S.R. Crawford's Blog, page 16

Tired of the battle with myself (journal entry)

Why are we so hard on ourselves? As if life isn’t hard enough as it is! We cut ourselves down with a sharpened scythe, hoping to fit in with people and places that don’t value us. We try so hard, gasping and screaming and gripping with blistered fingers at the edges of what we think will make us happy. If only I could make more money, I’d be happy. If only I had a hotter/smarter/funnier partner, I’d be happy. If only I could write another book, I’d be happy. If only I had a million subscribers, I’d be happy.

Happiness shouldn’t be a conditional state. Something we bargain and sacrifice for. It is a state of being always openly available to us, if only we are willing to see it.

But we are blind as a nation. We can’t see clearly anymore. We hate and hate ourselves even when we’re fucking perfect. You could have the best year of your life, and yet you’ll still find something imperfect and wonky to pick at. If only I’d done this or that, though. And then you prep for next year, when you hope to do and be better and bigger than the last!

Never satisfied.

If I collected all the tears I’ve shed over not being good enough, I could drown us all. Fill this dying world with salty water to wash away our toxic species. If I knew all the innocent creatures could survive it, maybe I would do it. Maybe we need to start again.

Your phone isn’t a mirror. Their comments aren’t your truth. The figures in your bank account aren’t your worth. What you produce from your mind or body isn’t what makes you valuable.

Next year I want to give myself a break. Cut myself some slack. I have had a great year this year, but I have been hard on myself, too. It hasn’t been one of gentleness, compassion and ease. Instead, a year of forcing and fretting and fear. A lot of beauty, but troubled waters dangerously boiling beneath the surface. And for what? To please others? To make a tiny bit more money? To write another story and another? To be prettier? To be smarter? To go further? To have a story to tell? To have a body worth lusting after?

For what? For who?

No. I don’t want that anymore. And sadly it’s not some easy switch to turn off. I can’t wake up January 1st and be the person I want to be. A woman of calm, certainty, and civility within. A woman who knows her innate worth and doesn’t beg for or seek to prove it. A women who knows what she wants and who she is and just lives. Just lives! Can you imagine? It will take some work but that’s what I’m working towards.

I don’t have time or space for critical people. Judgement. Anger. Resentment. Regret. Lack. Fickle fear. I don’t embrace my old narratives anymore.

I don’t want to be hard on myself anymore. I want to be the best friend I deserve. The big sister I never had.

What do you want? What do you choose?

Sincerely,

S. xx

How to create natural tension and conflict in your narrative

Tension and suspense are key to gripping your reader. Conflict is what makes a story interesting but there is boring conflict and then there is natural and tense conflict! You want the latter if you can! I will be talking today about natural conflict and tension using the latest Planet of the Apes franchise to help me explain.

Miscommunication

Miscommunication is a great way to cause issues naturally between characters. Maybe one character sees something and assumes something else through their own beliefs. Or they only hear half a conversation and come to their own conclusions. You the reader or audience will be like “nooooo, they didn’t mean what you think they mean!” This is also dramatic irony. But a character hasn’t understood something and is taking action based on something that’s not true, which is heavy stuff and natural tension!

Character foils

Character foils basically means character opposites. This is a method of helping your reader understand something about a character by having an opposite character highlight key characteristics about them. Like a nerdy, studious person with a kid in their class who is laidback and hates school, for example.

In Planet of the Apes, we can have this with Koba and Caesar. Or in number one, James Franco’s character and his boss. We see their morals and beliefs contrasted, which for me is more powerful than anything else. We know what choices Caesar or James Franco would make versus their character foils.

This also creates natural tension because you the reader knows that there will come a time of conflict, where the characters will make different choices and have to come at odds with their opposite.

Secrets

It should be obvious but in case it’s not, secrets are a great way to cause conflict and tension. Whether the audience knows about the secret or not, having one character keep something from another tells us that later on there will be an issue when the secret comes to light. We anxiously wait like knowing a bomb will explode or a gun will be shot later.

