Winter Well-Being: Self care tips for navigating the darkest months of the year

❄️ Mindful Movement

• Take walks on days with decent weather

• Attend a heated workout class

• Enjoy time in the sauna

• Practice yoga or stretching

❄️ Cozy Media List

• Keep a list of books, movies, music, or shows that evoke warmth—something to look forward to during long, dark evenings. Plan for these moments as a way to create joyful anticipation.

❄️ Add Warmth and Color to Your Life

• Food: Enjoy soups, seasonal vegetables, and comfort foods

• Clothing: Wear cozy, warm clothes

• Décor: Add candles, fuzzy throw blankets, and textured or fluffy pillows

• Lighting: Use more lights or warm-toned lighting (change lightbulbs, light candles)

• Comfort: Take warm showers or baths, use heating pads

❄️ Intentional Rest

• Allow yourself to rest your body—think of it as "hibernation mode."

• Go to bed earlier to align with winter’s natural rhythm

❄️ Engage Intentionally with Nature

• Ask yourself: What elements of nature during winter do I find beautiful or interesting?

❄️ Winter Recipe List

• Keep a list of recipes you’d like to rotate through the winter months or try for the first time.

❄️ Create a Winter Activities List

Focus on activities that bring you joy and connection, such as:

• Winter holiday traditions

• Gatherings with friends:

  • Themed dinners (e.g., Soup Night)

  • Movie nights or marathons (in person or via Zoom)

  • Game nights

  • Set consistent times to meet up with others

• Puzzle while listening to music or an audiobook

• Craft or create

• Donate or volunteer

• Journal or write a letter to a friend

• Schedule in a digital cleanse or intentional downtime from screens

❄️ Organize a Space That Needs TLC

• Give yourself permission to take your time with this. The goal is to create serenity in your space, not to maximize productivity.

❄️ Enjoy the Stillness of Winter

• Spend time outside when possible to appreciate the quiet

• Embrace the slower pace of life—or, if life feels fast, see if you can carve out time for slowness

• Consider journaling as a way to reflect on where you've been and what you anticipate with the coming of spring

❄️ Winter Senses

• Diffuse seasonal essential oils (e.g., cinnamon, cedarwood, peppermint, orange)

• Sip on warming drinks like chai, herbal tea, or mulled cider

• Use a fireplace if you have one or find a ‘crackling fire’ sound online to listen to if you don’t

Ideas adapted from my own work and that of Dr. Margaret Duncan