As seasons change, so may our rhythms. As winter approaches, our daily routines may need to be adjusted with darkness creeping into daylight sooner, our schedules looking different, and our habits or activities transitioning indoors. Instead of viewing seasonal changes (especially in the cooler months) as something to dread, it’s important to embrace the seasons as they come through the lessons and practices they allow us to have.
Activities or Ideas to Refresh Your Winter Routine:
Morning Sunlight
Throw on the jacket, put on the winter gloves, make yourself a warm beverage, and get outside right away in the morning! Even with cooler temperatures, jump-start your mornings and circadian rhythm by getting direct sunlight for at least 10-20 minutes, ideally within an hour of waking. Morning sunlight is a powerful (and free!) tool in your wellness toolkit that improves your sleep, energy, and mood. Bonus points if you include movement with your natural sunlight time.
Sleep
Alongside morning sunlight, getting enough sleep and maintaining a consistent sleep and wake-up time all support your circadian rhythm. How much is enough sleep? Aim for 7-9 hours each night.
For a few more blogs on sleep, check out my previous blogs, “How Much Sleep Do You Actually Need?” and “Glymphatic System: Unlocking the Nighttime Detox.”
Hobbies and Indoor Activities
Now is the time to pick up the book that’s been on your shelf all summer long that a jam-packed schedule didn’t allow you to enjoy! Reading, knitting, experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes, and spending more intentional moments with yourself are great ways to dive into your creative side and explore different versions of yourself. And with the holidays coming up, anything homemade makes the best gifts!
A few cozy recipes:
Invite a friend over for coffee or meet at a coffee shop, go for a walk with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, schedule a phone call; investing in relationships during the winter helps you stay connected. Meaningful conversations and social connections boost emotional well-being!
Choose things that bring you joy. Dive into activities or hobbies that allow you to take a breath and take a step back from the day. Reflect on what those look like for you and try out your interests.
Try Winter Sports
Even though the temperatures are less favorable for long stretches of time outdoors during winter, bundle up and be active outside! Try winter sports like snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, or skiing. Appreciate the beauty of nature throughout each season, especially the unique and cozy allure that winter brings.
Overall, it’s important to stay active during winter as a way to combat seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. When our bodies have less exposure to natural light, it can affect well-being, including mental health. Movement like walking, strength training, yoga, pilates, or other exercises you enjoy supports the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Even 15–20 minutes can make a difference!
Vitamin D
Most people are able to maintain adequate amounts of vitamin D from natural sunlight, but the frigid temperatures of winter can make spending time outdoors difficult. Similar to movement, vitamin D supports mitigating seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as this “sunshine vitamin” plays a role in brain function and overall health. The transition to having shorter daylight hours may call for a time to have your vitamin D levels tested. That way, you are able to accurately know if supplementation is necessary.
Romanticize it
If there is a season that can be romanticized, it’s winter. Think cozy blankets, nourishing recipes, comfy thick sweaters, hot beverages to sip on, crackling fires, and moody lighting. It’s about finding joy in the mundane while embracing the natural rhythm of things slowing down.
Winter is like a long exhale that has been waiting to be released after the busyness of all year. It can be a time to rest and restore and not feel the pressure to go, go, go.
Recap of Seasonal Living
Before technology and spending more time indoors, our ancestors lived seasonally by being connected with nature. Seasons naturally bring on different rhythms and may challenge us to refresh our routines, habits, meals, and how we spend our days as a whole. Instead of fighting it, we can focus on embracing the seasons as they come and for the unique lessons each holds. Seasonal living allows us to see the world around us in a different way and maybe even ourselves.
For my seasonal living on winter blog, check out my previous article, “Seasonal Living: Winter Edition.”