Desire versus fear

It’s interesting to explore desire versus fear conflict between characters. Have one character desire political upheaval but their sister or parents or best friend fear change in society and want things to stay the same. Or you have a trio of friends with one who desires the night life of clubs, one who fears socialising, and one who believes people are rude and wants to be independent. That causes natural tension in their group.

You can (and usually should) have a main character who has a conflict between their own desires and fears or beliefs. They want to be an author but fear sharing their work and believe their writing isn’t good enough. This causes natural inner conflict and tension. We know they’ll have to face their fear and that causes tension.

Caesar desires a home and a place of belonging, but James Franco’s character desires Caesar to stay with him and fears Caesar getting hurt in a world he doesn’t know. Caesar and Rocket both desire to lead, this is a more obvious conflict.

Everyone is right

When both POVs are right (no obvious villain/ each other’s villain), there’s natural tension and conflict. I love these situations so much! You end up rooting for both sides and it’s a complex situation with no easy answer.

Planet of the Apes does this so well. James Franco wants to help his dad who has Alzheimer’s, which we can understand, but the testing on the apes is wrong. He’s “right” and he’s “wrong”. He’s the protagonist and the antagonist in this way.

In number two, it’s the apes versus the humans. The apes just want their home to be safe and protected. But so do the humans. They need power to survive. Caesar wants to avoid war but is perhaps ignorant to the consequences of this. Koba is more aware of the reality of the situation and the destructive tendencies of the humans, but he makes a poor decision and ends up harming his people while trying to protect them.

It’s a beautifully complex situation and is fascinating to watch. It’s natural conflict and tension that grips the audience.

Lose lose situations

Lose lose situations are perfect for natural conflict and tension. Because you the reader knows that no one can win and that’s frustrating! Instead, as a writer you let your characters lose and that’s a great place for growth. They accept a new outcome. They try again another day. They maybe have a dark, negative character arc instead. All these things are fascinating and engaging.

War is a lose lose situation. People will get hurt and homes destroyed. Lives changed forever. This is the case in the second Planet of the Apes. We understand why the war starts, but know it’s a lose lose situation.

If Caesar listened to Koba, a war would have been started sooner. Yes there would be no divide between the apes, but there would be a violent battle between the apes and the humans still. Apes would die. If he didn’t listen, Koba would betray him and cause a war anyway. Lose lose.

Dramatic irony

This is when characters don’t know the full story but the audience does. This is similar to miscommunication but goes further. In multiple point of view stories, we can see different sides to the same wider story. And we will know things that another character knows, which could be in conflict with a different POV character.

The audience knows that Koba is going behind Caesar’s back. We know that he’s going to do something awful against him. But Caesar doesn’t know. This is dramatic irony. We the audience are anxious and tense waiting for Koba’s actions to unfold. We wish we could tell Caesar! This is perfect tension and conflict where the reader is gripped and invested in the story.

There are other ways to create tension and conflict in your story, but these are some I’ve identified while re-watching the Planet of the Apes films. Use these in your writing and you’re on to a winner!

Happy writing

Sincerely,

S. xx

What’s truly scary (motivation for the last 2 months of the year)

You know what’s scarier than getting on the plane? Never having left your hometown and widened your perspective. To stay small and inexperienced, not understanding, on a deeper personal level, the other cultures and beauties in this world.

That’s terrifying.

You know what’s scarier than publishing a book and being judged? Not publishing and bearing an untold story inside you. The story and it’s possibility just festering and infecting your soul from the inside. Never knowing what could have been. Never living the life you dream of.

That’s terrifying.

You know what’s scarier than going for the job or the love interest or the proposal (or whatever else)? Saying no to yourself before anyone else gets chance to and deciding that you’re not good enough. Not asking means the answer will always be no.

That’s terrifying.

Scary are the things we don’t do. The places we don’t go. The dreams we don’t chase. Scary are the nights spent dreaming instead of doing. Scary is the life lived by others and not you, instead you watch from the sidelines, green with envy. Scary is thinking it’s possible, but never going for it. Scary is giving up on yourself.

