Started by Jeanna Wigger, the Winter of Care and Repair is a challenge that runs from the winter solstice to the spring equinox, encouraging people to make time and space for care and community in their daily lives. I'll link the article where she goes into more detail about it. I found out about it from the Check Your Thread podcast (2024, 2025) and have tried to make a care plan every year since. This year, the winter solstice is on December 21st, and the challenge will end on the spring equinox, which will be March 20th.
"Participants are encouraged to create their own care and repair plan that suits their lifestyle, time, and wishes. The only guidelines are that the project happens during winter, and is related in some way to taking care of yourself, your belongings, your relationships, and/or your community." -The People's Mending
My targets this year:
- Finish the mending pile. Somehow this makes it onto my list every year.
- Get on top of house chores by figuring out a schedule that can adapt to my disability and dynamic symptoms.
- Declutter my wardrobe. Sell or pass on clothes that don't suit or fit me anymore.
- Resist the urge to hibernate and make time for friends and family even when the sun goes down at 4:30pm.
- Attend queer social events to connect with the wider community in my city.
I'm trying to remember that it's okay if I don't complete every single target, I just need to try and do something every day to keep care in mind. It is a strategy that worked well enough for me last month with the writing challenge so I'm putting it to the test again. Some care is still better than no care. I'll make another post in March to let you know how it went. Until then, happy winter :)