FEELING BLUE THIS WINTER? IT'S ART TO THE RESCUE!
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”
Winter can be such magical time but the shorter daylight hours and lack of sunshine can have a big impact on us emotionally, resulting in low mood, fatigue and lack of motivation. In more serious cases the cold, wet weather and gloominess can bring on severe depression* along with other symptoms including disrupted sleep patterns and difficulty concentrating on simple tasks.
‘A Moment of Wonderment’ (Bespoke commission, sold).
There are lots of things you can do to combat mild cases of the winter blues (such as physical exercise, eating more mindfully and staying connected with friends and family) but in between these activities it is important to create a space where you can feel safe and nurtured and one that also helps to adjust your mindset to one of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’.
Winter is a time for slowing down and allowing ourselves to rest and recharge before Spring and there is a natural tendency to want to withdraw and hibernate during this time. Rather than it being dark and depressing, creating a space that is calm and cosy will allow you to indulge this urge. Comfort is key when it comes to staying emotionally balanced.
It can be tempting to fight the neutrality of winter with bright, cheerful colours but in my experience it’s always better to flow with nature and embrace the change of season rather than resist it. You may find ‘loud’ colour to be somewhat jarring at this time of year when your soul is calling for gentle nourishment. The Scandinavians are the masters of winter living - the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ is the epitome of cosiness. This is a time to switch up your decor and bring in warm, earthy colours, reflective surfaces to bounce light around the room and texture. Lots and lots of texture. Rugs, throws and cushions in faux fur or wool are simple and relatively inexpensive changes to make.
However, to really send the blues packing you need to think holistically. It’s not just by tending to your physical needs that you will stave off the melancholy, the mind and spirit must also be attended to.
Winter is the perfect time for going within, not just literally but metaphorically and one of the best ways to do this is through meditation. Just twenty minutes a day spent in stillness can be enough to have a significant effect on your wellbeing, however there is another way to garner the same benefits without going in to monk-mode: looking at art.
“…a visit to an art gallery can do wonders for your mental health.”
One of the biggest reasons for low mood or severe bouts of depression during the winter months is the reduced hours of sunlight which lowers your serotonin production. Having pieces of art in your home that give you that burst of joy each time you look at them can help to maintain the amount of serotonin your brain releases.
‘Fortitude IV’ (sold).
For a more prolonged experience a visit to an art gallery can do wonders for your mental health. A study in Norway discovered that there is a direct correlation between engaging in both creating or simply viewing art and overall happiness. An astounding 91% of participants reported a high level of life satisfaction.
Far from simply being inanimate decor, art is a useful tool. It is the bridge between stimulation and stillness and the psychological benefits that incorporating it into your daily life can offer will keep your mental health in check. It is a visual medicine that only has positive side-effects!
Here are a few more significant benefits of art that will help to banish the blues:
Stress Reduction
Particularly in the run-up to Christmas, stress levels can reach tipping point. Engaging with art can have a calming effect on the mind and body, helping to keep cortisol levels to a minimum. By immersing yourself in the beauty, colours and textures of artwork, the brain enters a state of relaxation, allowing for a release of tension and an overall sense of well-being.
Emotional Expression
Family gatherings can sometimes mean that emotions run high, or in contrast, the winter can induce feelings of loneliness that bubble under the surface. Art has the power to fully connect you to your mental state and provide an outlet for emotional expression. When you view art that resonates with you, it can tap into your own emotions and help you to understand them better. The process of emotional expression through art can be cathartic, helping to improve mental health and provide a sense of emotional relief.
Empathy and Connection
Christmas especially is a time for giving and sharing but if this seems difficult given current affairs, surrounding yourself with art will help. Art can foster empathy by providing a window into different perspectives and experiences. When you engage with artworks that depict diverse cultures, emotions, or social issues, you gain a deeper understanding of others' experiences, bolstering empathy and compassion. This connection to humanity can enhance our social interactions, relationships, and overall sense of belonging.
Mindfulness and Presence
It is tempting in winter to curl up on the sofa and binge-watch a box set on Netflix or lose hours aimlessly scrolling social media for a hit of dopamine but after the initial high you can soon find yourself either numbing out or being slowly dragged down in to the dark depths of comparisonitis or envy. These low frequency activities will only heighten anxiety and so instead choose to keep the stress levels to a minimum by practicing mindfulness. Viewing art encourages mindful awareness and being present in the moment. When you fully engage with an artwork, you enter a state of focused attention, free from distractions. This practice of mindfulness promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and improves mental clarity. By immersing yourself in the visual details of an artwork, you can cultivate a sense of mindfulness that extends beyond the home, gallery or museum setting.
Winter is nature’s way of getting us to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. So, grab a cuppa, curl up in your favourite chair and immerse yourself in art. It’ll be Spring before you know it!
Kx
*if you are experiencing prolonged periods of extreme sadness seek help from a qualified health professional.
† this article was originally written for Swealthy Magazine