So get on the plane. Ask her out. Get up and dance. Write the book. Share the book. Laugh your stupid laugh. Go for the run. Run faster and further. Jump off things. Jump into things. Dive, swim, climb. Breathe life into yourself by being more afraid of regret than you are of ifs and maybes.

I am a fearful type. There is a black monster that lives in my chest. But I needn’t listen to him. Let him decide my fate. Instead, I am turning my fear towards the things I would regret not doing. The things that make life small and limited and boring. I will fear those things so that I may never fear the other things so much that I remain in my comfort zone.

Be brave. Be bold. End the year on a high.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

S. xx

Preptober – how to prepare for NaNoWriMo (or simply writing a novel quickly)

For those of you who don’t know, I wrote my 84,000-word novel this year in about 5 weeks. This did not include writing every day. NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is about writing 50,000 words in a month, so in a way, I did that this year already! However, I do want to do a sort of NaNo if I can, see my post about that here. Whether you are preparing for NaNoWriMo or just want to get a lot of writing done quickly, here are some tips that have helped me.

Routines

Having a writing routine that fits into your day/week makes it easier to get more done. This is because your brain will come to associate a certain time of day or location with writing. Maybe you come home from work, do some yoga to shift your energy, and then sit down to write (like I try to do). Maybe you wake up thirty minutes earlier than you do now to fit some in before work.

New habits are hard but in time they become routine.

Small goals/milestones

Set yourself much smaller goals and milestones to work towards. Instead of only celebrating every 10,000 words you write, or big scenes you’ve tackled, celebrate and focus on the smaller steps in-between. Yay, 1k! Woo, first scene! Make writing so easy and fun and small that you’d be crazy not to just do it.

Visually track

Having some sort of visible tracker around can help keep you accountable and wanting to write. You can see your progress and celebrate it, while also motivating yourself to keep going because you can see what is yet to be done. I have used a calendar, marking how much I write. I also block out every 1k completed in squares to visually and satisfyingly mark it out.

Plot and prep scenes

I am a plotter, so this is easy for me, but even pantsers can find this useful for things like NaNoWriMo. It’s sometimes harder to write quickly if you have no idea where your story is going. I’m not saying you should have every step figured out. In fact, that’s quite boring.

Instead, know how you want your character to develop. Or know the key themes you’re exploring; your profound truths. Know your characters deeply. Know where you want to end up, and leave the rest to discovery, if you want to. Just know something! Have the bare bones so when you sit down, you’re not stumped as to where to go next.

Breaks and sprints

I wrote my novel this summer taking lots of breaks. One, it’s healthy, but also because it makes writing less daunting. Sitting down to write all day (if you have that time) is overwhelming! Instead, telling yourself you’re only going to write for 25 minutes is easier. You set a timer and you feel pressured to write a lot in that short time. I can write about 800-1000 in 25 minutes. So say you do a few 25 minute sprints on a day off, you may be able to write 3,000 words. That’s a great amount!

Or say it’s after work, sitting down to write for a timer of just 20 minutes may mean you write 500-800 words and thats great for a short period of time. Over NaNoWriMo, if you do just 800 a day, you can write 24,000 words. Usually, you will want to write more once the timer is done and if you can, go for it! If not, it’s a great session done!

Keep moving forwards

This one is difficult. If you want to write quickly, you don’t have time to go back and edit or read through your work as you are drafting. You need to push forwards. However, this does make things a bit harder when you do come to read through or edit once the draft is completed, I’m realising. The story I wrote in summer remains unread because it feels like a massive task. I wish I had read through and done small edits along the way now, which is what I aim to do with this current story I’m working on. I just have to accept that it means my progress will be slower.

For NaNoWriMo if you really do want to write 50k in a month, you may need to just forge on ahead!

Set yourself up for success

Have your desk tidy, your to-do list done, and tell people what you plan to do. This removes distractions and interruptions that can crop up when you write. We can’t remove every interruption, as life is life and it’s unpredictable, but if you can get the majority out of the way, you’re in better standing for success. Make it easy and simple to start, and starting won’t be so hard.

Good luck and happy writing!

