December is soon here. Winter is trying to make its arrival here in Western Finland, although the land is still black and there is no news about snow yet... or there was, but they already melted away. Darkness and twilight have a strong effect on my own mind. Sleep would seem to come in the morning and in the evening you don't have to coax it for a long time. Hibernation doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
I want to share with you my own tips for dark days. The only good thing about this darkness seems to be the atmosphere it brings, the words "cozy" and "hygge" are easy to implement.
Candles
Candles set the mood. I especially like white crown candles , but I also use rechargeable LED candles . I put rechargeable sparklers in candlesticks where the light shines through. That's how their sparkle looks the most authentic in my opinion.
Lighting
Turn on ceiling lights less often. Instead, I use (a lot) table and wall lamps. I have installed a Casambi smart bulb in all the interior lighting, with the help of which I have got all the lighting in our home under the same wireless switch, which means that the mood lighting of the whole house can be conveniently turned on with one switch. The temperature of the light can also be adjusted and, if necessary, each lamp can be dimmed using the App. Handy!
Sleep, sleeping, rest
I certainly don't need to justify this further. We all know how much easier life is when we take care of enough sleep and rest.
My own sleep is affected by how clean the bedroom is. I take care of the ventilation of the room and the bedroom is as "clutter free" as possible. I change the sheets weekly and also air out the blankets and pillows. I have these wonderful sheets from Hempea on my shopping list. By the way, I have hardly ever used a day blanket, because in my opinion it is completely useless.
Decorating
I like to vary the interior products on display. I change the place of objects on the shelves - I try different layouts. I think it's a nice way to bring variety. Now I have placed the See/Saw mirror on the kitchen counter, in front of the window. I love how it reflects light into the kitchen (when it does).
Reading
In winter, books beckon. I have reduced the time on the phone and spent that time reading. In the evenings, a sure sleeping pill is two lines (yep, that's how it feels sometimes) of a light novel. During the day, I might occasionally read a few pages of a self-help book on home office days. Here are a couple of tips:
Get rich like a woman, Moona Laakso
How to Let Go of the Phone by Catherine Price
The Happy Endings Club, Caroline Säfstrand
Flower power
I go to pick up a few cut flowers "every now and then" from a nearby flower shop. Even one flower is enough and at the same time it's a thank you to myself for the past week. <3
Oh well, I hope you get something new from these for your everyday life.
/ Tiina