Personal Wintering - Rest and Renewal

Personal Wintering is a time in our lives when we’re invited to pause, retreat and restore ourselves after challenge or change.

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Sometimes, life forces us to slow down — through loss, health issues, or big transitions.

Personal Wintering acknowledges the power of rest and reflection when the world seems to demand constant movement.

Just like trees shed their leaves and rest through winter, we too need times of dormancy — it's NOT weakness, it's wisdom.

Why it matters - especially in your 50s and 60s - many of us face multiple pressures, family, health, work, the noise of social media and world events.

“Keep calm and carry on” used to serve us well… but sometimes, carrying on without pause simply exhausts our reserves.

Wintering gives us permission to step back, to breathe, and to protect our emotional energy

Lessons from nature:

Nature knows when to pause - Wintering is not failure — it’s preparation.

Think about how trees survive the winter.

They draw their nutrients down into their roots, stop outward growth, and prepare their cells for frost.

When spring returns, they have the strength to grow again.

We can mirror that — turning inward, conserving energy, and trusting that renewal will come.

Read more: Nature's impact on mental health

This is part one of a fuller dive into this...watch this space!

Watch my 2 minute video: Personal Wintering Rest and Renewal:

PERSONAL WINTERING Rest and Renewal

Wellbeing at any age

Connect with others

Spend time with friends and family, join social groups, or attend local events:

Meet a friend/s for tea or coffee: in real life or online - a "coffee chat" is easy to arrange and most people say yes if they work at home on their own

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Join a local club or group: Connect with like-minded people. There are lots of ways to find activities – try Meetup for real human connections, or online to go national or international!

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Go to an event or gathering IN REAL LIFE - it feels good to be with others, especially if there is laughter

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STRONG social networks are important to a good quality of life:

• Your trust in your ability to handle challenges and find meaning in life is built and promotes resilience

• During stressful times, you become more attuned to others' struggles

• Sharing your burden feels more natural, making it easier to reach out for help

By prioritizing self-care and making conscious choices, you will renew your sense of purpose and give yourself the best chance to enjoy life

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The wonder of mind mapping

It really helps "get stuff out of your head" if you have a more visual or creative mind.

You can use this tool to visually map ideas, showing central theme, branches for sub-ideas, connections.

How to CREATE a Mind Map:

Choose the topic of the mind map and place it in the middle of the drawing

Come up with three to five main ideas, then evenly space them in a circular formation around the mind map topic

Draw a line from the mind map topic to each main idea

Brainstorm supporting details such as ideas, tasks, and questions for each main idea

Draw lines connecting each main idea to its supporting details

TIP: Use colour, icons or doodles—makes it more stimulating and helps you see connections.

How to adapt it for "brain storming" ideas

Label the centre with your main problem or topic.

Draw branches for different categories (e.g., “Resources”, “Constraints”, “Wild Ideas”, “Opposite Assumptions”).

Then brainstorm under each branch - don't hold back.....

Just some ideas...

I like to just use paper and coloured pens...if you want to use a tool, try template.net

There are many free mind-map templates online. E.g., free blank mind map templates in PDF format. Pinterest