Sincerely,

S. xx

NaNoWriMo 2022 – what I’m doing

I’m making my own rules for this year’s NaNoWriMo. For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. Usually, writers and novelists all over the world will try to write 50,000 words in a month. This is usually in November. Although I’m quite busy, I would like to participate. However, I’m making my own rules and participating in my own way.

Here’s what NaNoWriMo 2022 will look like for me:

Consistent writing instead of word count

My only real rule for NaNoWriMo this year is to consistently write towards a story every day. Ideally, just one paragraph. That’s it! I can write it on my phone, laptop, notebook, whatever. Any sized paragraph, too; it doesn’t matter. As long as a section has been added to the story, perfect! Because a little goes a long way. Ticking off one paragraph added to my story is more than nothing, and that’s all that matters.

As I said, I’m busy with full-time work, university studying and assignments, my healthy habits, social events, and prepping to go to South Africa in early December. So I don’t want to put any added pressure on myself by trying to write a significant amount toward a full novel. Especially not for something that I want to be fun and easy and escapism for me. My writing is important and creative and sacred, I want it to stay that way.

If I had to pick a dream word count…

I’m mostly only picking this word count because my husband is running a half marathon in November, which is 21 kilometers. Therefore, I decided that I will aim to write 21,000 words to be like him! A mental marathon for me! However, it will not matter in the slightest if I don’t even come close to this number. 10,000 is still great. Sometimes, getting too focused on the word count can distract, bore, agitate, and ruin the experience. So don’t let it be a haunting pressure over you if a word count tracker doesn’t resonate or motivate you.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? If so, what are you writing? What are your goals? Let me know! Until November, I will try to publish some Preptober content to help you prepare for NaNoWriMo. Check out channels like Abbie Emmons on YouTube as she gives great advice.

Good luck and happy writing!

Sincerely,

S. xx

What to do about creative confusion

Many creators talk about writers block or feeling creatively stuck but what about feeling confusion in your creativity? When you have a lot of ideas and feel confused and unsure about where to go with them.

This is how I feel at the moment. I started writing a semi-autobiographical story. It felt like a really exciting story, diving into my childhood, whilst also being emotional and cathartic. It feels like an important story to tell – even if it ends up just being for me. Then this opened a can of worms! I started to think of many stories that I could pluck from my life. Emotive, lighthearted, important experiences.

And then there’s still the fantasy writer in me. The one called towards the mystical and impossible. I love the idea of quirky characters and spooky vibes and getting to the Halloween narrative.

Basically, I feel tugged every which way! And it’s nice to have so many ideas and interests but it’s also dizzying and distracting.

So what do you do when you’re creatively confused, like me? Here’s a few ideas that I hope might help me and you if you need it.

Work on many

If you have a lot of time or energy, maybe working on all of your projects at the same time could work for you. Maybe you could draw up a rota. Monday and Tuesday for project X, Wednesday to Friday project Y, then the weekends for project Z. That could work! I tried that earlier in the year but one project took over – which is okay!

You may want or need a tracker for each project to know where you’re at and how much you’ve worked on each.

Plot and decide

Maybe you could try plotting out each story idea (doesn’t need to be a detailed plot) then see which story feels the most exciting. Usually, one takes more of your attention so maybe you can decide to focus on that one for now and then change projects only if it doesn’t feel like the right one in the end.

Mood write

Maybe you could allow your mood and energy to dictate what you work on each day. Feeling energetic and playful? Write the epic middle grade fantasy. In your feelings today? Write the contemplative young adult contemporary. Feeling romantic? Write the adult romance! It’s that simple. Different ideas feel good at different times so work on what fits your mood or energy levels.

Take a break

Maybe you need some time away from writing and creating all together. This time away (a day, week, month…) could provide the space needed to clear your head. You also may find you miss one project over another and that will be the information you need to know which story calls to you the most right now. The answers will come to you in the space and the quiet.

Finish first

This one requires the discipline to finish whatever you started first before allowing yourself to write the next thing! Don’t get distracted by shiny new projects. Write the ideas that come for the new story, but don’t give in and write that one until you’re done with the first.

Either way, it’s okay to be confused. It’s okay to be unsure and lost as a creator. There’s ways around it! It’s normal. Good luck. Let me know if you tried any of these and how they played out for you.

