For those of you living in the northern hemisphere, you’ll have noticed by now that the evenings have become darker, the temperature has begun to drop and leaves are steadily beginning to fall. Autumn is here and winter is on its way.

But this doesn’t mean that your spirits need to drop or there are any less of those heiter moments to revel in. In fact, what this article will enlighten you to is that if this time of year is given a bit more consideration and attention, it can actually end up being something you look forward to each year.

So allow me to guide you through some of the mindfulness practices I use to heighten my enjoyment of the darker, colder seasons.

Vision boards

Pour yourself a cup of your favourite brew, open up your laptop and afford yourself an hour or two to create a vision board. So often when we think about the colder seasons, our focus goes straight to all the not so pleasing aspects. However, there are many fun and exciting activities to be enjoyed during these seasons.

Fill your board with enticing images, colours, inspirational words and watch how quickly your focus fades from your usual unpleasing thoughts to ones of excitement and anticipation.

This year my autumn vision board has images of pumpkins, warm drinks held in snuggly mittens, gatherings around the fire, candle light, books, blankets, autumnal walks, favourite jumpers, marshmallows on sticks, mugs of soup and the list goes on. What isn’t to love about that?

If you can, carve out some time to create your vision board in the last month or few weeks before the end of each season, that way you won’t be shocked when the colder weather comes. Instead you’ll be eagerly awaiting those first few leaves to fall and the sound of the heating clicking on.

But if you find this article in the midst of winter, I always say there is no better time than now. What seasonal activities can you look forward to in the coming weeks?

Be prepared

They have a saying where I live in Wales, “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choice of clothing” and that couldn’t be closer to the truth.

Now is the time to hunt in the loft, thrift the secondhand stores or go all out and by yourself some new winter apparel.

One of the main issues people have with this time of year is the weather. Being cold and wet don’t tend to rank too highly on anyone’s list of enjoyable activities.
So prepare your outfits like you have every intention of enjoying the weather. If you have warm waterproofs, wellies and even thermals then no amount of dreary weather will dampen your spirits.

For many of us this is the number one reason why we don’t spend much time in nature around this time of year but nature is a freely available resource that allows us to neutralise our energy and soak in the rich nourishment that the earth has to offer. Don’t allow unprepared clothing choices to stop you from taking in the freshness of the air and the wonder sights that can be found in nature during the cooler months.

There is beauty in darkness

Another common complaint from people about the colder months is the increasing amount of darkness.

Sunlight is a natural mood enhancer and so when the sun loses its strength and is only present, for sometimes a few minutes each day, it can become very easy to slip into feelings of internal darkness.

But I want you to think of darkness differently. For those of you that have ever sat to meditate, I want you to think how nice, how comforting and relaxing it feels to be in the quiet and comfort of your own mind.

This form of darkness is rejuvenating, calming and zen like. And the same can be applied for those darker days of winter. The darkness is our invitation to go inward, to quieten our minds and our internal landscape.

If this still doesn’t enhance your thoughts about darkness, see if you can play around with mood lighting. Candles are a wonderful way to add an element of light but also encapsulate a feeling of warmth and cosiness in any space. Alternatively you could install a dimmer light switch, dulled lamp such as a himalayan salt lamp, or even a string of fairy lights will do the trick.

This duller lighting also allows you to stick more closely to your body's cues for sleep, as it can be difficult to start receiving sleep signals when we have bright lights in and around our homes.

Honour your body

Whatever the season, it’s important to listen to how you feel and to honour your body’s cues. If your body is telling you that it needs rest, that it needs to curl up in a warm blanket by the fire, shut out the cold and dive into a book or magazine, see if you can honour that desire.

Equally, if you feel energised by the winter sun and want to spend a day roaming the countryside in the fresh air, put yourself a flask together, pack your waterproofs and go explore.

Depending on our culture and our upbringing we can feel very pulled to conform to either of these two approaches toward the cold and dark days.

We either feel like we have to carry on with the same energetic energy left over from the summer and deny ourselves the opportunity to slow down and to rest. Or we feel like we should be slowing down, when really the bracing weather is what ignites our energy levels.

Neither is right or wrong. The best option is always what feels good for you, your life and your body.

Mindset shift

All it takes is a simple mindset shift. A turning of our attention from the less desirable aspects that often consume our conversations around this time of year and a refocus towards the small heiter moments, that if peppered throughout the colder seasons, can have a profound effect on your mood, outlook and enjoyment of half the months of each year.

