Slow Living in February: Embracing Gentle Transitions & Cosy Joys

February is a month of transition, as nature slowly awakens. The beginning of the month feels cold and Wintry, but by the end of February, it will feel like early Spring with crocuses, daffodils and primroses no longer a novelty.

At the beginning of February, we celebrate Imbolc - the first of the Spring festivals on the Wheel of the Year. It’s a time to celebrate growth, renewal and rebirth. For our ancestors, the beginning of February was a happy time - it meant the worst of Winter had passed and the warmer, lighter days of Spring were on the not-so-far horizon.

Although in our modern world, thankfully, we don’t need to worry about food supplies and cold (I’m writing this wrapped in a blanket with my back pressed against the warm radiator :), I believe the sentiment stays somewhere deep in our DNA.

February is truly the beginning of Spring. Although not yet visible, new life is stirring beneath the surface. As we progress through the month, we enjoy more daylight and feel more optimistic, hopeful and ready to spring (pun intended!) into action.

Here is my Slow Living To-Do List for February, which I hope will inspire you to embrace slow living this month - to nurture, notice and take small but meaningful steps forward.

1. Celebrate Imbolc

Imbolc is celebrated on the 1st of February, marking the midpoint between the Winter Solstice (the longest night of the year) and the Spring Equinox (when day and night are equal). Each day, we gain a little more daylight and hope is being reborn.

Simple ways to acknowledge this day (without any religious connection - just celebrating nature) include:

• Light a candle to welcome and honour the sun.
• Make a small feast to celebrate with your family (grans, breads, diary, early Spring ingredients)
• Practice sun salutations to honour the sun and your body.
• Decorate your home with seasonal flowers, lambs, hearts and Imbolc candles.

2. Tidy Up the Garden (And Your Mind)

In the UK, February is the perfect time to start tidying up the garden and preparing it for Spring. One of my top to-dos for the coming days is pruning roses, which should be done between January and February (following my rose supplier David Austin’s recommendation).

Removing any dead growth and weeds will help our plants thrive, but it also teaches us a beautiful lesson from nature: how important it is to remove things that don’t serve us, both mentally and physically, in preparation for the new season.

3. Go Outdoors

My mandatory reminder to go outside and enjoy nature! It’s good for your body and mind. In February, you might need wellies, a raincoat and a woolly jumper, but once layered up - go! Brave the elements and seek out tiny signs of new growth.

4. Express Love

February is the month of love! Of course, there’s Valentine’s Day, a sweet occasion for a date night with your husband/partner, or even the whole family - we’re hosting a movie night! I recently shared some easy no-bake recipes for Valentine’s Day and some non-tacky home decorating ideas.

I treat Valentine’s quite lightly - it’s not about grand gestures but about living seasonally and in tune with nature. Mid-February is a time of fertility and the beginning of lambing season, so it’s no surprise that we humans came up with a celebration of love at this time of year!

5. Show Some Self-Love

Speaking of love - don’t forget about yourself. And not just in the form of hot baths and chocolate (though those are lovely, too!). Self-love is also about showing up for the things you want to achieve, practicing loving self-discipline, unlearning negative self-talk and letting go of unrealistic expectations.

6. Take Steps Toward Your January Dreams

As nature slowly awakens, so should we - by taking action toward our January dreams and plans. You don’t need to dive in at full speed, but perhaps now is the time to order your equipment, start writing first drafts or begin easing into new habits and routines.

7. Make the Most of the End of Winter’s Cosiness

In February, especially in the first half, Winter still lingers and the evenings are long and cold. Instead of wishing time away, make the most of these cosy days at the end of Winter.

• Bring home fresh flowers
• Add some new home decor
• Light a YR Studio candle to lift the mood

Simple ways to make your home feel welcoming and ready for Spring.

A Few Closing Words

The end of Winter can be a challenging time, especially for those longing for warmth and sunshine. I am personally “guilty” of looking forward to Spring, but I try to remind myself every day that there is beauty to be found in this final stretch of Winter.

February is a bridge between seasons - an invitation to slow down and notice the world around us as it awakens from its Winter slumber into the joyful days of Spring.

Happy February!
Adriana x

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