Last week, Mushu, my pet bearded dragon decided it was autumn.  

Possibly a lot of people reading this won’t know about the habits of bearded dragons but, like a lot of other animals, wild beardies spend a large part of the colder months in a state of reduced activity which is fairly similar to hibernation.  In lizards this state is called brumation, and while they don’t go completely into a winter coma, like bears, they basically dig themselves down into a nice hole when they feel the weather getting cooler and have a Big Sleep.

While Mushu is definitely not a wild beardie, (and despite living in a carefully temperature-controlled vivarium in the corner of my nice, warm, living room) clearly these instincts are still there because for the past week, all I have seen of him is his tail poking out from underneath his little den.  If he was a cartoon, he would also be snoring.

In the times before central heating and plentiful winter food, it’s likely that humans, too, would have spent the winter indoors, conserving energy and keeping warm.  Maybe that’s why lots of people (me included) start to struggle with motivation during this time.  Unfortunately, the difference between Mushu and me is that if I went to bed in October with no intention of getting back out until March, people would start to worry.  Also, as humans we need to pay bills. There are definitely things we can do though to help us use the winter as a time to relax and recharge, without hiding indoors until the days get longer.

Now the evenings are getting darker, switching off your main lights and using softer lighting, like lamps and candles, can help bring your circadian rhythm in line with the shorter days and encourage a better night’s sleep.  Rather than venturing out in the evenings, having friends over for dinner or a movie night can also mean that you continue to socialise if you’re finding you’re struggling with the motivation to be out and about.  

Another option which many people find helpful, when it comes to keeping up motivation for hobbies or exercise during the winter months, is to find a project to focus on.  This could be anything from learning to knit or to play chess, through to training for a spring marathon.  It could even be re-reading your favourite series of books from the beginning.  Having a project can reduce boredom and improve your mental wellbeing.  

Finally, sometimes the days that we really don’t want to get up and be active are the days that we most need to.  When it’s cold and rainy, sometimes getting your wellies and a winter coat on, and spending a bit of time in nature can make us appreciate how beautiful the world around us is, even when it seems grey and bleak.  It can also make us appreciate the fact we no longer live in an age before central heating and hot showers that little bit more, when we get home.