Searching for glimmers in… January

^{Mesmerising glassy waves gently lap the shore of this Ayrshire beach.}

Winter wellbeing is a challenge for all of us. Short days, filthy weather and the resulting low energy can be mood sapping. But here are some simple ways to help you manage this tricky time of year.

What is a glimmer?

Glimmers are, broadly speaking, the opposite of triggers. Where a trigger might leave us feeling sad, anxious or upset, a glimmer is a moment in time that reminds us there is joy, connection and hope in the world.

Why are glimmers helpful?

You can find out more about the science behind why glimmers are helpful in this blog post. In short, it’s about finding joyful moments in your day that help to regulate and soothe your nervous system, leaving you feeling like you’ve regained your equilibrium.

The more often you look for glimmers and make a mental note of them – or even better, write them down – you’ll train your brain to notice more of them. And you’ll feel calmer, steadier and more focused as a result.

These winter wellbeing tips are what work for me, so please feel free to use them as prompts, or think of them as springboards for what might work better for you.

Do you have a dominant sense? Are you more of a visual person, or a scent person? Perhaps music is what lights you up?

And this is one of the great joys of glimmers—they’re intensely personal. So, go forth and explore. Embrace your creativity!

John’s honey

^{Rich, golden honey fills your senses with the scent of summer. Warm days will return, honestly.}

Now, I understand that you might not have a beekeeper living nearby, but please hear me out. Do you have a farmers’ market locally? Or a farm shop? These are fantastic places to buy from tiny producers like my friend John. There’s very little money in beekeeping, so it’s great to support their skills if you possibly can. And the rewards for you are huge.

John’s summer honey smells like you’re floating in a bath of warm, silken flower petals. You’re completely immersed in their richly opulent scent. And when you taste it…it’s like molten Turkish delight. Fragrant roses dance their perfume across your tastebuds. Spectacular!

Bulb tips

^{Bulb shoots are always an optimistic sight, and a welcome sign in January that spring is returning.}

These wee dwarf iris shoots are braving the -8C temperatures here in Ayrshire!

I bought a paper bag of the tiny bulbs last September from a local nursery —each bulb cost 20p, the pot is one I’ve used many times before, and I only needed a handful of compost for planting.

And how much joy have they given me, since they started peeping through the frozen soil?

An abundance of joy.

Every day they make me smile.

Every single day.

Frosty fields

^{Give your winter wellbeing a boost, by wrapping up well and going for a brisk walk. Ethereally beautiful, every blade of grass is intricately decorated with its own sheath of ice.}

Yes, it might be freezing outside, and it’s undeniably difficult to muster up the enthusiasm to leave your cosy home. But, you will feel better for getting outside, moving your body and breathing that fresh air.

Stomping over frosty fields, feeling the crisp blades of grass scrunching under your feet. Shards of light sparkle and glitter as the ice melts. Your breath clouds in the winter air.

Woolly mittens

^{Handmade in Shetland wool, these jolly and soft gloves lift my spirits every time I pull them on.}

As a knitter, winter has a special place in my heart because I can dig out all my woollies that have been stashed away during summer. But shop bought woollies are great too, especially if you’ve been able to choose some cheerful colours.

I’ve had these gloves for ages – no, not knitted by me, far too fiddly – and only just realised how fabulous they look with a newer coat.

Wrapping yourself in layers of soft fabrics during the chill of winter is very comforting. Feeling grateful for the snuggly texture of supple wool keeping them warm is something our ancestors would have done centuries ago.

What’s your favourite winter woolly to wear?

Super easy muffins in under 30 minutes

^{Once you get the hang of this simple recipe, you’ll be looking for any excuse to make them. They’re way more satisfying than biscuits too.}

I don’t know about you, but this bracingly cold weather is making me hungrier than usual.

I’ve been making variations of these delectably fluffy muffins for a couple of weeks now; they’re perfect as a mid-morning snack, or to combat the 4pm slump.

Feel free to tweak the ingredients to suit you. Make your bespoke muffins as plain or treaty as you please.

I’ve included some of my favourite variations under the main recipe.

Plain muffins can be fancied up by slathering them with cold butter, loading them with succulent jam, or drizzling them with fragrant honey.

✨ Ingredients:

100g oats

200g self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

50-100g sugar

150g sultanas/chopped nuts/crystallised ginger/chocolate chips

1-2 tsp cinnamon/vanilla extract

1-2 eggs (this recipe will work without eggs too)

400 ml milk/milk alternative

45 ml vegetable oil

✨ Method:

1️⃣ Preheat oven to 180C.

2️⃣ Line a 12 hole bun tin with paper muffin cases, or use a silicone bun tin.

3️⃣ Weigh all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl or jug.

4️⃣ Measure all wet ingredients into a small jug. Beat the eggs well, if you’re including them.

5️⃣ Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones, and combine gently with a fork. Mixing lightly is the key to airy, fluffy muffins.

6️⃣ Divide the mixture evenly into the 12 hole tin, and bake in the oven for around 20 minutes.

7️⃣ They’ll look domed, golden and slightly crisp on top when they’re ready.

8️⃣ Leave to cool for at least ten minutes, or you’ll burn your fingers and the muffins will stick to the paper cases.

✨ Variations:

🍫 Classic chocolate chip – add:

150g of your favourite chocolate chips—I use Callebaut for a richly smooth flavour

🔥 Triple ginger – for days when you need a burst of something fiery to get you going add:

1-2 tsp ground ginger, 50g glace ginger, and 25g chopped crystallised ginger

🍇 Baby bundt cakes – a simple twist on an Austrian classic, add:

150g currants or other dried vine fruits, 1 tsp allspice, a pinch of ground cloves and a grating of fresh nutmeg

Plant your own joy in January

^{Lots of roses are bee friendly, as well as being beautiful and fragrant. They’re easier to grow than you might think too.}

Do you have a sunny doorstep? Or a balcony? Perhaps you have a little backyard?

If your tiny outdoor space gets roughly five or more hours of sunshine a day – a tall order in Britain, I know – you could plant a rose in a container.

Lots of people don’t know you can grow roses in pots – but you can – and they will thrive, given basic care. Watering weekly, or more in dry spells, feeding once a year, and snipping off faded flowers—that’s all.

January is a fantastic time to buy and plant a bare root rose. They’re much cheaper to buy than potted roses, and you can find some bargains online. My favourite supplier is Bunker’s Hill Nursery, who have a wonderful selection of spectacular roses at incredibly reasonable prices.

Looking at flowers, plants and trees is great for our wellbeing. And sometimes we can’t get outside as often as we’d like. Making the most of any outdoor space with clever planting can give you a huge boost to your winter wellbeing, especially if you position green things where you can see them from inside.

You don’t need much space either. Which is why I set up Tiny Gardens, so I can help people use their windowsills, patios and doorsteps and turn them into gorgeous oases full of abundant foliage and flowers. Growing your own glimmers is incredibly easy too.

How about booking a Tiny Gardens chat with me, so we can talk through some easy care plants for your outdoor space?

Freelance copywriter and garden designer.