Winter is my least favourite season.
It’s cold, dark and gloomy, and I’ve struggled in the past with seasonal depression.
But since starting my wellness journey, I’ve been making a conscious effort to be kind to winter.
So if you also suffer from the winter blues, why not use this invitation to put your differences aside and welcome in the coldest season of the year?
Here are 101 self-care ideas to take you from December to February so you can become BFFs with winter and fully embrace everything it has to offer.
‘Tis the damn season
Winter can be a tough season.
The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and it can be hard to find the motivation to get out of bed in the morning.
And to make matters worse, everywhere you look on social media, there are reels reminding you about how many days are left to become “your best self.”
Yes, Karen, I’m fully aware it’s November, you don’t need to remind me that there are only 8 weeks left of the entire year, thank you.
Then you have everyone else promoting how much money they’ve made, asking you about your goals for 2023 or the classic “new year new me” bullshit.
It can be overwhelming AF, causing your comparison syndrome to flare up.
Sometimes it feels like everyone else has their shit together and they’re fully thriving despite the fact it’s minus 10 degrees outside and there’s zero sunlight.
Seriously, how do they do it? I wish I had an answer for you, but in true honesty, I don’t know, because I’ve never been someone who has thrived in winter.
Winter is in fact my least favourite season. I’m a summer baby. Born in mid-June, I cherish warmer weather and days spent in the sun, lying on the beach.
But whereas the old me would have spent this entire blog post moaning about how much she hates winter, the new me is making more of an effort to embrace winter and everything that comes with it.
In short, I’m trying to find my winter silver lining.
Fancy joining me on this journey? It might make all the difference to your mental well-being and help you beat those pesky winter blues.
How to make friends with winter
When it comes to battling the winter blues, you need to understand that you are not alone.
Many other people are also going through what you are going through.
It’s also important to remember that what you see online is also only a highlight reel. 9 out of 10 times, Karen is only sharing the snippets from her day that she wants you to see and might also be struggling.
So while this blog post exists to support you during winter, I want you to make a conscious effort to check in with loved ones and friends or even strangers on the internet to see if they’re okay even if they look like they’re doing fine.
Making connections in this way can also help you feel less alone as well as boost your mood, make you smile and take your mind off the weather outside.
The truth is, winter doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom. It can be fun, grounding and comforting.
The key is to take advantage of everything winter has to offer. So, before I dive into the 101 ways you can indulge in self-care this season, here are a few ways you can make friends with the coldest months of the year and fully embrace winter.
I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
1 | Build a seasonal daily routine
Your daily routine isn’t meant to be the same all year round.
I’m a huge fan of switching up my routines to fit in with each season because what works for me in summer won’t necessarily work for me in winter.
For example, from November to March, I find it a lot harder to wake up in the morning. It’s cold, dark and usually miserable outside. So instead of waking up at 8 am and heading on a walk or a swim, I allow myself a slower morning than usual and savour my time in bed. I will either read for an extra hour or watch something on Netflix to ease me into the day.
Not only does this boost my mental well-being, but it also increases my performance and productivity.
So if your daily routine is starting to feel like a chore and you’re having trouble sticking to it, I encourage you to switch it up.
Think about setting your alarm later and delaying certain rituals. Or choose to do your exercise in the morning when it’s light outside rather than in the evening when it is dark outside.
It is important to note that routines are essential for your overall well-being.
They reduce stress, allow you to build healthy habits and help you avoid burnout. For this reason, it’s essential that you keep some form of routine in place during winter, as a lack of structure can make things worse.
Instead of struggling with a daily routine that works great in spring and summer, change up your routine to work for you in autumn and winter. This also goes for your morning and evening routine, as well as your self-care routine.
It’s the life hack you never knew you needed.
2 | Look at things as an opportunity rather than as an obstacle
It’s so easy to feel defeated by winter.