Sincerely,

S. xx

I’m not boring. You’re just bored!

I’ve always been called boring. Less so in adulthood, but many times in my developing years. As an introverted, shy girl, I was “boring” to many of my more extroverted peers and family members. But it took me to reach my 27th year to realise that I’m not boring. Not at all!

I’m not boring just because you are bored.

I am not boring because I am not entertaining enough for you.

I am not here to entertain you. I am not here to be a thing of fascination and intrigue for you.

I am just me. And that’s perfectly great.

Some people are just easily bored. They need to constantly be doing, doing, doing. Always entertained. Never a quiet moment. Never sitting still. That’s fine. Do you!

But don’t turn around and call people boring for not wanting to do what you’re doing. For not being a constant source of entertainment for you. For not living as you think they should.

The definition of boring is: not interesting; tedious.

This definition does not, in any way, define me! See this list of just some of the things that I am interested in and enjoy. This list is long and in no way boring or lacking in interest. I for one love my own company. I am not easily bored in my own company.

Getting away from me for a minute, this is actually a very eye-opening realisation. Just because you’re bored doesn’t mean the thing you’re doing, or person you’re with, is boring (necessarily). Boredom, or something being defined as boring, is subjective. Just like if something is beautiful or not. Clever or not. Fun or not. It depends on the individual. It could depend on the day or mood or time or whatever else. Watching Harry Potter is enjoyable for me. Is it the same level of excitement as years before? No. Over the years, it’s become more repetitive and therefore a little less enjoyable (only a little!). Does that mean that Harry Potter may one day become objectively boring? Of course not!

I think people forget that feeling bored is an emotion. It’s a lack of stimulation. A lack of focus. A lack of joy. All things that you shouldn’t need or seek in other people. Being easily bored is a bit worrying, anyway. It may mean you are the boring one, who is unable to entertain yourself! Just saying!

It could be a problem in our modern world, too. We have so much at our fingertips that our attention spans and satisfaction with life have become poor. We need things to be fast and easy. We need it NOW. We need it ALWAYS. We seek dopamine in high doses. This is a world of social media, endless reels, endless TikToks, and binge-watching television. We have things delivered to our doorstep. We can date people by swiping left or right! No wonder people get bored easily. Everything is too easy, so hard work or depth or connecting seems boring and too difficult.

It’s actually healthy to be bored sometimes. Research shows that we are more creative and innovative when given space to be bored and think. So maybe resisting boredom isn’t a good thing. And maybe we need to question where our boredom really stems from.

Thoughts to takeaway:

When do I feel bored and why?Do I allow myself to be bored sometimes?Am I easily bored? Why might this be?Do I rely on other people to keep me from feeling bored?

This was just a quick one to share my realisation about something I’ve wrestled with for years. I hope it sheds some light on something for you, too. And if you, like me, have been called boring, it might not be about you at all! It’s not your job to entertain people.

Sincerely,

S. xx

There’s more to you than you think

Sometimes we don’t realise how deep our personality and interests go. Just as a fun exercise, I have written the things I like/about me down below. If you’re nosy, have a nose! But I encourage you to do the same when you feel a little disconnected from yourself. Remind yourself who you are and how interesting you really are.

I like…

Harry Potter films. Blankets. Big jumpers. Short books. Fluffy blankets. Scarves. Autumn leaves. Cheesy grins. Passion-filled eyes. Board games. Fantasy worlds. Magic. Education. Classrooms. Old buildings. Fires burning. Popcorn. Long walks. Wellies. Umbrellas. Raincoats. Fresh bouquet of flowers. Bookshelves. Book stores. Libraries. Quiet. Cinemas. New films. Old films. Comedies. Thinking. Deep conversations. Game of Thrones. Percy Jackson. Heroes of Olympus. Avatar the Last Airbender. Anime. Assassin’s Creed games. Middle grade fantasy books. Independent study. One to one conversations. Coffee. Coffee shops. Contemporary books. Learning. Research. Facts. Etymology. Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology. Mythology. Hair in a bun. Curls. Earrings. Rings. Yoga. Pandas. Bears. Zebras. Penguins. Elephants. Noodles. Dumplings. Hot dogs. Pizza. Nuggets. Toast. Chicken.

