Introducing the Candlelit Morning Challenge
As I write this, Iām staring out my office window at a gloomy, dark, rainy sky.
Summer is officially dead and fall is alive and well. In just a few more weeks it will be winter.
As the seasons shift and we head into the darker months of the year, itās only natural that we should shift too. After all, weāve adapted to live and work with each season as it comes for all of evolutionary history.
We learned to wake and sleep with the rising and falling of the sun, which meant that in the spring and summer we evolved to wake earlier, stay up later and work and play harder during the long, sunny days. On the flip side, in the fall and winter we naturally evolved to slow down and sleep more.
But nowadays, our modern society praises and prioritizes going hard all of the time. The less you rest and the more you work, the more society rewards you (or so it would seem).
The curse of modernization
So much about the way our modern life and workday is designed dates back to the Industrial Revolution. Prior to this point in history, most people lived agrarian lifestyles (ie. farmers, homesteaders, etc.) But when industrialization took hold and people began moving to the city in droves to work in factories, the push for productivity skyrocketed.
Keep in mind, the lightbulb was also invented during the latter part of industrialization, which allowed people to work longer hours under artificial lighting. Farmers may have still depended on natural light to get their work done, but factory workers could suddenly work through the night if required, and theyād never even know what time it was.
This trend has continued into the present day. Between our lights and TVs and phones and computers, we hardly ever shut off.
According to the CDC, 1 in 3 adult Americans donāt get enough sleep, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder. Itās not too hard to connect the dots between each of these issues and our lifestyle of living and working on an unnatural cycle and the confusion we put our bodies through every time we bombard ourselves with artificial lighting (which is pretty much daily).
Of course, in this day and age itās made even worse by the fact that weāre constantly looking at screens, whether TV, phone or computer. And weāre always connected through email and social media, but weāre more isolated than ever before and our connections to social media and our inbox arenāt always healthy ones. Not to mention the constant (bad) news cycle and ādoom scrolling!ā
In some cases it even crosses the line into addiction. If youāve seen the documentary The Social Dilemma, you know thatās no mistake; Itās exactly how these platforms have been designed.
What we consume matters
I talk a lot about the food that we eat and the products that we use and why itās so important to choose well and be mindful of what we consume, but this doesnāt end at food and cosmetics. We also have to be mindful of what are brains are consuming, including the light weāre letting in and the content weāre consuming through social and traditional media.
Because I, like so many other people on this planet, have succumbed to the bad habit of reaching for my phone first thing in the morning and starting my day off by looking at a bright, artificial blue light screen, checking my email and scrolling my social media feeds. It immediately raises my blood pressure and my anxiety first thing in the morning, but I still feel compelled to do it.
I know Iām not alone. Not even close! And so, last week, I decided to do something about it.
I woke up around 6:00. The house was still dark, and it was the first morning that had really felt like fall. It was earlier than I usually wake up on the weekdays, so I decided I had at least an hour before I āhadā to check email and social media. For whatever reason, I decided to light a candle instead as I made my morning coffee and went through the motions of my morning routine.
I immediately felt different than I did most mornings. I felt calmer and more peaceful. I felt happier and more grateful!
It was a small action, but I felt a huge shift. Everything flowed easier. The morning felt less rushed and chaotic. I felt less anxious than I was used to feeling at the start of the day.
I knew right away I had stumbled upon a morning routine I could stick with; One that was so incredibly simple and seemed so obvious in the moment that I wondered why it had taken me so long to figure it out.
I eventually had to blow out my candle and start my day, but the magic didnāt stop there. I noticed that my whole day ran more smoothly after starting the day off in candlelight.
And so, the next morning I decided to start my day off the same way, and again I noticed the same phenomenon.
A small but impactful morning challenge
I posted about my new morning routine over on my Instagram page, and I started getting messages almost immediately from others who were intrigued and who wanted to try starting their day by candlelight too. Thatās when I got the idea for the candlelit morning challengeā¦
I put it out there to my community and encouraged anyone who was interested to commit to starting their day by candlelight too.
