Notelets on Nurture #08

A winter playlist + an invitation to embrace recess

Welcome back to Notelets on Nurture.

With the onset of winter, I’m leaning into the cosy nights and twinkly lights and looking forward to Christmas with my now six-month-old, and our first as a family of four.

Last weekend, I was hanging our wooden and paper decorations on the tree with my daughter when I pulled a pink and white striped paper bag from the box. I knew what was inside.

Gift tags with ‘BIG SIS’ in bold cut-out lettering. I ordered them several years ago when I was expecting and hoped to surprise Cora with the news on Christmas morning. But it wasn’t to be. Not that time. Not other times. And I’ve held onto them all these years, often noticing the tiny pastel candy-lined pouch and finding my way around it or sometimes, if I felt brave enough, peeking inside. At that moment, I gently opened the bag, slowly removed the tags and quietly marvelled at them, gliding my thumb over each letter. Isn't it fascinating how something so small and seemingly insignificant can spark so much feeling?

“With the changing of the seasons comes the invitation to welcome new rituals and embrace the yin energy this time of year gifts us.”

—

Nina | Recess Living

I’m also looking forward to that liminal space between Christmas and Hogmanay. And this year, I’m called to put pen to paper and join

Beth Kempton

for her winter writing sanctuary. An invitation to tend to my inner writer. It feels like a time for going inward and giving myself the space to nurture this part of me, and to prepare for Beth’s Book Proposal Masterclass and, later, River of Words. Buoyed by some of the writing opportunities that have come my way recently, I’m energised by the prospect of breathing life back into my book project and growing my platform as a writer.

Speaking of energy, it feels relevant to share a little something I wrote for

Laura Oldfield

—about working in a way that honours our boundaries and supports our energy—as part of 12 days of Advent: a Substack Community Celebration. This seemed to chime with those who read it, especially the idea that “our best work doesn't lie at the crossing of toil and grind; it waits at the junction of calm and pace.”

Inspired by one of my favourite books, ‘Wintering’ by

Katherine May

, I’ve also created a wintery playlist with a folky and friendly feel. A warming backdrop for the colder days.

You can also listen to The Writing Life if you like music without lyrics or want something to support your creative practice.

“Here is another truth about wintering: you’ll find wisdom in your winter, and once it’s over, it’s your responsibility to pass it on. And…it’s our responsibility to listen to those who have wintered before us. It’s an exchange of gifts in which nobody loses out.”

—

Katherine May

For this week’s notelet, the last of the year, I invited the lovely Nina of Creating Recess and Recess Living to share her thoughts on savouring slowness over the festive season.

Savouring slowness
with Nina of Recess Living

Just as we exchange the light linens of summer for winter knits, so may our rituals change so they envelop and snuggle us with care.

With the changing seasons comes the invitation to welcome new rituals and embrace the yin energy this time of year gifts us. Here are five ways to welcome recess during the winter season and create moments of inner and outer warmth.

1. Illuminate your senses
   Create cosy candlelit corners paired with aromatherapy blends. Aromatherapy offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy moments of quiet and space within the busyness. Wind down your evening with blends from The Homework Store or handcrafted small-batch creations from Essence and Alchemy. Research shows that inhaling essential oils with natural plant extracts has a positive impact on your mental and physical wellbeing, and can be used to relieve stress and anxiety.
   

2. Relish sumptuous suppers
   Take pleasure in slow cooking and roasting seasonal delicacies to make nourishing meals. @MainlyBreakfast’s beautifully illustrated ‘Best of the Season’ posts are a great starting point for shopping list inspiration, and Anna Jones’s ‘One Pot, Pan, Planet’ and Ottolenghi’s ‘Flavour’ are wonderful recipe books to devour!
   

3. Savour glowing sunlight
   Enjoy an afternoon break and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Step outside and explore your neighbourhood while marvelling at the breathtaking winter sunsets that paint the sky with vibrant hues of orange and pink. As you walk, notice how the trees glisten in the winter light as we reach the close of the year.
   

4. Cultivate creative space
   Embrace mindfulness through making and harness the power of creative play. Rest, recharge and restore with the 3C’s (cosiness, candlelight and crafting) to make the experience even more enriching. It’s an amazing tool for escapism, exploration, and self-expression, without rules or restrictions. Crafting creates an opportunity to step outside of what you know and find the corners of yourself you are yet to discover.
   

5. Embrace intentional connection
   Let go of the pressure to see your nearest and dearest before Christmas falls. This time of year can create a sense of urgency and obligation to attend every social gathering and event. Why not prioritise your own joy and rest? Take the time to reflect on what truly brings you happiness and be intentional about how you spend your time. Remember, it's okay to say no. The true essence of this time is about the quality of connections you make and the joy and love you experience. Be conscious and choose what truly matters to you.

I hope you enjoy savouring the slow this season. I’d love to know which winter rituals are bringing you joy.

Thanks for this gift, Nina. It was exactly what I needed to read this weekend, and I know it will be a balm for others.

Nina’s work at Recess Living centres on creating mindful moments that allow us to unwind and maintain a sense of wellbeing in our modern lives. Finding recess isn’t about ignoring or resisting the challenges that come up, but integrating wellness practices into all of our spaces and places. This encourages rest as everyday self-care, no matter our mood or mindset.

Follow Nina at

Creating Recess

and tune into her new podcast, Moments of Burn to Bloom.

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