This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy here.
Self-care needs change depending on the seasons. Don’t miss these essential tips for practicing winter self-care.
Does anybody else feel like we were silly for sticking so many fun holidays in the winter? The days are short, it’s can be too cold to be outside, and our energy levels are often in the toilet. We power through the season, though, with tons of high-energy activities–baking cookies, going shopping, running to parties, and hosting giant dinners.
Of course, you don’t have to participate in any of this stuff if you don’t want to, but it is a VITAL time to make sure that you are also resting, recharging, and attending to your self-care.
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ll know that I talk about SEVEN types of self-care. Yep—it’s not all massages and bubble baths. Here are some ideas in every category to help you take exquisite care of yourself this winter.
Physical Winter Self-Care
Physical self-care is the kind that most of us think of right away. It’s the stuff we do to tend to our bodies and delight our senses.
In winter, I’m always thinking about ways to get warm and cozy, ways to stay hydrated, and ways to boost low energy and a sometimes somber mood.
What will make you feel warm and cozy this winter? Pamper yourself with:
- a roaring fireplace
- a throw blanket (this one looks so soft!)
- a favorite sweater
- slippers (I’d love this pair)
- a warm bath
- comforting soups and casseroles–This easy recipe for roasted carrot soup one of my family’s favorites.
Dry winter air can do a number on you. Don’t forget to hydrate (switch from water to herbal tea to keep you warm, if necessary). Indulge in scrubs and creams that will pamper your skin. (I want to try this scrub and this body butter in my favorite scent.)
When those low energy days inevitably show up, surround yourself with as much light as possible. Candles, fairy lights, and light therapy lamps like this one can help.
The best mood-boosting light, of course, comes from the sun. Bundle up and get outside whenever possible. A walk in the brisk air is a great mood-booster. If the weather seems too yucky to venture out in, do try to get some sort of exercise inside. Even a short stretch will help boost your energy and your mood. I love this cozy yoga video on days when I don’t feel like doing anything,
When you need a boost, don’t forget to treat your senses. A lovely cup for your tea, an exquisitely soft pair of socks, or a candle in a winter scent that you love might just be the pick-me-up that you need.
Emotional Self-Care in Winter
We’re practicing emotional self-care when we’re giving thought and attention to our inner feelings. Winter often brings on feelings of sadness and lethargy. It’s probably more important in winter than at any time of the year that we care for our emotional selves.
How can we do it? Winter is a great time to tackle creative indoor projects such as scrapbooking, knitting, and painting. These activities can allow you to express emotions that you’re working through.
RELATED: 100+ Hobbies for Moms that Will Make Your Life Fun Again
You might also choose to use music to enhance your mood. I love this playlist for when I’m feeling cozy, this one for when I want to wallow a bit in a sad mood, and this one for when I’m trying to boost my energy on a grey winter day.
Activities like journaling (especially gratitude journaling) and speaking affirmations work in any season. Finally, you might want to bring some plants inside. They’re proven to help you feel more relaxed and at ease.
Intellectual Winter Self-Care
Your brain loves to learn, so make sure that it is getting adequate opportunities this winter.
You might enjoy snuggling in with a novel. I just finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I LOVED it.
You might also harness the quick burst of energy that always comes with the new year to work on personal development. The platform Optimize recently made their entire library of content totally free. It’s a truly awesome collection of tips in the form of personal development book summaries, long-form 101 classes on topics such as confidence, habit formation, and productivity, and short little videos designed to give brief pep talks or inspiration.
Remember, we live in an age where it’s easy to learn anything you want to know via a quick Google search. Cultivate your childlike mind. When you wonder about something, look it up–try a new recipe, learn about the history of Christmas, or check out this article about why reindeer have different colored eyes depending on the season.
Spiritual Self-Care in Winter
Spirituality is all about connecting to something greater than yourself—about developing your sense of peace, awe, and contentment.
