A Hermit Hibernation

9 Benefits of Seeking Solitude

For the entire duration of winter 2022-2023, I unplugged from social media and email. I uninstalled all the necessary apps from my phone, and I paused distribution of my monthly author newsletter. From the winter solstice to spring equinox, I cocooned myself into a winter hibernation, deliberately seeking solitude and turning inward. I intentionally listened to what my mind, body, heart, and spirit told me they needed. During that time, I endeavored to finish writing my first nonfiction book, put a dent in my ceiling-high unread book stack, take daily walks in the park, adopt better eating habits, sleep more, and make short, inspiring road trips.

The time away was so effective, in fact, that I plan on prioritizing a winter break for the rest of my life.

Since I was a little girl, every year right after Christmas, when the days become shorter and the nights longer, darker, and colder, I have struggled with what my Meme used to call “the winter blues.” Today, I know the condition to be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as “seasonal depression,” a type of depression that can take root as the seasons change, typically reoccurring around the same time every year. For me, SAD conjures mood swings and zaps energy, which severely informs my creativity. And when my energy is low and my motivation flat on the ground, social media can amplify feelings of inadequacy, envy, sadness, and worry. As such, last year I unplugged… and the time away felt like a nourishing, holistic retreat.

Writing is hard work, and sometimes being an author can feel like a rat race. Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and at times even spiritually, writing requires motivation (first and foremost), discipline, inspiration, opportunity, physical materials—which, for me, looks like a hoard of notebooks and pens—and zero distractions. Sitting at the keyboard and letting my fingers work their magic is the easiest part. What happens after the writing is finished is what’s so difficult. Laborious. Maddening. Exhausting.

Until signing a contract with La Panthère Studio in the summer of this year, I was a self-published author and have been for many years. From concept to execution, the process for getting one’s book into the hands of readers can be a grueling race. But, what happens after a book launch? Days, weeks, months later when the author has done everything in their power to build a readership, what else is there to do? What happens when all the tedious and arduous work grinds to a halt before a rejection letter (or a hundred) and/or a deflating review (or a dozen)? What’s next when one is exhausted—both physically and mentally—but the insatiable algorithm needs feeding in order to maintain relevance? And what about when productivity and results are high, yet the grind has threatened to unravel sleep patterns, priorities, and relationships? How does one prevent and/or rise from a plummeting energy spiral? How can one adjust to uncontrollable environmental changes?

Whether we want to or not, whether we like it or not, our minds-bodies-hearts-spirits must have a break from whatever hectic race we’re running. Without rest, athletes run the risk of burnout, overexertion, and injury. These consequences can be the same for caregivers, hospitality workers, healthcare professionals, educators, the list goes on. In my experience as a creative person, not stepping back and prioritizing rest stifles my motivation to continue writing. Rest is necessary, otherwise an energy crash is inevitable. And for me, some crashes have felt impossible to overcome.

In the tarot, after The Chariot (which was the card for 2023) has encouraged you to endure the race, after Strength has gently reminded you of how much stronger you are than your fears, The Hermit taps his walking stick against your door and invites you to come along with him on a retreat. But this is no spring picnic—journeying with The Hermit means a deliberate, inward-focused period of solitude. The Hermit’s withdrawal is a quest for personal truth, seeking guidance and/or answers. He endeavors to experience physical rest, mental clarity, and spiritual illumination, and if you join him, he can show you how to do the same.

Although working with The Hermit’s energy comes naturally to me, as I am extremely introverted and his card is my Soul Card, I can appreciate another writer’s hesitancy to answer the door when the old man comes calling. Might I remind you that retreat is not quitting. Taking a break from the algorithm does not mean you will be left behind and/or forgotten. And the solitude you are seeking is not intended for a prolonged state—The Hermit’s retreats are just long enough that they are healing, nourishing, and enlightening. When you are ready, the hooded recluse can deliver you back to your writer’s desk feeling renewed, inspired, and prepared to reenter the race.

In the event that you feel hesitant and/or anxiety around pausing from your grind, I have uncovered nine benefits of seeking solitude. Rachel Pollack, author of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, wrote this about The Hermit,  “By withdrawing from the outer world, we can awaken the inner self.” My hope for you is that one of these benefits might resonate, supporting and encouraging you to deliberately pause and withdraw, thus fueling an intuitive and creative awakening.

9 Benefits of Seeking Solitude

And now it’s time for me to retreat into my annual Hermit hibernation. From the winter solstice (12/21) until February 1, I will be unplugging from newsletter-writing, Substack storytelling, and regular social media posting. During this time, I am committed to organizing the extensive research I’ve done over the past couple of years for my new book series. Find more details about that in my October Haint Bluesletter.

As they say around these parts, “in the meantime, in between time,” I hope you find comfort and rest this holiday season, and that you have a thrilling and prosperous 2024!

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In her more than thirty years as a storyteller and visual designer, Amanda “Mandy” Hughes has written and designed over a dozen works of literary, Southern Gothic, and women’s fiction under pen names A. Lee Hughes and Mandy Lee.

Mandy is the founder of Haint Blue Creative^®, a space for readers and storytellers to explore, learn, and create. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Psychology, and she has worked as an instructional designer for nearly twenty years.

When she’s not writing, Mandy enjoys the movies, theater, music, traveling, nature walks, birdwatching, and binging The Office. She is a tarot enthusiast who uses the cards to enhance creativity and foster wellness. She lives in Georgia with her husband and four sons, two of whom are furrier than the others (but not by much). Visit her website at haintbluecreative.com and follow her on Instagram @haintbluecreative.