The key to thriving in winter is to “embrace boredom,” according to one happiness expert, but first you have to overcome the “discomfort” of doing nothing.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Tim Sharp, also known as happy doctorsaid winter is the perfect time to embrace simple pleasures and immerse yourself in comfort.
The main problem people have with this is that they will “do anything” to escape boredom.
But true happiness and satisfaction, as well as the healing feeling of complete calm, can only occur if we stop and embrace the slower, less stimulating state.
‘It’s about redefining happiness, there are many different types. There are the forms of high arousal, like joy and excitement, and then there are the forms of low arousal, like calm, which are also important,” he said.
Dr. Tim Sharp, also known as Dr. Happy, says embracing boredom is key to making the most of winter
And winter is the best time to hug them.
In winter it’s easy to complain about the weather until it gets warmer, says Dr. Happy, but then you limit your ability to feel happy all year round.
This can deprive you of years of happiness and joyful experiences. Over a 70-year lifespan, people who “shut down” and “refuse to be happy” during the modest three-month Australian winter will waste a total of 17.5 years on negativity.
In colder climates, this is exacerbated: the extreme need to accept boredom and endure the discomfort of low stimulation, to find solace in the calm on the other side, is displayed.
Dr Tim explained that Covid lockdowns helped people come to terms with boredom, but they have already “forgotten” how to do it.
“During Covid people were reading more, playing more board games, which inspires connection, which is key to happiness, and becoming more creative,” she said.
He said “embracing boredom” is important and can bring families together to enjoy simpler things like board games.
Instead of going out, seeking adventure, or stimulating our brains with hours and hours of screen time each day, Dr. Tim says we should take advantage of the unique gifts of the season.
Their theories are backed up by a recent survey from meal kit delivery service HelloFresh, which shows 53 per cent of all Australians are experiencing “winter problems” right now.
With 41 per cent of Australians associating seasonal change with sadness and loneliness, the biggest barriers to comfort and contentment in winter are lack of sunlight, cold homes, poor heating and our inability to spend time outdoors. .
In Scandinavia, where they are forced to embrace winter for more than three months a year, they recognize the idea of embracing small comforts.
They also make the most of the mundane rather than constantly seeking adventure or complaining during the winter months.
They call it Hygge (pronounced ‘Hyoo-guh’) and it was initially a Danish concept.
The Hygge concept promotes opting for warmth and closeness in winter instead of going outside or constantly seeking stimulation and adventure.
“Hygge encourages us to reframe how we feel about time spent indoors and the winter months, finding solace in discomfort and embracing comfort to lift our mood and make the colder months more bearable.” said Dr. Tim.
‘Fortunately, simple adjustments to our environment and habits can help us overcome those barriers to the comfort we all feel. This can be as simple as creating cozy and inviting spaces in our homes with warm tones and soft textures to encourage relaxation. Our food choices can also have a big impact.
“Preparing hearty, warming winter meals, such as soups, stews and roasts, like those available at HelloFresh, can help satiate, reduce irritability and warm us from the inside out.”
Dr Tim said a great example of Hygge and celebrating the mundane is the gentle happiness that comes from wrapping yourself in a warm blanket or soft jumper.
He reflected on parents who told their children to “be bored” and then found them doing something amazing, like building a fort or creating something.
He wants everyone to adopt him, regardless of their age.