Iāve already had messages from people who have taken up the challenge and whoāve expressed what a game-changer this simple act has made in their life. And so today Iām putting the challenge out there to you too!
If youāre reading this at the time of posting, during the month of October, 2021, Iām running an official challenge over on Instagram and asking that when you do decide to pick up your phone, that you take a quick photo of your candlelit morning and post it, either to Instagram stories or to your feed.
Use the hashtag #candlelitmorningchallenge and tag me @thehouseandhomestead and Iāll re-share your post, plus youāll be entered to win a naturally scented candle from one my favourite essential oils company (and affiliate partner) Plant Therapy.
The challenge officially runs until the end of October. Iāll be drawing a winner on November 1st, 2021. But donāt let that stop you from continuing with this morning routine if you fid that it serves you. Because the greatest reward isnāt winning the giveaway or getting the āsocial crewā that comes from sharing your photos to Instagram. The greatest reward is the real positive impacts that starting your day off in candlelight can have on your life and your overall well-being.
Wait, I thought this was about avoiding social media in the morning??
Itās not lost on me that Iām asking you to post your candlelit morning photos to Instagram after ranting about the negative impacts of social media, but letās be honest: Youāre probably going to pick up your phone and check social media eventually. Why not do it with intention and spread a positive message to others who might benefit from changing up their own morning routine??
Whether or not you decide to participate in the official Instagram challenge, I do hope youāll try lighting a candle to start your day instead of reaching for your phone or flipping on your bright overhead lights. Even if all you have is a minute to spare in the morning, make it an intentional minute that allows your mind, body and spirit to wake in a more natural way that supports your health and mental wellbeing.
Our mornings are the foundation that we build our days on, and our days are the foundation we build our lives on. If one small act and one tiny flicker in the darkness has the power to change everything for the better, why not try it for at least one morning?
You have the power to choose your own actions
The world is hurting right now. Our collective anxiety is up and the unnatural way that so many of us are living is only making things worse. But we have the power to change how we operate in the world we live in. Often the biggest impacts come from the smallest changes. For me, this has been one of the most positive impacts Iāve experienced in my own life lately, and if I can share it with others and help even one other person create positive change in their own life, Iām all for it.
After all, thatās why I started this blog to begin with: To share information that can help you live a healthier, happier, more self-sufficient life where YOU are in control and empowered to change how you operate in a world where we are constantly presented with (and even encouraged to make) unhealthy decisions that impact us and the people around us.
Try it. Just for one day. If it makes you feel good, consider trying it again. And if you feel so inclined, let me know how itās impacted your own life.
If you want to participate in the official challenge, remember to post your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #candlelitmorningchallenge and tag me @thehouseandhomestead so I can re-share your post and enter your name into the giveaway.
Or simply keep it to yourself, but be sure to celebrate the fact that youāve made an intentional decision to start your day by doing something good for yourself.
Thereās a lot of things about this world that we canāt change, but no matter how much seems like itās out of our control, remember that you always have the power to choose your own actions.
As the Chinese proverb goes, āit is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.ā
Stay well, friend.
Until next time,
Wishing you homemade, homegrown, homestead happiness š
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Despite fending off an eagle attack the other day, a sneaky raccoon got into the chicken run early this morning and took out one of our girls.
Having animals die is definitely the hardest part of homesteading, but itās a reality of this lifestyle that everyone must come to terms with sooner or later.
While we care for our chickens and want to give them the best life possible while theyāre here, we understand that theyāre livestock, not pets, and that weāre not the only creatures who see them as a food source.
Luckily we have a new flock of up-and-comers who will be ready to lay in a few months. Until then, egg production around here is gonna be pretty scarce.
So this is 35ā¦
I decided to read my horoscope today (since itās my birthday and all). I donāt really buy into the horoscope predictions, but I do think thereās something to be said for the personality traits weāre born with when the stars are aligned just so. Here are a few snippets that I found to be almost eerily on point:
āTauruses born on May 18 are characterized by love of freedom and independenceā¦They possess extraordinary creative energy, and they are never without an important cause to champion. They enjoy taking risks, but only when they believe the risk really matters.