Darker and shorter days mean we are prevented from doing certain activities that we loved doing in summer, like BBQs with friends, wild swimming and sunbathing in the park. And colder weather means fewer social plans as everyone is hiding indoors and shielding themselves from the wind and rain.
But winter doesn’t have to be all bad.
Because let’s face it, even summer has its drawbacks. For starters, it is an incredibly busy season. It’s full of social get-togethers, weddings and holidays abroad. Time is spent outside rather than indoors, and there’s more of a demand to keep up with everything.
Winter is a much softer and calmer season, so lean into it.
Reframe “having” to stay indoors and embrace the fact that you “get” to stay at home. This is precious time you can spend relaxing and recuperating or getting creative. Play around with your furniture or even redecorate. Get in the kitchen and learn to cook new, delicious recipes. There are endless activities to try in winter that can bring you as much joy as your favourite summer rituals.
All I’m asking you to do is to change your perspective on winter and find the silver lining.
Ask yourself, “What opportunities are there for me this season?”
It might be switching up your routine or inviting new, meaningful hobbies into your day that you wouldn’t necessarily have time for in summer. Like curling up on a chair with a blanket and reading an epic fiction book, or scrapbooking your summer holiday.
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple mindset shift to change your outlook and make things more manageable.
3 | Dedicate time to the things that bring you joy
Finding joy in life may be at the core of coping with the winter blues.
The more fun the activities you engage in, the more likely it is that you’ll feel more alive. Because let’s face it, adults tend to take life too seriously. We don’t allow ourselves to truly let loose and be silly.
But engaging in activities that bring you joy can help you see past the mundane routines and to-do lists that take over your life.
So, focus on doing the things that bring you joy this season that aren’t eating or drinking.
Take a step back from mental self-care in favour of recreational self-care that doesn’t require too much brainpower.
Tap into your inner child and do things that make you feel like a kid again, like playing hide and seek, painting or building Lego.
Take a moment now to write your list, make it as long or short as you want. Put it somewhere safe, so that the next time you are struggling with the winter blues, you can choose something from this list to boost your mood and energy.
Sometimes all we need is a little reward to motivate us to keep going.
101 winter self-care ideas to try this season
Ready to become besties with the coldest season of the year?
Because I sure as hell am! Here is an extensive list of winter self-care ideas to take you from December to February.
I encourage you to bookmark this post so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
Winter self-care ideas for December
- Make a gratitude jar and add one note each day
- Create a winter acoustic playlist to help you unwind
- Embrace the Hygge lifestyle and hibernate for the day
- Build a cosy inside fort with pillows and blankets
- Detox from social media and be more present
- Be mindful of your capabilities and start cutting back your todo list
- Take part in a 30-day self-care challenge
- Make some popcorn and watch the Harry Potter box set
- Treat yourself to a festive-flavoured coffee or tea
- Cosy up with a blanket or in front of the fire and read an epic fiction book
- Or pick up Stay & Slay; How To Beat Burnout Without Quitting Your Job
- Buy yourself a luxe loungewear set for cosy nights
- Bundle up and head on a wintery nature walk
- Try a holiday-themed yoga session
- Try an ice bath or cold plunge for a winter refresh
- Go ice skating or sledging
- Build a custom self-care kit which is purely for the winter months
- Have a DIY spa night with a peppermint foot soak
- Commit to doing a 30-day random act of kindness challenge
- Take up a new hobby like knitting or cross-stitch
- Create your own festive-inspired candles
- Switch off the lights for the evening and light the candles you made
- Get stuck into the best 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles
- Scrapbook a year in pictures
- Get into the Christmas spirit and go to a wreath-making workshop
- Do a self-care stocking with little gifts just for you
- Learn to make homemade mulled wine or cider
- Take a nighttime walk to see Christmas lights
- Write holiday cards and add a handwritten personal touch
- Make a DIY advent calendar with tiny self-care treats
- Bake gingerbread cookies
- Host a vision board party
- Start planning out your Q1 goals in time for January
- Write a bucket list for the new year
- Spend a weekend reflecting on your year
- Reset your life for a new year
Save these December activities on Pinterest
Winter self-care ideas for January
- Map out your core values
- Ease into the year with reflective journaling and ask yourself, “What do I want to achieve? How can I make this happen?”