Creation. Writing. Reading. Journals. Blank pages. Full pages. Pineapple. Strawberries. Raspberries. Porridge. Runny fried egg. Laughing with my husband. Playing with my dog. Cuddling my dog. Dancing and singing badly. R n B. Hip hop. Pop. Film scores. Pinterest. New clothes. New outfits. Boots. Jeans. Leggings. Yoga pants. Meditating. Massages. Spas. Warm showers. Writing bad poetry. Helping others. Advice. Motivation. Cushions. Cute things. Ice cream. Fries. Organising. Home. New sights. Cultures. Languages. Other countries. Writing the first draft of a story. Working on stories. Creating new worlds. Figuring out magic systems. New notebooks. New pens. Highlights. Fine liner pens. Dogs.

The Handmaids Tale. Chinese food. Japanese culture. Quirky characters. Neil Gaiman’s imagination. The Hunger Games. Fairness. Empathy. Kindness. Authenticity. Spirituality. Breathwork. McDonalds. Nandos. Goals. Compassion. Intelligence. Emotional intelligence. Personality tests. Introversion. Witches. Autumn. Halloween. Pumpkins. Sweet pies. Whipped cream. Chilly nights. Bonfires. Marshmallows. Fireworks. New Year’s. Christmas trees. Fluffy socks. Earthy tones. Autumnal colours. Morning jogs. Early mornings. Dressing gowns. Turtles. Trains. Figurative language. Silk pillow cases. Braids. Pigeon pose. Wide legged forward fold. Headstands. Puppy pose. Child’s pose. Crescent lunge.

Fred and George. Rubeus Hagrid. Luna Lovegood. Sirius Black. Madeye. Ron Weasley. Neville Longbottom. Aang. Sokka. Toph. Annabeth Chase. Raymond Holt. Jake Peralta. Charles Boyle. Lesley Knope. Ron Swanson. Tom Haverford. April Ludgate. Monkey D. Luffy. Naruto Uzumaki. Ichigo Kurosaki. Tyrion Lannister. Arya Stark. Bronn. Dwight Schrute. Kevin Malone. Gilmore Girls. Breaking Bad. Sons of Anarchy. The Big Bang Theory.

Soup. Typography. Calligraphy. Hazel eyes. Green eyes. Hugs. Hair being played with. The word and meaning of sibilance. Lamps. Mountains. Lakes. Forests. Scrabble games. Uno game. Card games. Puzzles. Riddles. Printed photographs. 90s clothing. 90s music. Animations.

My Sunday Reset Routine

Sundays (or the day before you return to work for a new week) are perfect for shedding off the week and setting yourself up for the week ahead. Here are some of the things I do to reset for a new week on Sundays.

(I don’t always complete this list. It’s just the ideal Sunday reset list!)

In no particular order:

Wash my hair Longer walk with the dogMeal prep some lunches for the week Plan my outfits for work for the week Clean and tidy the house Change the bedsheets Put a clothes wash onLonger yoga sessionJournal about the week (gone and or ahead, setting intentions)Read for longer Errands or any adminBlog post writtenA bulk of my University reading done Jog or workout Play game YouTube video inspirationPost my content

How to relieve feelings of Seasonal Affected Disorder (Low mood due to seasonal changes)

I’ve suffered from SAD for a while now. It’s not always bad for me, it depends, but I am hyperaware of the change in the season, weather, and the length of the days. It’s darker, colder, and greyer, so it’s not so surprising that it makes us feel low sometimes. If you, like me, want to know ways to relieve these feelings and prevent sinking into depressive states, then here are some tips.

However, if things get bad, please seek advice from your doctor or another professional.

Fill your head with good things

I’m trying this new thing where I wake up and listen to something positive. You can pick what works for you, but I have my earphones at the side of my bed and as soon as I wake up, I put them in to listen to a motivational podcast/speech or positive morning affirmations. I’m not a huge fan of affirmations. Unless you write them yourself, they can sound detached and impersonal, even cheesy. But it is better than the potential low mood and thoughts that can ruminate otherwise.

