Writing in Winter is the best
As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, we naturally spend more time indoors and our minds turn to cosy, comforting activities. There are fewer demands on our time as we tend to have fewer social engagements during most of the winter.
The darker, longer nights can be a challenge for many people, but writing can really help us to process the emotions that come up as the winter blues kick in. We are also drawn to be more reflective at this time of year, which makes it the perfect time to start a writing practice.
There is something so comforting about sitting in the dark, perhaps with a candle lit and a hot drink, writing. Whether it is working on a memoir, a novel or journaling about your day writing at this time of year is much more productive for most people. We are able to really dive into our writing and indulge all our senses as it is so much easier to focus and allow our minds to really run away during these cosy months. Of course there are some challenges too, but we will come to that later.
This time of year can be a challenge for many people, but writing is proven to be so beneficial for your mental health. Journaling in particular can not only ease anxiety ad depression, but also boost your immune system. There really aren’t many better passtimes to introduce into your routine that writing at this time of year.
When we write without filtering, as we do when we journal, we allow our brains to untangle all the stresses of the day and make sense of any challenging events or emotions. When we write in this way we can heal many layers and lower our blood pressure, even ease respiritory conditions such as asthma. What could be better?
If you would like to know more about the benefits of journaling you can find out more here: Unlock the power in your pen
How do you go about creating a writing habit at this time of year?
The first thing you need to do is to create a cosy writing space. Whether it is a corner of the living room, the kitchen table, or on your bed, writing in the same place can really help the habit to form and our brain knows what we are doing when we arrive in that place and surround ourselves with the same items. Perhaps you always light a candle, or you snuggle under the same blanket, perhaps you always have the same hot drink when you write, or even the same mug.
Having a clear view to a window can often be a real help at this time of year too, there is something very inspiring about sitting and watching the rain or, even better, the snow fall, as you write. Exercise caution if you are prone to daydreaming though as it is easy to spend the whole of your writing session just dreaming and gazing at the view.
Creating a ritual around your writing really helps you to focus and get into the zone more quickly. Make sure that wherever you are writing is a comfortable temperature, because nothing freezes your creative juices like shivering as you write. Whether it is grabbing a big cosy jumper, fingerless gloves and a blanket or choosing a chair near the radiator, make sure you aren’t going to get cold while you write. Make sure the lighting is good enough for you to be able to write without straining your eyes too, as much as writing by candlelight is magical, if you can’t see your page or your screen is glaring at you, you won’t be able to keep up the habit as your eyes will quickly tire.
Trying to write at the same time of day is also helpful. This helps us to remember to write, which might sound silly, but the reason routines are so helpful is because they ensure we don’t forget to do certain tasks. Whether it is a morning routine so that you don’t forget to empty the dishwasher, or a writing routine so that you remember to write more regularly, routine is key.
It is important to remember that despite what some writers may tell you, we don’t believe that you have to write every single day to be a writer. You may decide that you are going to write 3 days a week or 5 days a week, that’s fine. Even if you do decide to try and write every day, please don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t able to write one day, or even several days in a row. Writing should be enjoyable and if you have other things going on in your head then it won’t be a productive writing session anyway.
FRIENDLY WARNING – There is a difference between not being able to, or choosing to take a break, and running away from something that you know you need to tackle in your journal. When writing feel the hardest, particularly if you are journaling, that is often the time we need to face the blank page the most.
New Year’s Resolutions
There is a very powerful, new habits energy at this time of year, but beginning before the new year is proven to be more effective. most people who start a new habit in January fail within days, but if you can get a routine around your writing before the new year you are much more likely to keep it up. Of course this time of year does have its own set of challenges too, as we mentioned earlier. We may be visiting family and away from our own cosy writing environment, we may have loved ones staying with us for periods of time and our whole routine might be topsy turvy.
Only you can decide how you want to approach this upheaval. You can choose to lean into it and just enjoy the festive time with your loved ones, or you can attempt to squeeze some writing into quiet moments. Of course, if you can maintain your new writing habit at this time of year then you will keep writing all year.
Whatever you decide it has to feel right for you, you can always get back into your writing routine when the rest of your daily routine returns in the new year. It used to be believed that a new habit was formed in 21 days, but recent research shows that it is much more individual than that and the time required range from 18-245 days, so you may have to be persistent if you are at the high end of that range.
Ways to help you stick with your habit
- Set yourself writing goals and keep yourself accountable.
- Join an online writing accountability group, like the Writer’s Forge so you feel supported and you’re not writing alone.
- Find an accountability buddy, and support each other.
- Join a writing challenge so you get a nudge every morning to remind you.
Now seems like a good time to mention our winter writing challenge, The Festive Forge. Every day of advent we will be sending you some writing inspiration and a festive writing prompt to help you create a writing habit that will last throughout 2025. We ran this last year and it was so much fun. That gentle nudge every morning to grab your journal or a scrap of paper, really helps you to get into the writing habit.
The best thing is, if you start writing at this time of year, by the time the weather warms up and you are pulled outside more, you will have formed that all important writing habit and you will be a writer. How amazing would that be?
Whether you have dreams of writing a book, or you are just looking for a great way to keep your spirits high over the cold, dark months, a writing practice is just what you need.