- Reassess your current productivity tools and ditch the ones that are no longer working
- Set 1-3 seasonal health and wellness goals to work towards in Q1
- Set healthy boundaries with social media for the year
- Start a fresh daily planner
- Try guided breathwork to help with the winter blues
- Make an indoor herb garden with easy-to-grow plants
- Buy a soft, luxurious winter robe to wear in the mornings
- Try out a new exercise routine
- Build a new healthy habit by committing to it for at least 30 days
- Try a 7-day digital declutter challenge
- Do a self-care swap with a friend (exchange wellness gifts)
- Create a skincare routine tailored for winter dryness
- Create a new Pinterest board for how you want your year to look, feel and be
- Read Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé and adopt healthier eating habits
- Take part in a 7-day mindfulness challenge
- Buy yourself a new gratitude journal and start a yearly gratitude practice
- Use a money app to keep track of your finances
- Have a movie marathon and watch a trilogy – my absolute favourite is The Lord of The Rings
- Bake! Blueberry muffins, gooey chocolate brownies or banana bread
- Make a yummy hot chocolate (add marshmallows) and curl up with a podcast
- Learn how to make homemade sourdough bread
- Test a new healthy soup recipe for winter nourishment
- Make your own herbal tea blends
- Play a game of chess
- Have a long, hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book
- Visit a sauna or steam room to relax and detox
- Put on some chilled jazz music and dance around the kitchen
- Reconnect with an old friend and start a pen-pal friendship
- Create a comfort or memory box
- Start The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and commit to reading one page a day
- Build a new TBR book list for the next 12 months
- Try out a journaling challenge for self-reflection
Save these January activities on Pinterest
Winter self-care ideas for February
- Write a bucket list of things to do in spring and summer
- Create a self-care playlist that you can add to your routine
- Try a slow, meditative stretching routine in the morning
- Start a daily affirmation practice
- Learn a new language
- Start a new mindful course on Masterclass
- Watch a TED Talk about mindfulness or personal growth
- Join a book club and commit to reading more this year
- Cook a comforting food recipe – one you haven’t tried before
- Start a DIY project
- Try a winter-themed art project like watercolour painting
- Do a winter-themed photography challenge
- Reorganise your furniture or even redecorate
- Experiment with layering outfits for a fun, cosy winter look
- Colour coordinate your bookshelf
- Make friendship bracelets
- Take yourself out for a solo date at a cute café
- Go bowling
- Commit to a 7-day walking challenge in open, nature spaces
- Do something that makes you feel like a kid again
- Bundle up and go and play in the snow
- Have a mindful moment watching the snowfall
- Take a local weekend getaway to embrace the last of winter
- Treat yourself to a homemade facial with a hydrating mask
- Use an LED light therapy mask to hydrate dry, winter skin
- Make a chunky vegetable soup using fresh seasonal produce to warm up the soul
- Write a short story or poem
- Build Lego
- Play a board game from your childhood
- Rewatch your favourite show
- Try out 1-3 new relaxing evening rituals
- Celebrate a daily win throughout the month
- Write a love letter to your future self
- Have a fondue night with friends or family
- Host an ‘end of winter’ party
Save these February activities on Pinterest
Final thoughts
Just like with all of my blog posts, I encourage you to test out these winter activities first before fully committing to them and adding them to your self-care routine.
Because what works for me might not necessarily work for you.
Put together your own self-care tracker to record which winter self-care ideas you enjoyed and which ones you would do again.
Rate each ritual out of 5 stars and ask yourself, “How did this activity make me feel?” If it’s a hell yes rather than a hell no, then add it to your self-care routine and get consistent.
I’m all about doing the stuff that works for you. Not one-size-fits-all BS.
You’ve got this.
Thalia xx