Music

Starting your day with your favourite music playlist works wonders for boosting your mood, too. Especially in the dark early mornings when it’s not light until you get to work. Listen and dance and sing and change the vibe. Set the tone for your day. Yeah you have work, and it’s dark, but you’re not alone. You have your favourite artists in your ears, head, and heart.

Lists

List 10 reasons why you want to go to work or do the things you need to do for the day. Maybe we don’t get to choose what we do every day, but we can focus on and find (even when it’s hard) some reasons why we want to do/get to do those things.

Try:

I am so lucky to have a job that allows me to be safe at home and support myselfI look forward to chatting and laughing with my work colleaguesI am happy to help people with my workI am glad I have something productive to do todayI am valuable in my workplaceI am excited to eat the lunch I prepared for todayI am happy to be wearing something nice to work todaySeasonal activities

Do some season-specific things that you enjoy. Autumn and Winter are full of holidays and vibey things to do. So throw yourself into Halloween and Christmas (and any other holidays from your faith or country). List things that you like about the season and aim to tick as many off as you can. Apple picking, horror films, pumpkin carving, pumpkin flavoured drinks and recipes, collecting autumn leaves, gift giving, Thanksgiving, etc.

Seasonal content consumption

Read something seasonal to fit the autumn-winter vibe. Watch something seasonal, too.

Autumn-Winter Book Recommendations:

Stephen King booksFairytales PiranesiHarry Potter seriesMiddle-grade booksThe House in the Cerulean SeaThe Hunger Games seriesDraculaFrankensteinThe Maze Runner seriesThe Percy Jackson series

Autumn-Winter Film Recommendations:

Harry Potter seriesChildhood filmsAnimated filmsStudio Ghibli filmsDead Poet’s SocietyHocus PocusHorror filmsThrillersClassicsPractical MagicMurder Mystery filmsHalloweenMatildaThe GooniesBeetlejuiceThe Addams FamilyCorpse BrideThe Nightmare Before Christmas Hotel TransylvaniaCoraline Get the light

Get as much light throughout your day as possible. Natural light is hard to come by, but when you have it available, seek it out. Keep the blinds/curtains open to let it in. Go for walks. Lightbulbs with brighter wattage may help because dim ones personally make me feel low. You can also get SAD lamps. I’ve never used one, so I can’t say whether they are beneficial, but they can work well to have natural light and lift your mood, apparently.

Vitamins

Take supplements and vitamins where necessary and appropriate to support positive functioning in the body and mind. (Speak with your doctor first in case it affects any medication you’re already on). You may need vitamin D with the loss of natural light. You may also want to try a herbal medicinal supplement like Kalms to take the edge off when you feel overwhelmed and anxious. I have started taking Kalms to support myself through personal changes and events in my own life, when necessary.

Eat well

Eating well will work wonders in regulating your mood. Your body and mind will function better and feel good. It can become a worrying habit to eat poorly because you feel low. Junk food will not help in the long run. Of course, balance is key. There’s nothing wrong with treats now and then. Just don’t fall into bad habits and routines by thinking “I’m sad, so a takeaway will make me happy.” Nutrition will make you happier. Good, hearty, healthy food will lift you in every way. Find some seasonal recipes to try, ones that are both delicious and nutritious!

Favourites

This is the time of year to do your favourite things. Treat yourself to the things you enjoy so you associate this time of year with joy. It needn’t feel like an isolated, cold, dark, dreary season. It can, and should, be full of joy just like summertime. Yeah, the weather isn’t great, but who says we can’t dance and run and laugh in the rain? Put on a jumper and coat and get out and about; throw yourself into it.

Seek people out

Don’t isolate yourself right now. It’s tempting and the cold weather often makes people retreat indoors. But seek out people who bring you comfort. Don’t be alone right now. Even if you are introverted, like me, you still need people. Get together to do some seasonal favourites and your mood will hopefully lift.

Sincerely,

S. xx