When the days get shorter, the nights get colder, everything should be nice and happy but can often be stressful and rushed, is it any wonder we need a bit of extra self-care to see us through? It’s just so tempting to get back into bed and stay there, but there’s too much to be getting on with to even think about having a tiny nap, let alone proper sleep! Or that’s how it can often seem, at least - but the truth is that there are some excellent winter self-care ideas that can make a positive difference and give you a much happier home and mind as a result. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about what some of these self-care tips are and you’ll soon see that winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom and can actually be a fantastic time of year.
Warm Up Your Home
Winter is all about creating a cosy, lovely, snuggly kind of space to spend time in so that as soon as you walk through the door from the chilly outside world, you’ll feel better and happier. So the first thing you’ll need to do to ensure this happens is to check your home’s heating system - you’ve got to make sure it’s up to the job of keeping you and your family warm and comfortable, otherwise you’re not going to enjoy the benefits and you’ll probably find you feel a bit down because you can’t ever seem to find the right heating temperature in your home.
If it’s been a long time since you updated the heating setup in your home then it could well be worth investing in a new heater installation and service from experts who can ensure you get the right heater for your home and put it in properly and safely. Although there are loads of DIY jobs you can do, installing a new heater really shouldn’t be one of them, just in case. And even if you don’t need a brand new heater, it’s still worth getting your current one serviced to ensure it’s working at its best - that’s going to save you money on your heating bills, but it’s also going to make your home toastier, which should give you a happier home and mind.
Stick To A Gentle Winter Routine
As the seasons change, your routine should change as well - how can you be happy, comfortable, and productive if you’re still trying to go through your summer routine in the winter, when things have to change because of the lack of daylight and the lower temperatures, not to mention things like Christmas and other celebrations that can cause stress, cost money, and take up a lot of your time? The answer is you can’t, which is why your routine should change when the seasons change and why you need to cut yourself some slack about it as well - that’s self-care in itself.
The fact is that winter is a time to slow down and really get into a much gentler way of life, so just give yourself permission to adjust your schedule so it suits the darker evenings and colder mornings and you’ll feel a lot better and less stressed about things.
It all begins at the beginning, which means at the start of your day, which should be slower and less rushed - come up with some morning rituals that take that into account and that help you feel better, like stretching exercises, a hot mug of tea, or perhaps some journaling to set the tone of the day in just the right way. And at night, you can have another excellent winter routine that helps you wind down - it could be reading a good book, taking a warm bath (perhaps with some essential oils), or enjoying your favourite comfort show. Do whatever it is that makes you happy and relaxed and don’t worry about other people - this is your time to enjoy some self-care in.
Let Some Light In
One of the really hard parts - perhaps the hardest part - of winter is the fact that there’s so little sunlight; very often you’ll wake up in the dark and go to bed when it’s dark and it will have felt as though you blinked and the few hours of sunlight you did have disappeared in an instant. That’s enough to dampen anyone’s mood, and it can be the cause of a lot of problems in winter, both in a practical sense and when it comes to mental health. If you’re not getting enough sunlight your energy can quickly disappear and you’ll feel bad in general.
The good news is that although it might seem impossible when you first get started, you’ll soon see there are definitely things you can do to help yourself (and the other people in your household, which is another bonus to enjoy). The answer is a simple one; let as much natural light into your home as possible during the day - in other words, take what you can get, and it can be enough to energise you for everything else. Open your curtains really wise and even rearrange your furniture so it doesn’t block the sun, and it could definitely help.
If you’re really struggling, you can actually buy a lamp or a bulb that mimics natural sunlight, and although it won’t be quite the same as the real thing, it might be what you need to keep yourself from feeling down when the sun’s gone for the day (if it ever really made an appearance in the first place).
Move - But Don’t Go Overboard
Ah, exercise… although some people love it and do it every day without fail, others aren’t so keen, and even if they do some exercise in some way during the summer when it’s warm and light, by the time winter comes around, those good intentions can be completely gone. Couple that with the fact that there’s a lot of temptation when it comes to food and drink at this time of year, and you can see why that’s not a good thing at all.
So you’ve got to keep moving in the winter just like you do in the summer. Well, perhaps not quite the same because just like your routines can and should change, the way you exercise can and should change as well. And you’ll definitely want to do it because staying active is the key to feeling good both physically and mentally, and it could help to stave off that blue feeling that can so often come with the winter months.
Some ideas for the things you could try out include gentle indoor yoga, dancing to Christmas songs in the living room, taking a brisk walk in the crisp air, and so on. Remember that the goal isn’t to necessarily hit any fitness milestones (although congratulations if you do), it’s just to keep your body moving so you feel good and can be happy and healthy no matter what time of year it might be.
Eat Comfort Food In Moderation
We all know that winter is a bit of an indulgent time, and comfort food is something that makes us feel better, so the two go hand in hand - but underneath all those lovely soups and stews and cheesy pasta dishes, not to mention the hot puddings and chocolate, it’s important to make sure there’s a good balance when you’re planning your meals. No, we’re not saying you can have some treats and enjoy your favourite foods, but we are saying that if you balance it out with some healthy things, you’ll feel much better in the long run, and that’s really important.
Some good ideas include adding some hearty, seasonal veggies like sweet potatoes, squash, kale, greens, and so on to your meals, which means you’ve got the best of both worlds and a tasty dish to make you feel good as well. And don’t forget to hydrate! It’s so easy to forget to do it when it’s cold because you won’t feel as thirsty as you do when you’re hot, so make sure you’ve always got some water with you and you sip it during the day to help you stay healthy and happy - dehydration is never fun, especially when you’ve got a lot to do.
Do Some Winter Activities
Very often, the key to feeling good and having a happier home and mind is to think about your mindset - instead of dreading winter, what about thinking about what makes the season so special and getting involved? You could go ice skating, build a snowman (assuming you’ve got snow!), visit Santa, decorate the house, book a place on a Christmas cookie decorating day, and so much more.
Or if you prefer to stay indoors, you could do some winter crafts like baking or making decorations, or even just having a Christmas movie marathon with your loved ones. Any of these things are sure to make the entire season feel so much nicer and ideally it’ll help you stay happy - so why not?
