Being Mindful This Winter Solstice

On Sunday, December 21, 8:03 a.m. the Winter Solstice officially began. That time and date mark the shortest day and longest night of the year. For all creatures inhabiting Earth, the length of daylight is fundamental to life. After all, the sun is our ultimate source of light and warmth.

The psychologically effect of this event is that starting on December 22, 2025, we stopped losing daily sunlight, a loss which has been progressing since June 20. Finally, daylight will begin to increase.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, during the week leading up to Christmas, we saw just 9 hours and 11 minutes of daylight. “By New Year’s Day, daylight increases to 9 hours, 15 minutes. By mid-January, the daily increase of light jumps to about two minutes a day. By February 20, daylight-gain speeds up to three minutes per day! On the 20th, the day length is 10 hours, 53 minutes, and on the 21st, it’s 10 hours, 56 minutes. In May, the increase slows back to two minutes gain per day.”

Across cultures and traditions, the solstice has long been associated with slowing down, reflecting, and honoring the need for restoration. In essence, it invites us to mimic nature’s dormancy during winter. Emotionally and energetically, the solstice is ideal for reflection, whether that takes the form of journaling, meditation, or honest self-inquiry about the year that has passed.

Many people use this time to acknowledge lessons learned, to process unresolved emotions, and to consciously let go of any habits, relationships, or beliefs that no longer serve a constructive purpose. With this renewal symbolism, celebrations often center around light—candles, fires, and warm gatherings — serving as a form of connection during darker times. Other celebrations encourage us to make time to appreciate the natural world. A Winter Solstice hike can quickly become a mindful practice when we focus on the silence of the space around us with quiet reflection.

So the big question becomes, what will you do with all this added daylight? In today’s fast-paced, digital world, the Winter Solstice can offer a much-needed opportunity to realign our lives with the rhythms of nature.