Will this year be the year that you see the cold, dark and damp in a different light?

Words: Josephine Snowling

Josephine Snowling is a writer, teacher and entrepreneur who shares her own personal truth, understanding and insight of how this reality works and how you can learn to come home to yourself so that you may consciously manifest the life you desire.

Main image: Katharina Geissler-Evans

Images 2-4: via Unsplash

Image 5: tobetold for heiter issue 2, Homecoming

There are places so magical that they can engage in a conversation with you. The beautiful Ottmanngut is one of those places. Ottmanngut is located in the spa town of Merano, in the region of Northern Italy called Südtirol, and its history dates back to 1290. We had the pleasure of speaking with its owner, Martin Kirchlechner, whose family has owned the house for generations.

Why did you decide to open a bed and breakfast?

I did not actually decide to open it. We simply decided to renovate the family house. At the time, my grandmother was 82 years old and could not manage the house by herself anymore. Our original plan was to renovate the house and then hire someone to take care of it. However, the renovations took almost two years instead of the planned six months, during which we became intimately acquainted with every inch of the house. After putting in so much effort, I couldn’t just hand it over to someone else. This is how my dream of having a bed and breakfast came true.

What was the most challenging element of the renovation?

The house had not been touched since the 1950s or 1960s, and like many other houses from this era, there had been work done that wasn’t particularly good. Our main focus was on revitalizing the house and restoring some of the original features. We discovered the old wooden floors beneath the linoleum and opened the entrance from the breakfast room to the orangery. At the same time, we wanted to modernize the house a little bit, as before our renovation there was only one bathroom per floor and no heating. Right from the beginning, my father knew exactly where he wanted to place the family furniture and hang paintings, so we didn’t really cooperate with any designers or architects.

What sets Ottmanngut apart?

I believe, one of the significant differences is that Ottmanngut is our family house – it always has been and still is. As a result, the interior features antique family furniture. Our family is constantly somewhere nearby, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring everything is to our liking and that we feel comfortable and at home here. Many of our guests share that they sense this atmosphere, feeling as though they are entering a welcoming family house.

If you had to choose, what is your favorite aspect of the house?

Without a doubt: our breakfast. Since 2014, we have taken a unique approach to our breakfast offerings. We create a three-course breakfast menu that changes daily, and we bring it directly to your table. This approach gives us the opportunity to stay true to ourselves, using almost only seasonal ingredients, sourced from mostly organic farmers in the area. It also allows us to reduce food waste to a minimum. Moreover, it provides us with the freedom to experiment and be creative.

Can happiness be found in a weekend getaway that feels like home?

Absolutely! We often emphasize the feeling of being at home. However, it shouldn’t replicate one’s own home, where the laundry basket is full and the dishwasher is waiting to be put in order. But it should have a warm and inviting ambience of a home.

How would you characterise your guests?

For the most part, our guests understand what it means to run a house in the manner we do. They treat everything and everyone with respect. Yet, the most delightful moments occur when guests arrive, and an immediate connection is established. It's like being on the same page right from the start.

When choosing a place for your own travels, what matters most to you?

Several things need to align for that overall feeling. I consider the sourcing of food, how it is produced and where it comes from. I check if the place seems to have cozy spots to read and relax. As well as getting to know, who my hosts are. Also, I am interested in how they treat the environment.

What is the one thing that you want your guests to leave with?

I hope that they leave with this ultimate feeling – the one you have after spending a great evening with interesting people, sharing delicious food and good drinks. When you’ve had great conversations, and it leaves you with a blend of happiness, tranquility, and newfound knowledge.

Ottmanngut is… an authentic place that allowed us to be ourselves, we don’t change for our guests. We embrace ourselves.

Upon entering, what is the most likely sight or scent you will see or smell…

You are likely to spot one of our three turtles and catch the aroma of lemon blossoms.

When in Merano, you can’t miss… the panoramic Tappeinerweg walking path above the town, slow strolls along the river promenades and a dining experience at restaurant Meteo. Exploring the Steinachviertel, the old historic town center, is also a must.

Andrea Juckem is a writer and co-creator of the bi-lingual online magazine NIKA (which means niche in English). She has always been attracted to people's stories and communication but it was not until recently that she decided to put it all in words that have an impact: Andrea now uses her (Czech and English) writing to express emotions and share meaningful thoughts and stories.

How to enjoy the cold, dark season: a guide to finding heiter

HEITER SPOT: Ottmanngut – a place so beautiful that it will carry a conversation with you