The Art of Feeling Good

December has a particular kind of quiet to it. The days feel shorter, the light arrives late and disappears early, and—somewhere between the end-of-year rush and the “new year, new me” noise—many of us are simply trying to keep our heads above water.

If you’re feeling tired, flat, unmotivated, or a bit emotionally “foggy”, you’re not alone. Dark, short days can affect mood, energy, and our sense of possibility. And while I can’t promise a magical fix, I can offer a handful of gentle, practical ways to support your mental wellbeing through the rest of December and into January—alongside a little insight into why I make the art I make (and how it can become part of your everyday feeling-good toolkit).

Feeling good doesn’t have to be big

When people talk about wellbeing, it can sometimes sound like a full-time job: overhaul your routine, meditate for an hour, eat perfectly, do cold plunges, start running at 6am… and somehow also enjoy yourself.

But for many of us—especially in December—small is the only sustainable option. So let’s focus on the micro-moments that help you feel a little more like yourself.

Here are a few “dark-day” supports that genuinely work (and don’t require a personality transplant).

1) Chase daylight like it’s a non-negotiable

I know this sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most effective ways to lift mood and regulate sleep. If you can, try to get outside during the brightest part of the day—even if it’s just 10–15 minutes.

A few realistic options:

• A short walk after lunch (even around the block)
• Standing outside with a warm drink
• Parking a little further away to add a few minutes of light exposure
• Sitting near a window first thing in the morning

It’s not about productivity. It’s about reminding your nervous system, “We’re here. We’re safe. There’s still light.”

2) Add warmth and “soft light” to your environment

In winter, your home becomes more than a place to sleep—it becomes your main emotional landscape. Lighting matters more than we give it credit for.

Try:

• Switching to warmer bulbs in the rooms you use most
• Adding lamps at eye level (instead of relying on overhead lights)
• Lighting a candle at the same time each evening as a calming cue
• Making one corner of your home feel like a small sanctuary

This is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about art in the home. You don’t just live in a space—you feel in it. You absorb it.

3) Move your body in a way that feels kind

You don’t need intense workouts to support mental wellbeing. In fact, during heavier seasons, “gentle consistency” can be far more nourishing than pushing yourself hard.

Try:

• A 5–10 minute stretch while the kettle boils
• A slow walk with music
• A dance in the kitchen (yes, it counts)
• A short yoga video
• Any movement that brings you back into your body

Often, we’re not lacking discipline—we’re lacking softness.

4) Protect your attention like it’s precious (because it is)

Winter can make us more vulnerable to spiralling. Doom-scrolling, comparison, constant news, the pressure of “what everyone else is doing”… it all adds up.

A few simple boundaries:

• Put your phone in another room for the first 20 minutes of the day
• Create a “no scroll after 9pm” rule (or any time that suits you)
• Curate your feed—unfollow what drains you, follow what steadies you
• Choose one comforting input each day (a book, a podcast, music, a film)

Think of your attention as a fireplace. Don’t keep throwing damp wood on it and then wonder why it won’t catch.

5) Let yourself need people

Winter can be isolating, even when life looks “busy.” The truth is: we’re not meant to do the dark months alone.

Consider:

• Sending one honest message to a friend (something as simple as “Fancy a cuppa?”)
• Planning a low-pressure meet-up (a walk, not a big night out)
• Joining something small and local (a class, a gallery visit, a workshop)
• Allowing support, even if you feel like you “should be fine”

Connection doesn’t have to be intense to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s just a familiar voice and a shared laugh.

Where art fits in (and why I create the way I do)

I make abstract mixed-media art because I’m fascinated by what we feel—often before we have words for it.

Layering, texture, colour, contrast… these aren’t just visual choices for me. They’re emotional ones.

• Layers reflect real life: the parts we show, the parts we hide, the parts we’re still becoming.
• Texture is proof of movement: a reminder that something has happened, shifted, softened, or survived.
• Colour is a mood language: it can energise, soothe, brighten, steady—sometimes all at once.
• Contrast is the season itself: dark and light side-by-side, each making the other more visible.

In the winter months especially, I’m drawn to the idea that beauty doesn’t have to shout. Sometimes it simply holds you. Sometimes it helps you breathe.

And I love hearing how people experience that in their own homes. One collector said: “I love the vibrant energy in these pieces… It always brightens my day to see your work!”
That right there is the heart of it for me—art that meets you where you are, then gently lifts the atmosphere around you.

Art as a daily wellbeing practice

We often think of wellbeing as something we do, but it’s also something we surround ourselves with.

Art can become:

• A visual anchor when everything feels busy
• A spark of optimism in the darker months
• A reminder of your taste, your identity, your aliveness
• A moment of pause in a world that rushes

If you’re an interior design lover, you already understand this instinctively. The colours you choose, the objects you keep, the spaces you create—these are all forms of self-care.

Art is one of the few things in a home that doesn’t just “match the sofa.” It can genuinely shift how a room feels—and how you feel in it.

A gentle December-to-January reset (without the pressure)

If you want a simple way to move through the rest of December with a little more steadiness, here’s a tiny plan you can try:

• One light ritual each day (daylight, a lamp, a candle)
• One body reset (stretch, walk, shake it out)
• One connection point (message, chat, small meet-up)
• One nourishing input (music, book, art, calm content)
• One moment of beauty (notice it, create it, bring it into your space)

That’s it. No perfection. No “new year, new you.” Just a more supported you.

Some thoughts

For me, The Art of Feeling Good isn’t about being happy all the time. It’s about creating small pockets of brightness—especially when the world feels dim.

It’s about choosing gentle habits, kinder environments, and meaningful objects. It’s about remembering that light returns, slowly and surely.

And yes—sometimes it’s about bringing a piece of art into your home that makes you feel something good when you walk past it. Something steady. Something hopeful. Something like you.

If you’d like to explore artwork that brings colour, texture and warmth into your space—whether that’s an original, a print, or even smaller pieces like greeting cards or journals—consider this your soft invitation.

Here’s to the rest of December: slower, softer, and a little brighter where we can make it.