As a rule, most decided early in life what they wanted to do and are not likely to deviate from that path. Their independent spirit makes them ideally suited to careers where they are their own boss, or are at least autonomous within a larger structure.
May 18 people want to make it on their own. No matter how successful they become, they never forget their roots and may even draw upon them for inspiration.ā
Every year on my birthday I reflect on where Iām at, where Iām headed and where Iāve come from, and all I can say is that each year Iām only more grateful to be living life on my own terms, doing what I love most next to the people I love more than anything else in the world.
Iāll never forget where I came from and Iāll never have any regrets, because I wouldnāt be right where I am now without all of the experiences -good, bad or otherwise- that Iāve had along the way.
I knew when I was a little girl that I wanted to be a writer and a content creator. Homesteading came a little later in life, but when I knew, I knew.
I hope to be doing what I love and sharing it with you all for the next 35 years too! (Well, actually, if Iām being honest, Iād like to retire and throw my phone in the river long before that;) But until that day comes, thanks for being here to celebrate life with me today and every day. Cheers to another turn around the sun š»
My daughter stayed overnight at her grandmaās last night, and this morning when I talked to my mom she said āEvelyn told me sheās never been to the doctor before.ā
Proudly, I replied āno, she hasnāt, because sheās never needed to.ā This is thanks in large part to the fact that we keep a well stocked natural medicine cabinet at home and do our best to treat everyday illnesses and ailments ourselves.
Having a well-stocked home apothecary (and the know-how to use herbal and natural medicine at home) is yet another important piece of the self-sufficiency puzzle, and one that weāre working on a lot right now, both in our home and in my membership program, the Society of Self-Reliance.
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This is also a great time to plant certain medicinal herbs so that youāve got a personal, sustainable supply of herbal medicine at home, because who knows what supply chain issues are gonna hit next!
To help make building and stocking your home apothecary or natural medicine cabinet a little easier, I compiled a list of all the ingredients I like to keep on hand for making my own medicinal preparations, as well as a suggested list of herbs to start growing or stocking up on, and some other great resources to help you get started preparing and using your own herbal medicine at home.
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to read the full article and download the checklist, or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/stock-a-home-apothecary/
With Easter just around the corner, why not forgo the dry, lackluster store-bought hot cross buns this year and make your own from scratch instead!
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Oh, and none of those awful, hard, jujube candies that you often find in store-bought hot cross buns. (Seriously... Why the jujubes??)
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Stinging nettles are one of my favourite things to forage for in early spring. Theyāre ready to harvest well before just about anything is ready in our garden, and theyāre a superfood as well as a medicinal plant packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B, C & K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, plus theyāre super high in protein.
As a medicinal plant, nettles are a natural antihistamine and can help with season allergies, they have properties that reduce inflammation and especially joint inflammation and arthritis, they can be used to treat of urinary tract infections and enlarged prostate symptoms, the e been shown to lower blood pressure and control blood sugar and more!
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If you're looking to increase production in your own home garden, you know how important bees and other pollinators are to your overall yield.ā
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I don't know about you, but around here spring officially marks the beginning of what we call "busy season."ā
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I always remind myself, though, that the payoff from the work we put in at this time of year is so totally worth the extra elbow grease and long hours.ā
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The seeds we sow now will provide us with food and medicine to stock our pantry and apothecary with in the summer and fall.ā
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The projects we start now will (hopefully) be finished and ready to serve us later in the year.ā
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And the deep cleaning and organizing we do now in our homes will set the stage and the tone for the rest of the season.ā
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From starting your seeds to planting out and caring for your tomato plants all season long, I'll show you the exact method we use to grow hundreds of pounds of tomatoes at home for fresh eating and preserving each year.ā
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The summit officially starts TODAY! If you haven't registered yet, click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/bvgs to save your seat and start watching and learning right away!
āWhen I think of self-reliance, I think of any ability to rely less on āthe system.āā
I sat down with Ashley Constance from @dirtypawshomestead and the @alittleselfreliant podcast to talk about what it means to be self-reliant, if itās even possible to be 100% self-reliant and why itās a goal worth striving for even if complete and total self-reliance isnāt possible.
