Slow Living Christmas in Tune With Nature

I just came back from a walk in the woods and sat down to write this post, wrapped in a thick knit, tightly pressing my hot water bottle to my body. Only a few weeks ago I was writing about “chilly winds” but now it’s positively freezing outside. These recent days feel like the beginning of Winter here among the fields and pastures of Somerset. I could even see my breath in the mornings when walking Rosie to school!

The trees are bare, drawing their energy back to the roots. Squirrels withdraw to their nests, leaves turn brown under our feet and a calm is settling over the natural world… but humans invented Christmas :) I don’t just mean the few days of actual celebration, but the marketing machine that starts spinning in September and reaches full speed from November until December - a machine that seems to go in direct opposition to what nature is doing at this time of year.

As a modern woman who very much enjoys festivities, I don’t think any of it is inherently bad! The privilege of living in the 21st century means we’re no longer constrained by daylight hours or warm weather. If we want to organise gatherings and celebrate in the midst of Winter, why not? After all, our ancestors did so too.

Stonehenge is aligned with the Winter solstice sunset and archaeologists believe that midwinter gatherings and feasts took place there thousands of years ago. In Celtic traditions, midwinter was spiritually significant and many hillforts and burial mounds align with solstice sunrises or sunsets. 

So celebrating in the midst of Winter feels almost natural to us - something passed down in our DNA from ancestors whose memories faded centuries ago, yet still live on in us. And yet, instinctively, we feel that the weeks leading up to Christmas are often too much - all the rushing, gathering, shopping, planning, comparing. It’s not uncommon that when the big day finally arrives, we’re relieved that it’s all over.

The art is in finding the balance between the modern world traditions and nature’s rhythm at this time of year - celebrating Christmas while also honouring our need to rest and look inward. Below are my thoughts how to have very merry, slow living Christmas without guilt.

1. Honour Winter’s Pace

The next few weeks will push you - especially if you work in retail, teaching, hospitality, healthcare or any role that becomes busier the moment December arrives. Please don’t think you’re alone in this. So many of us end up with that “British frazzled woman” look (even if we’re not actually British), embracing our inner Bridget Jones while trying to remember the dress code for the festive party, your child’s nativity time, the last day of school, the gifts you still haven’t ordered and when on earth you’re supposed to decorate the house? (I said I would decorate early… it’s the 20th of November and my tree still isn’t up!) All of this, of course, while scrolling a social media feed that screams: more, faster, brighter!

When you arrive at this point, ask yourself: is this aligned with the season’s rhythm?
Yes, it’s a time of joy, family and festive gatherings… but it is also a season of rest, gratitude and nourishment. Winter invites us to slow down and be still for a little while. Remind yourself of this whenever you feel overwhelmed or tired and gently return to the slower pace set by nature.

2. Winter Woods Quiet the Noise

I always advocate spending time in nature, because it has been the most healing force in my own life. Even though I’m not exactly a campervan or tent-type girl, a simple walk is enough to feel the grounding and calming benefits of reconnecting with the natural world.

This Winter, there’s an extra reason I want you to go out into the woods whenever you feel overwhelmed. Because once you’re there - standing between bare trees, brown leaves beneath your feet, everything still except the wind moving through skeletal branches - you realise how little actually matters. Family, home, your own wellbeing… these are the important things that have existed since the dawn of time... things that carry the world forward.

Getting the latest viral Christmas decor, saying yes to invitations from people you barely know, rushing to keep up with the noise - those things fade the moment you step into the quiet of the woods.

My personal measure is this: if something loses its urgency or importance when I’m standing between the trees, then it was never a true priority. 

3. Slow, Seasonal Food

Food is a huge part of everyone’s life and it gets even more attention at Christmas. Over the years, I’ve taught myself not to chase fashion trends and to put quality over quantity... but oh my goodness, my favourite chocolate in a festive wrapper?! I’m sold! I’m such a sucker for festive-themed food and I know I’m not the only one. Producers know it too, which is why supermarkets are flooded with cinnamon, cranberry, and brandy-enriched treats. And honestly? I think it’s okay to indulge - in moderation.

Again, nature comes in with all the answers. There’s strong evidence that our ancestors held gatherings and feasts during the Winter Solstice period. But did they overeat from September to December? Well… no. And neither should we.

In colder climates, Winter is a time when we naturally tend to eat more calories because our metabolism slightly increases to maintain body temperature and we burn more energy in the cold. But it’s not an excuse to overindulge. Seasonal eating in Winter can also mean warming soups, roasted vegetables, orchard fruits and cosy weekend baking at home - nourishing for both the body and the soul.

4. Moments of Stillness

The rush, the food, the planning and preparing… Although Christmas keeps us busy and sometimes a little out of breath from all the errands and chores, it’s also joyful and exciting. In all of this, it’s easy to lose track of our own wellbeing. This is your reminder to actually spend some time enjoying what you’ve created. Sit in the beautifully decorated living room, light the candles, switch on the fairy lights and allow yourself a moment of stillness.

5. Letting go of pressure and expectations

Trying to create a Pinterest-perfect, Instagram-worthy home. Overscheduling and rushing from one event to another… The funny thing is that it’s often ourselves who put on the most pressure and set the highest expectations.

Your family and guests (if you’re hosting) won’t be checking the dust on top of the bookshelf. I also promise you - no one will come in and say “Oh, how nice, you bought the viral Christmas tree topper. A truly spectacular piece”.

They’ll be far more interested in talking to one another (discussing your cousin’s divorce and politics), looking at old family photographs, and enjoying the cake - even if it’s shop-bought.

6. A Christmas That Feels Like You

Slow living is curating a life that reflects your true values. We practise this in everyday life, in the simple moments, but it also translates into the bigger events, like Christmas. Choose the traditions and pace that feel right for you.

Let your personality shine by making people feel seen and heard this December. Honour Winter’s pace by simplifying your preparations and find joy in presence instead of productivity.

Make Christmas feel like you.

A few closing words

I hope this post works as a gentle reminder. You already have all the answers and solutions within you - sometimes they just get buried under the constant noise of fast-changing fashion, other people’s opinions and the busyness of everyday life. Whenever you feel unsure, look to nature. It always sets the best example.

Thank you for reading,
Adriana x