We can honor the shorter days and cooler temperatures of winter by joining so many of our fellow animals in slowing down and resting. Winter is a wonderful time to get quiet and listen, to reflect, and to dream.
Meditation is a lovely practice for accessing your spiritual side, but your whole day can also be lived in a meditative spirit by practicing mindfulness. Ground yourself as you move from task to task throughout your day. Make sure you are as fully present as possible in everything you do, and remember to practice gratitude at every opportunity.
RELATED: A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Meditation Apps for Moms
Social Winter Self-Care
We don’t really have trouble with this one early in winter, right? In fact, we’re often overloaded with social opportunities and commitments. Don’t forget that practicing self-care isn’t always about adding stuff. Sometimes it means taking things away.
Perhaps your social self-care means removing a commitment from your schedule instead of putting one in. You don’t have to go to every party to which you’re invited or attend every winter outing.
And if you’re an introvert like me, remember that any social activities that you are doing are draining your energy. For every social activity that you add, be sure to also schedule quiet time to recharge.
Especially as winter drags on, if you are instead feeling like you need more social interaction, don’t forget to reach out to family and friends. Even if weather (or COVID) keeps you from getting out, you can watch a movie together, play a game of online scrabble, or read the same book and schedule a time to discuss it.
Relational Self-Care in Winter
Winter can be a tricky time for families.
We often have a lot of baggage and “shoulds” surrounding the holidays that occur early in winter, and that can make time together feel loaded. Cold weather outside also can mean lots of time together spent inside, which can wear on all of us after a while.
As you tackle winter celebrations this year, from Christmas to Valentine’s Day, celebrate with your family in a way that feels good. Always remember that you have permission to skip things that feel stressful rather than fun. Even if a relative feels upset as a result of a choice that you made, their feelings are not more important than yours.
Practicing relational self-care might include clearing family obligations from your schedule. It might look like creating a fun new tradition with your kiddos, or it might simply mean snuggling up in front of the fire for some quality time with your spouse. Ask yourself what would feel like it would fill your cup the most this winter as you interact with your family.
NEED A BREAK, MAMA?
Check out the FREE No Time, No Money, No Problem Self Care Challenge! It’s 7 Days of fast, free, and fun ideas you can use to pamper yourself–all delivered via your favorite podcast app. You’ll also be subscribed to updates from Mama Goes Beyond.
Practical Winter Self-Care
Practical self-care involves those tasks that, when done without proper intention, can feel almost like chores. They are the practical things you do to keep your life running smoothly and on a path that feels good to you. If you’re mindful about them, they can feel like little gifts to yourself.
In winter, these might be things like taking extra care of your health by scheduling yearly appointments and making sure that your health insurance is adequate.
Practical self care might involve planning for the next year by creating a vision board or writing out some goals and mapping out the concrete steps you’ll take to achieve them.
It might even involve spending some time decluttering and organizing your home. After all, you’re spending a lot of time indoors in the winter. You might as well make it inviting and cozy.
Mama, every season is the right season for self-care. Don’t let the busyness of all the winter holidays or the grey, cold days steal your joy and prevent you from taking impeccable care of yourself. Make a plan for your winter self-care right now.
Do It Now:
1. Make a list of anything you want to be sure you don’t miss this season. Include things like visiting that neighborhood with the beautiful Christmas light displays, taking a trip to your favorite sledding hill, and grabbing one of those eggnog milkshakes.
2. Purchase anything you might need for your self-care toolkit. I love to have things like the fancy scrubs, cozy throws, and decadent candles I mentioned above on hand for when I’m ready to use them.
3. Ask yourself every morning: how will I practice self-care today? Even if all you can do that day is remember to drink enough water, do it as a conscious act of self-love.
4. Take my No Time, No Money, No Problem Self-Care Challenge. It’s delivered via private podcast in your favorite player and provides loads of ideas you can use anytime of year to care for yourself.
Leave a Reply