Avoiding winter illnesses means taking care of yourself before others.

Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea.
From within the darkness comes light and a new day.
This is about moving from illness to wellness, or about new beginnings.

Nā Trudy Downes

Have you heard the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”? Or queried the concept of a cup half empty? What about the concept that the size of your cup changes when you aren’t looking and is subject to change without prior notice? Sometimes your cup is so big it takes weeks to fill, and other times it is so small that it dries up in a few days. Have you thought about the fact that your cup is not the same as someone else’s cup? I used to joke that if my cup was half empty that it wasn’t my cup at all, someone must have taken my cup and I will go and find a full cup from somewhere else. Life just doesn’t work that way.

In May I left the office for a long King’s Birthday weekend and I have only just made it back to my workplace in time for the Matariki long weekend. Many thanks to Covid-19 for this unexpected absence. This bout of Covid-19 was short. Just a couple of days feeling like I had a mild cold, but then it took a lot longer to clear my lungs and regain my voice. I was ready to return to the office last week and therefore went out in the weekend prior to my return. Turns out I wasn’t ready because ten minutes of breathing in cold air ran my cup empty for two days and it took another two days for my voice to return to normal.

So I have to look after my cup and stop, or defer the activities that put holes in it and drains it quicker than it ought. Everyone needs to look after their cup.

This is particularly important in winter; flu season, Covid-19 and the winter blues are all common. Winter brings decreased sunshine; our main source of vitamin D which helps with our moods and sleep regulation. Winter blues can increase our struggles with anxiety, depression and loneliness, and once we start mentally struggling then it can start affecting our ability to physically bounce back from illnesses which in of themselves affect our mental wellness. It can be a cycle; winter can make you feel unwell in more ways than one!

Have self-compassion with what you are feeling. In the life of the Church we are all wanting to help and serve others but sometimes we have to allow ourselves to stand back, take a breath and give ourselves time and space to bounce back.

You can’t help fill someone else’s cup if your cup is empty or springing leaks.

Tips for beating the blues and making the most of winter

Ø  Get outside: preferably for half an hour at the same time every morning. Yes, even if it’s not sunny.

Ø  Embrace the ‘snuggliness’ of winter; use the season to rest and recharge.

Ø  Break your routine by doing something new or something you haven’t done for a while.

Ø  Get therapy: whether its from light, a health professional, or both.

Ø  Do something nice for yourself: take a bath, or schedule an hour to read a book. Drop someone a text to say you’re thinking of them.

Ø  Bring that outside light in: clear shrubs back from windows; clean the glass; get a skylight if you can.

Ø  Know that it’s OK to sometimes feel low but it’s more than OK to ask for help.

Source: https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/28-06-2023/lessons-from-antarctica-on-how-to-get-through-winter