8 Helpful Self-Care Tips to Help You Survive Winter
As beautiful and aesthetically enchanting as winter can be, it can also be a challenging season for many of us. The combination of cold temperatures, shorter and darker days, and the prolonged lack of sunlight can definitely take a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. But incorporating the right self-care winter practices can actually help us navigate the season much more easily, so that we can actually embrace the colder months, and even thrive during them.
So if winter is a season you struggle with, then here are my top 8 helpful self-care winter tips to help you nurture yourself and survive winter.
1. Stay Active (Indoors and or Outdoors)
This first point is one of the most important self-care winter tips to help you survive the colder months: Staying active and Keep moving.
When the weather turns frosty and the days shorter, it is extremely tempting to just stay curled up on the couch or bed, and even better if wrapped in a big and warm blanket. However, making sure you keep moving and maintain regular physical activity can be tremendously helpful in keeping your spirits and energy high during winter.
As always, just pick up whatever works best for you. As long as it’s something that helps you keep moving, then it’s good enough.
- Indoors: If you’re more inclined toward indoor exercise, then try home workouts like yoga, Pilates, or even strength training. If you don’t know where to start, just go online. You’ll find countless free workout videos there to help you stay motivated. And maybe try new disciplines you never tried before. You might find some that you’ll enjoy a lot.
- Outdoors: Going outdoors can also be vivifying. So if going out is more your thing, then why not just bundle up and go out for a brisk walk or maybe even try some winter sports like ice skating or skiing (skiing is such a fun activity if you can afford it). You can also aim for something simpler, and just head out for a short walk in the fresh air. Even if it’s a short one, a quick walk can always help your mood, and combat the winter blues.
So even if you feel like staying curled up under your blanket during winter, staying active and moving still remains particularly important for your health and to help you combat the winter blues.
2. Prioritize Your Sleep
We should never underestimate the power of good sleep. Sleep plays such a vital role in your overall well-being that it is not a surprise it’s always one of the top self-care tips.
During winter, you might find that your body naturally craves more sleep. If this is your case, then do not hesitate to prioritize sleep, and even aim for longer sleeping hours. (Personally, my body does need more sleep during winter, so I know that I have to go to bed earlier to keep feeling fresh and sharp.)
Simple sleeping tips I feel we could all benefit from:
- Aim for at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
- Create a calming bedtime routine to help you unwind and come back to yourself at the end of the day. Dim the lights, put away screens for some time, and engage in some slow and calming activities (I personally really enjoy doing some yoga or stretching, then some reading afterwards–but you do you.) (You can find my personal guide on how to create a calming night routine here with 5 simple steps here.)
- Consider using a weighted blanket for extra warmth and comfort (these are great, they just make you feel so comfy and cozy and warm).
Sleep is a major self-care winter tip, so do not hesitate to make it a priority. Try to get some good and adequate rest every night (and even aim for longer hours if you feel like it’s something your body needs).
3. Embrace Hygge and Cozy Up
If you’ve never heard of it, Hygge is a famous Danish concept that is all about creating a sense of coziness and comfort in your life to relax and enjoy the moment. And winter is the perfect time to embrace it and put it into daily practice.
These are some of my favorite ways to embrace Hygge:
- Light some candles, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, and sip on a warm beverage (I really enjoy homemade spicy hot chocolate or ginger tea – but you do you, just pick your favorite winter drink).
- Spend time focusing on doing slow activities that actually bring you joy, whether it’s reading, journaling, knitting, etc…. Focusing on things that make you happy can definitely help you from succumbing to the winter gloom.
- Surround yourself with warm and soft lighting, soft textures, and calming music to create a soothing environment at home to help you relax, unwind, and warm yourself up.
Trying to cultivate a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel good and relaxed at home is an important self-care winter tip, as it can help you feel more content and grounded during the season.
4. Nourish Your Body with Seasonal Foods
Nourishing your body with healthy, nutrient-dense foods is important all year long for your health and well-being, of course. But it is even more important during winter, when your body needs extra nutrients to stay healthy and support a strong immune system to combat all the winter infections.
- Incorporate seasonal foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and citrus fruits into your daily meals. All of these are particularly rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Have fun and try some new warming, hearty meals like soups, stews, and casseroles you’ve never tried before.
- Maybe invite some friends or family over for dinner and make a nice evening out of it. (Sharing good food with people you love always makes it more special, doesn’t it?)
Nourishing your body with seasonal and nutrient-dense foods is important for proper nutrition, which will help you maintain your energy levels and ward off winter illnesses.
And don’t forget to drink plenty of water (or herbal teas) to stay hydrated.
5. Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Many people experience a real dip in mood and spirits when winter comes around, which is theorized to be caused by reduced sunlight exposure. So if you find yourself feeling more sluggish, maybe, or even more down than usual, it is possible that you might be dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD).
So what can you do to fix it?
- Light Therapy: Investing in a light therapy box to simulate natural sunlight can be good and helpful to regulate your body’s internal clock. (There are some great ones out there that don’t cost much, so you don’t have to purchase an expensive one. Here’s a complete guide on how to choose yours.)
- Get Outside: Embrace the little light there is! Whenever the sun is shining, try to go out and soak it up as much as you can, even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes. A little bit of sun is always better than none.
- Stay Social: This one is important. Really. Connecting with loved ones can make all the difference in lifting your spirits, whether it’s meeting for coffee, having a cozy gathering at home, or even just a call (or video call). Just like the sun, a bit of socialization is better than none.
Also, if you’re feeling really down, and your symptoms persist and feel overwhelming, then please do not hesitate to seek professional support. They’re here to help.
6. Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation
If winter is a hard time for you, then it can bring a lot of stress. In this case, making sure to practice some mindfulness or meditation or yoga (or whichever calming relaxation tool that works best for you) can help you reduce stress, and stay calm and present.
- Meditate: You don’t need to aim for a long session. Just spending 5-10 minutes a day meditating can be enough to help you reduce stress and center yourself.
- Deep Breathing Exercises: Proper breathwork (long, deep breaths) can help you quickly lower your stress levels and promote relaxation.
- Journaling: Write down three things you’re grateful or happy for each day to help cultivate a mindset that is more focused on enjoyment and appreciation, rather than despairing about winter.
If you’re particularly stressed because of winter, then mindfulness practices can be great self-care tips to help you manage stress and also keep your mental and emotional balance in check.
7. Pamper Yourself with Winter Skincare
The combination of cold air and indoor heating can wreak havoc on your skin and damage it, leaving it super dry and irritated and painful. So if it is your case too, then make winter skincare a priority (especially moisturizing):
- Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping your skin of natural oils.
- Apply a rich moisturizer daily to keep your skin hydrated and protected.
- Add healthy foods that are rich in healthy fats and vitamin C to your diet. (Eating a healthy diet (especially fats) can really make a difference in your skin health.)
- Treat yourself to warm (not too hot to damage your skin barrier) and soothing baths, and add some Epsom salts or essential oils for an added dose of relaxation.
So if your skin is particularly sensitive to the cold air and indoor heating, then a proper skincare routine to nurture it can help reduce the damage of winter and any discomfort.
8. Adapt to the Season and Embrace It
If winter is a particularly rough time of year for you, then despairing and resisting it will not make it better. It will only make it worse. So instead of fighting against winter, maybe try embracing it for its unique qualities instead. Adapting to the season can definitely help bring a higher sense of enjoyment.
- Shift Your Mindset: As always, a mindset shift is always a neat magical trick. So try to view winter as the time for slowing down and reflection that it is. Use this quieter season to recharge and reconnect to yourself, while you turn your awareness within and quiet the external world.
- Engage in Seasonal Activities: Try to find activities unique to winter that bring you joy (like building a snowman, making homemade soup or baking sweet things, or watching the snowfall with a warm drink in hand, etc…there are so many things to enjoy).
- Dress Comfortably: Invest in cozy, winter clothing that you love to stay warm and comfortable. Also, layering with good and protective clothes when going out can make winter so much more enjoyable if only because you’re not freezing cold when outside.
- Create a Winter Routine: Your daily routine might need some adjustment, especially to suit the present season. This might mean spending more time on indoor hobbies or starting a new tradition like movie nights or baking days.
If winter is a particularly rough time of year for you, maybe try to embrace it instead of resisting it. With the right state of mind, I’m sure anyone can find at least one thing they genuinely enjoy during winter.
Final Thoughts
Winter, with its short days, reduced sunlight, and cold temperatures, can definitely be a tough season for many, many people.
But if you try to add some winter self-care tips and strategies to your daily routine, you can transform it into a more enjoyable season. So try staying active, nourishing your body with seasonal foods, or maybe even creating a cozy environment to relax. These are all simple but very practical self-care winter tips that can help you combat the winter toll on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
By trying to incorporate some of these 8 self-care winter tips, you might be equipped to face winter with less resistance (and more resilience and joy).
Also, do not forget to be particularly gentle with yourself, and prioritize what makes you genuinely happy and healthy.
So when you’re feeling down, go and light that candle, put on your favorite fuzzy socks and sweater, and embrace the season’s naturally slower pace. And remember, nothing ever lasts, Spring is just around the corner. For the time being – You’ve got this!