10 Super Simple winter self-care tips
Are you a fan of the winter season? Or do you long for warmer days and more sunlight?
Winter offers an opportunity to slow down a bit and get cozy. But depending on how busy you are, this might be easier said than done.
This is also the time of year when illnesses can run rampant and the lack of daylight might impact your mental health. It takes intention to create a self-care strategy that is realistic and enjoyable.
But it’s possible!
Let’s try and embrace all of the cozy, restorative, peaceful parts of winter and find realistic ways to manage our stress.
What do you think?
As you brainstorm ways you can take of yourself this winter, I want to share some of the things I do to try and maintain a sense of calm this time of year. Hopefully, you’ll find some ideas that resonate with you!
10 SUPER SIMPLE WINTER SELF-CARE TIPS
1. PRACTICE SAYING NO
It can be so hard to say no when requests and opportunities arise. We might have an opportunity to take on a project at work that we hope will help with the promotion we’re hoping to get. We may have received a volunteer request for an organization we really believe in. There might be a few social events that sound like a blast.
There are plenty of things competing for our time and attention. And if we don’t get in the habit of saying no sometimes, we can find ourselves running on empty.
Winter offers us a chance to reevaluate how busy our lives are and determine how busy we want to be.
Be honest with yourself and identify areas of your life where you can practice saying no.
2. EMBRACE WHITE SPACE ON YOUR CALENDAR
What do I mean by “white space”?
I mean empty places on your calendar where you have no appointments, meetings, or obligations. Space where you can simply do whatever you’d like.
You might be thinking that you’re way too busy and your schedule is packed with obligations. There’s no white space anywhere!
But I urge you to look a little deeper.
Where are some areas in your schedule where you could cut back a little to allow for more space? Be honest with yourself and look at all of the things you’re currently committed to doing. Which of these are truly essential and which could you forego?
Take a peek at your calendar and see where you could add a little white space.
3. CONNECT WITH A LOVED ONE
Our lives get so busy and it’s so easy to fall out of touch with people that are really important to us. Think of a person you care about that you’ve been meaning to reach out to.
How about prioritizing connecting with them this winter?
Pick up the phone, send a text, or put a card in the mail. Make the effort to connect with a loved one.
You won’t regret it.
4. LAUGH
When days are colder and shorter, many people struggle with seasonal affective disorder. If you find yourself feeling more unmotivated and tired than usual, PLEASE reach out to your doctor to talk about ways to help with SAD.
Whether SAD is something you’re struggling with or you’re simply feeling a little more “blah” than usual, look for ways to add more laughter to your days. Watch a comedy, read something humorous, or chat with a friend who always puts a smile on your face.
It’s amazing how powerful laughter can be!
5. PUT UP TWINKLE LIGHTS
I usually put twinkle lights up in my living room in early December and leave them up until the end of February. They add such a magical element to my living space and immediately make me feel more cozy.
Twinkle lights offer such an affordable way to add more light and joy to your home.
6. ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR TO YOUR LIVING SPACE
I will often pick up some orchids in bright colors to have around my house. When outside is cold and grey, this splash of color helps to lift my spirits.
Colorful artwork, pillows, and blankets are another way to add more color and immediately brighten up your space.
How can you add a splash of color to your life?
7. LIGHT A FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, what are you waiting for!?
If you don’t have a fireplace, how about turning on one of the “Cozy Fireplace” videos you can find on YouTube? You can also light several candles or use the battery-operated ones to add more warmth to your space.
There’s nothing quite like being mesmerized by a fire in the fireplace.
8. USE LOTION EVERY DAY
I don’t know about you, but I often forget to apply lotion. But in the winter when the air is often more dry, our skin can easily get chapped and it becomes even more important to take care of our skin.
Pick out one of your favorite lotions and use it every day.
9. GO TO BED EARLIER
I know that this suggestion can be really tough for the night owls to accept.
I get it!
As a night owl, myself, I used to resist going to bed earlier during the winter months. But a few years ago I started embracing it. When the sun goes down and after dinner, I start to slowly wind down. Being in bed earlier allows me plenty of time to read which is one of my favorite things to do.
Cozy in bed with plenty of time to read? Sounds dreamy to me.
Getting plenty of rest during the winter months is also another powerful way to keep ourselves as healthy as possible during cold/flu season.
Consider going to bed earlier and you’ll feel the benefits.
10. DEVELOP AN EVENING ROUTINE
As part of going to bed earlier, you might always want to develop a simple evening routine.
Simple is the keyword here. There’s no need to try and stick with something complicated that you won’t stick with.
Maybe you want to play some mellow background music while you shower and get ready for bed. Or taking a bath might sound really nice. Doing some light stretching, journaling, and reading are other soothing ways to settle in for the evening.
Consider incorporating a couple of enjoyable things to create a simple evening routine.
IN SUMMARY, HERE ARE 10 SIMPLE WINTER SELF-CARE TIPS:
Practice Saying No
Embrace white space on your calendar
Connect with a loved one
Laugh
Put up twinkle lights
Add a splash of color to your living space
Light a fire in the fireplace
Use lotion every day
Go to bed earlier
Develop an evening routine
Let me know if any of these simple winter self-care tips resonate with you. And if you have any additional tips to add, please share them!
If you’d like to chat about simple ways to incorporate self-care into your life this fall season, let’s connect for a complimentary 20-minute consultation and see if coaching is right for you. There’s never any pressure or obligation, just a great way for us to connect!
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