I think it’s safe to say, I along with thousands of others, am currently experiencing the dreaded SAD (otherwise known as Seasonally Affected Disorder). I’ve had issues with my mental health for a long time, I have ups and downs like anyone in life. But, I always find my mood takes a definite dip towards the first few months of the year, January and February being the absolute worst.
After all, it’s cold, the days are short and it always gets dark far to quickly for my liking. I feel like my creativity takes a hit at this time of year, I lack motivation and all I seem to want to do is sleep the months away and then I hate myself for it. But, as I’ve come to understand wishing your life away is never a good habit to fall into, so I’ve started to try to make everyday as productive and creative as possible.
One thing that I feel really helps my mood during the Winter months is bringing in the Danish concept of Hygge to my home. It’s probably a term you’ve all heard, but what does it mean? Well I’m not Danish so I can’t claim to have a pure, unfiltered understanding of the term. But in essence from what I have read in the countless books I’ve bought on it it is that it’s all about feeling contentment from the simpler things in life. It’s about warmth, feeling cosy and being with those you love. Whether it’s drinking tea and reading a book or coming in from a cold walk to the inviting feeling of a burning fire, it’s all about finding enjoyment in life’s little pleasures. I think the Winter months can always seem to make you feel that life is dull and we often feel like we are “existing” rather than actually “living.” But perhaps we simply need to treat Winter the way certain species of animals do, for many animals Winter is a time to take refuge, sleep, recharge and emerge ready for a new year.
Well we’re mammals, so why shouldn’t we treat Winter in a similar way. I’m not suggesting we sleep for the whole time, but maybe we should start to see Winter as a time to recharge, take a break and do little things we enjoy in the warmth and comfort of our home. It’s all about thinking of the things that make you happy, we all have our own things whether it’s cooking, crafting, reading a good book or giving ourselves a good pamper. The Winter doesn’t have to feel boring and unproductive, think of the time you spend indoors when it’s too cold to go out as a time to spend on yourself and the things you enjoy doing. Leave the adventures for the more temperate times of the year.
Lately I’ve been pursuing creative and productive things, I’ve been trying to get creative with Photography, completing puzzles, decluttering and organising room and writing. But, if I’m having a day where I’m really not in the frame of mind to be active I find the best ways to make myself feel warm, cosy and content in the Winter months are to make a hot drink, light a fire, read a good book and light a scented candle.
I recently discovered a new online subscription box website called uOpen. The website is a huge marketplace which features lots of different subscription boxes in different categories including books, beauty, crafts, food and drink, lifestyle, health and fitness, gaming and many more besides. I think it’s such a cool concept having so many subscription boxes in one place because it means you don’t have to spend ages scouring Google to find a subscription box. Really helpful if you are looking for a gift for someone or to start a new subscription box for yourself. They also offer free delivery too and you can choose how long you would like to subscribe for. The box that I decided to try when they contacted me to review the service was from Sandwick Bay Candles.
Sandwick Bay Candles makes hand poured candles using Soy Wax, alongside their candles they also now offer a subscription box. Where you can subscribe and receive a new scent every month, it comes presented in a beautiful box with a nautical theme in muted colours of periwinkle blue and white. Inside the box you get a large candle (which is said to last up to 60 hours burning time) in a new fragrance each month.
I really love the idea of being able to have a new fragrance each month so that your home is always introduced to a new scent. Having looked on the website there are so many enticing fragrances that the brand offers, so I’m definitely thinking of trying out some more scents.
The box I have is one of their previous boxes and features the Toasted Marshmallow Candle, alongside that I was also gifted with a little sweet treat (a wrapped S’more for me to toast on my log fire to go with the candle). This candle has a wonderful warm, sweet scent, it’s not too overpowering or synthetic but you can certainly smell it once it’s light. It gives the room a lovely warm and comforting fragrance and it does indeed smell like toasted marshmallows with that sweet gooey scent combined with the woody undertone of burning wood. Let’s be real on days when it’s snowing, sleeting and raining who doesn’t want their home to smell of warmth and confectionary comfort?
All in all I think this would make a great gift for someone who likes scented candles and you’re not sure what to get them. It is beautifully presented and the large glass jar with gives it a really rustic feel. Soy is also a more environmentally friendly ingredient so it would also be a great candle gift for someone who prefers more environmentally friendly and ethically made candles.
The box costs £22 for a one-off subscription and gets cheaper the longer you subscribe for.
If you are interested in subscribing to the Sandwick Bay Candle Box click here.
If you want to check out uOpen for yourself click here, they have lots of different subscription boxes to choose from.
How do you beat the Winter blues? Do let me know in the comments below.
Keep warm and remember to enjoy the little things you love this Winter.
Fashioneyesta xx
Disclaimer: This blog post contains gifted items, all views expressed are my own. The links are not affiliated.