This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure here.
Winter can be a difficult time. The long, dark, cold nights and lack of sunshine doesn’t help. If you’re in the need of some help beating the winter blues try these winter self-care ideas. Let’s survive winter together in comfort!
Why is self-care in the winter important?
Self-care in the winter is arguably the most important! Firstly, we are stuck inside a lot of the time. This means there’s not much sunlight, which can make us tired and unmotivated.
Many people also suffer with S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is a type of depression brought on in the winter months. A.K.A the “winter blues”.
Then on top of that if you have a “9-5 job” it’s likely you go to work in the dark and when you’re done for the day the sun has already begun to set. The darkness can be a major contributor to the winter blues. Light therapy is a great way to help, but more on that later!
In order to beat the long, cold winter we need to have a winter self-care plan. That’s why I came up with this list of winter self-care ideas to help you thrive in the winter months.
Winter Self-Care Ideas:
Take care of the essential self-care needs first! This means making taking care of your mental and physical health top priority! It can be easy to fall into the trap of not getting anything done, only staying comfy and eating comfort foods…this is just going to make you feel worse.
1. Get as much sunlight as you can!
I personally have a “Happy Light” which is great for when you can’t get the real deal. This is basically just a tablet shaped device that gives off light to mimic the sun when you don’t have access to the real thing. You can set it up on your desk or wherever you want to give yourself some much needed “sunshine”.
As difficult as it can be the drag yourself out of bed, it can be a huge help to get some fresh air, go for a walk during the daylight hours if you can. This might mean going for a walk on your lunch break. If you can’t get outside to go for a walk when the sun is out, sit near a sunny window!
2. Exercise
Keeping your body moving and active in the winter can help you feel healthier and happier. Get your heart rate up and break a little sweat each day. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout either! Just make sure you are moving, go for a walk or do a short at home circuit. Whatever suits you!
If you have a hard time keeping your motivation to workout going this article is for you!
3. Drink more water
The winter air is dry and dehydrating. Drink more water than you think you need to, trust me! Being dehydrated will make you feel even more tired and sluggish.
4. Create a solid routine
Having a solid routine helps keep our minds at ease and gets us moving forward with our day. Your ideal routine will depend on your lifestyle, goals, what you enjoy doing. Sit down and create a plan for your daily routine. Your future self will thank you.
5. Stay connected
Make sure you stay connected to your friends and family or have meaningful connections. This is SO important during the winter months when we often feel secluded and lonely. Simply sending a message or commenting on a old friend’s photo can help keep you connected.
6. Eat nutritious foods and supplement with vitamins
It can be tempting to only eat Christmas cookies for the next few months but your mind and body will NOT thank you. Along with the delicious treats and comfort foods that come along with the winter months make sure you are also eating well-balanced nutritious foods too. You might want to supplement with vitamins as well if needed. Vitamin D supplementation can be a huge help for S.A.D symptoms too!
7. Create a warm, comfy atmosphere in your home
Light a candle, get comfy and warm. Decorate your space in a comfy, inviting way. During the winter months we are spending a lot more time inside so you should create a space where you are comfortable.
You can create a little nook where you can go to relax and be comfortable by incorporating soft fabrics and colours and creating an overall feel-good vibe, whatever that means to you!
8. Watch feel-good movies that make you happy
I love watching Christmas movies! If that’s your thing watch classic Christmas movies that make you feel good.
I also LOVE watching christmas cartoons which is so nostalgic and comforting for my millennial soul.
9. Declutter your space
Decluttering your space is huge overlooked self-care technique. When your space is cluttered so is your mind! I personally find it SO difficult to concentrate when there is a bunch of clutter around.
Your physical space is a reflection of your inner world. Create a clean, happy ,productive space by clearing out anything you don’t need or want.
10. Read a good book
Reading a good book can change your whole mood. I love reading books on personal development, manifestation, spirituality, financial growth etc. These types of books can be amazing for your mindset as well.
Remember:you are what you consume!
I’m not going to lie and pretend I don’t love a good horror or crime thriller but I definitely try to keep a healthy balance.
11. Take a bath
Light some candles, put on a moisturizing face mask and high vibe music and spend time simply relaxing your body and mind.
12. Decorate your space
Decorate for the holidays or simply re-new your space with some new decor or try moving your furniture. Revamping your space can help when you’re feeling stuck inside. Give your space and new look and feel.
13. Gratitude Journaling
If you aren’t journaling you are missing out big time! I know that is a bold statement and some people don’t like writing but journaling is so much more than just writing. Journaling gives you the ability to be honest and express without judgement. YOU are the only one reading your journal so you are free to express what you find difficult to verbalize.
Gratitude journaling is special because it allows you to reflect on all the good you already have in your life. Expressing what you we grateful for allows us to truly feel positive, grateful emotions and therefore attract that back into our lives.
Gratitude journaling is one of my favourite manifestation techniques when it comes to creating more of what I want. The more happiness, positive, grateful thoughts you have the easier it is to see how much good is truly in your world.
Here is a link to a super cute prompted 90’s millennial inspired gratitude journal I created if you are interested!
14. Do something nice for others
Volunteer, donate your time, donate to a homeless shelter or a food bank. Do something to give back to others. Acts of kindness not only give hope and light to others but feed your soul with light and warmth too!
We must give in order to receive. This is something that I think becomes overlooked by a lot of us because most of the world is focus on what they need to do for themselves. Giving back to others is so fulfilling!
15. Drink a delicious, warm seasonal drink.
I am a sucker for anything seasonal. Allow yourself to enjoy some hot chocolate, holiday inspired drinks, or come up with a seasonal drink of your own.
16. Bake your favourite holiday treats
Who doesn’t love baking…and eating their favourite holiday treats?! Seriously, I have a major sweet tooth and this can be dangerous BUT it is such a nice, cozy way to practice self-care during the cold months.
If you hate baking you can always buy your favourite holiday treat at the store, make some hot chocolate and get cozy and enjoy! Pro-tip: Arrange the holiday sweets on a decorative plate/display and no one will know you didn’t make them yourself 😉
17. Try aromatherapy
Try defusing some essential oils! My favourite winter scents are cinnamon, sandalwood, peppermint, cedarwood, orange. You can experiment and create an amazing, winter inspired blend.
If you’re not into essential oils you can always light up a non-toxic candle to do the trick.
18. Try guided visualizations and/or meditations
I LOVE guided meditations and visualizations. Blocking out all other distractions and being able to allow my (usually racing) mind to be guided through and focused is amazing. Guided meditations and visualizations have been a game changer for me in my manifestation/personal growth journey.
I find this to be an amazing resource to calm the mind, allow yourself to focus on your goals and ultimately start creating a life you LOVE.
I will leave a link here to my absolute favourite guided meditation that you can watch on youtube.
19. Set goals and create a vision board
Setting goals for the upcoming year or even little goals to start on right now can be an amazing way to practice self-care. A super great way to help solidify and make sure you manifest those goals is to create a vision board.
Creating a vision board can be super fun and creative. Select the goals you want to achieve, find images, words, or anything that reminds you of the life you’re wanting to create.
When you have that vision of the life you are creating in front of you daily it serves as a reminder of what you can and will achieve and helps you continue to go after those big dreams!
Final thoughts on winter self-care ideas:
There you have it! 19 winter self-care ideas to help you survive the winter and take care of yourself during the long, cold months. Let us know in the comments below what your go-to winter self-care tip is!
Leave a Reply