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Finding Ways to Be Productive in the Winter - a little behind-the-scenes insight.

Writer's picture: Deborah BurrowDeborah Burrow

I'm pretty sure you can identify with the struggles of working in Winter, particularly in Northern Hemisphere! The dreary weather, short daylight hours and being stuck indoors most of the time all has an impact on our motivation and happiness. To some degree everyone is affected by the amount of quality sunlight they are exposed to and I have noticed that all of my creative friends are particularly vulnerable.


On a practical level the greatest challenge to an artist is the lack of decent light to work with - the winter affects the quality of the light and how long we get it. Good light is paramount in painting because it affects the way colours appear and it how we see details and subtleties in our work.


So with the reduced availability of good light, the drop in motivation and the weather keeping us mostly indoors, it requires a few adjustments to get the most out of our time to still be productive during the winter so that we can keep our creative juices flowing healthily. Keeping ourselves healthy in mind and body can also be challenging during the winter.

I'm going to share the ways I keep healthy and productive, and I know that a lot of my creative friends do the same.


Routine

This may seem like a strange one to start with, but over the years I have learned that routine is the key to keeping myself going all year round, but particularly during the winter.

A personal motto I came up with during 2024.
A personal motto I came up with during 2024.

Giving myself a routine ensures all the daily things that need doing keep up to date. When we feel down and unmotivated it so easily spills over into other areas other than work. The washing up gets left, the house cleaning doesn't get done and even getting to bed at a reasonable time slips.

So making sure that those domestic things that are vital get done each day helps the following day start well by taking pressure off and leave time to be creative.


Finding a routine of getting into the studio is also imperative. Even if you can only commit to 15 mins a day sometimes it is better than nothing (and staves of any guilt). You can pretty much guarantee that by the time 15 mins is up, you'll be wanting to stay a bit longer too! Making the studio inviting with light and sound (BBC Radio 2 for me) and taking a cuppa in your favourite mug can really help!


Light

Since the daylight is so crucial, it goes without saying that making the most of what we get each day is so important. This means being awake with the curtains open in the morning through to sunset. Sounds obvious, but when we feel really low it's too easy to stay in bed til noon and wallow in our lethargy! Getting up around noon only gives you about 4 hours of daylight in December and January!!

Some of that awake time needs to be outside. If you have a dog that's easy, but for those who don't, then walking round to the shop or tidying up in the garden for 20 mins can be a life-line for our daylight deprived eyes!


When the sun goes down I use proper daylight lamps that diffuses the light evenly in the studio. Painting under anything other than daylight lumen really affects the process. I can't emphasis enough how important it is to have a good daylight studio light. They are much more affordable than they used to be when I first starting painting professionally, so getting hold of one is much easier on the pocket now.

Being a sufferer of SAD a proper daylight lamp really makes a difference to my mood too.


Physical Health

As I mentioned before walking is important (or whatever you do outside during daylight hours).

I have a dog, and I have arthritis so walking is best for me personally, and during that 40min walk I get vital daylight and my circulation and breathing gets exercised. I live in a suburban area where there are parks, and if you live in a town, you need some greenery to unwind in. Research shows that parks with a lot of trees offer quality oxygenated air to enjoy, and the sounds of birds and seeing wildlife to be calming.


I find Vitamin D supplements really help during the winter months too. As we can't make enough from sunlight then a supplement is the way to get that much needed intake. I have found it to make a real difference to my mood and energy.


Creativity

In previous years I have talked about the natural rhythm of the seasons and how it affects us creatively. For example, Spring is a good time to start on new projects, Summer is great for creativity to be in full swing and Autumn for reaping the benefits of Spring and Summers labours. Winter therefore is a time for reflection on the year and for planning for the forthcoming year. (It is also time to rest and recuperate from a busy year. January is a good time to do this as it naturally is a quieter time after the hubbub of Christmas and New Year celebrations).

I still find this relevant to my practice as an artist, and I always enjoy reflecting and planning. These days however, I am even more productive by reflecting on the previous month and planning for the coming month. I think this added activity has benefitted me personally and kept me more present during the winter months.


For me, 2025 has started well and I am lucky enough to have a large commission on the easel and so I have much motivation to get in the studio and work at the moment. But I still make time for that precious me-time where I take care of my health, wellbeing and career development.


I hope by sharing a little of the behind the scenes in my artist's life inspires you or someone you know to send the winter blues packing with some simple strategies for coping with the Northern Hemisphere Winter.

And let's not forget that some aspects of winter can be quite magical...


The Magic of Winter ©Deborah Burrow
The Magic of Winter ©Deborah Burrow

Back again soon,

Debs x



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