Be sure to check out the full interview in the latest issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine!
Subscribe @ modernhomesteadingnmagazine.com
Iād love to know, what are you currently doing to become a little (more) self-reliant? Let me know in the comments!š
What self-reliance skills do YOU want to learn most??
If you've been reading my posts or getting my emails lately, you've probably heard me mention my brand new private membership program called the Society of Self-Reliance, which is set to launch for the first time TOMORROW!!!
I'm so excited about this project as it's something I've been dreaming of creating for a long time. With everything going on in the world right now, I knew I had to stop overthinking it and just go for it!
The membership will include video lessons and downloads on a wide range of topics related to homesteading and self-reliant living, as well as a private community message board (ie. OFF social media;)
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If you haven't yet joined the waitlist, click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/society to add your name and save your spot. Waitlist members will be the first to know when enrollment opens tomorrow morning!
Hopefully you're just as excited as I am about this new venture! I've already got the first 8 video lessons up, as well as a few sweet bonuses too:)
We'll be kicking things off with the theme "Grow Your Own Groceries," and then we'll move into other topics like herbal medicine and food preservation over the summer months. But I'd also love to know from you, what self-reliance topics would YOU like to learn most over the next few months?
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I hope to see you inside!
Iāve been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to be "self-reliant."
We talk a lot about self-reliance (or self-sufficiency) in the homesteading community, and outwardly it may seem as if the goal of "achieving" self-reliance is what ultimately drives many of us to live this lifestyle in the first place.
But what does self-reliance look like in the 21st century? Is it actually achievable, or just a pipe dream?
Is it even possible to be truly self-reliant?
A few years ago, Forbes published an article titledĀ Dear Homesteaders, Self-Reliance is a Delusion.
In the article, the author arguesĀ that "self-reliance is for the most part a myth. Unless they live in an extremely remote region, use all homemade tools, and will refuse the safety net if they need it, most homesteaders are far from self-reliant."
While he makes some compelling points, but I've always felt as if he missed the point of what self-reliance actually means in real life.
No man (or woman) is an island. None of us can ever be 100% self-reliant without ever relying on anyone other than ourselves. But that doesn't mean that we should give up trying altogether.
Even one small step toward being more self-sufficient is a step in the right direction.
Maybe the point is not to everĀ BECOMEĀ self-reliant, but rather to becomeĀ MOREĀ self-reliant as we progress on our journey. Maybe self-reliance isn't a destination, but a pursuit.
Like just about everything that's worth doing,Ā working toward greater self-reliance and independence is worth doing imperfectly.Ā It's better to take a single step in the right direction than no step at all.
I decided to unpack this in more detail on the blog this week. (Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/what-is-self-reliance to read the full article).
With the doors to theĀ Society of Self-RelianceĀ opening in just a couple more days, I wanted to be sure I can confidently provide an answer to the question "what is self-reliance?"
But Iād also love to hear what YOU think!
Is self-reliance just a delusion? Is it an achievable goal? Or is it more about the journey than the destination?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
š± Have you started any seeds yet?
If not, NOW is the time!
March is a great time to start tomato seeds, peppers, lettuce, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, etc.) and direct sow peas in most gardening zones.
Starting from seed is exponentially cheaper than buying starts from the nursery, especially is youāre growing on a larger scale. But seed starting supplies can add up quickly if youāre not careful.
In the spring issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, contributor Kayla Adams of @oatsandhoneyhomestead shares her best tips for finding cheap or even free seed starting supplies. From pots and lighting options to soil and the seeds themselves, Kayla covers everything you *actually* need to start your edible garden completely from seed (and not break the bank).
Check out the full article, along with a preview of the spring issue at modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to SUBSCRIBE or login to the magazine library and read the full issue (for current subscribers).
What are you MOST excited to grow in your garden this year??
Let me know! š
#seedstarting #seeds #springgardening #growyourowngroceries
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