized how much better I feel when I get a daily dose of exercise, even if it is just a quick lunch time walk around my office parking lot.
My decision to pick up my yoga practice more formally now was driven 100% by a desire to improve my mental and physical health. I think this is just yet another benefit of moving from Maiden to Mother to Crone. I recognize the beauty and strength of who I am right now, rather than pining for some future version of myself. And for me, returning to the mat is one way I can honor my body and my spirit.
How do you like to take care of yourself?
Hey friends - just a reminder, I am not a licensed clinical anything and I’m just an awesome middle aged mom sharing my own personal story. None of this should be taken as medical advice or suggestions. If you struggle with health issues or are seeking medical advice, please talk with your licensed medical provider.
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Mabon House - A Year in Review
While the Wheel of the Year is just getting started, it’s hard to believe that it is already the end of 2022. When I think about where I was at this time last year, I can’t believe all the progress I’ve made - both personally and here at Mabon House. As some longtime readers may recall, 2021 was a bit of a hot mess. I’d write a random blog post or newsletter and then lay dormant for weeks on end. Feeling burnt out and exhausted, I almost closed Mabon House permanently last December. Can you imagine?
As I sat in my living room trying to decide what to do, I ended up writing this letter to the community. In it I was radically honest about my struggles for the first time. I shared how I loved writing and creating for Mabon House, but struggled to balance it with the rest of my life and responsibilities. I also had a good degree of imposter syndrome. And while I didn’t want to quit writing, I knew something had to change.
I will never forget hitting send on that letter. I had no idea if anyone would even care what I had to say. So, imagine my utter shock and genuine happiness when so many folks wrote right back to me - with empathy, humor, and understanding. And for the first time I realized that I had, quite on accident, created this amazing community of like-minded souls.
So from that point on I made a deal with myself that I would write to you all every week, even if I felt like I had nothing special to share. Because I realized that just showing up was enough for many folks.
And I am pleased to share that I’ve sent a Mabon House Letter every week this year - 48 letters so far. While 2022 has definitely had its moments, writing for this community is one the highlights of my year. And connecting with so many of you on Instagram has been an added bonus! I am excited to see what 2023 brings all of us!
So if you are new here, welcome. And if you’ve been here from the beginning, Thank You for sticking with me!