Self Care For Your Winter Season

28th June 2024, Melinda Curtin, Massage Therapist and Self-care Coach

Do you have a case of the winter blues? Don’t worry you are not alone.

Winter can be a hard time of year and can bring along its own unique stressors. The days are short, the nights are long, and the air is cold, making it a challenge to keep up with our regular self-care habits. It can make people feel sluggish and less active which can lead to some negative effects like body aches, lack of motivation, low moods, or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to combat the wintertime blues and have you feeling like yourself again.

Get Some Sunshine

A big contributor to things like seasonal depression, body aches and lack of energy that people experience during the winter is lack of Vitamin D.  Our biggest source of vitamin D comes from the sun, so it is natural for levels to drop during the winter when the days are shorter and the weather is cold. Here are a few tips for making outside time during winter more pleasant and accessible.

• Take a walk in the morning or during your lunch break.
• Get rugged up in a cozy jacket and scarf.
• Bring your favorite warm drink with you.
• Find a sunny spot and soak in the warm sunshine.

Bring on the Heat

There is something magical about heat. Some of the best heat treatments come from some of the coldest places in the world like hot spring soaks and saunas. These types of treatments have been used for centuries and it is no wonder with the astounding number of health benefits they provide. Some heat treatments you can try.

• A hot bath
• A steamy shower
• A Sauna or steam room
• Heat packs or an electric blanket
• Hot stone massage

Get Moving

It can be hard to be motivated to exercise when you are cold. Exercise helps elevate your mood and keeps your body in working order and it is especially important to keep moving during the winter months. To keep motivated to work out during the winter try switching up your routine to more weather appropriate exercises.

• Indoor exercise classes or gyms
• Indoor rock climbing
• Hot Yoga
• Bushwalking

Embrace the Slowness

When we observe nature and notice it is natural rhythms, we can learn a lot about how to care of ourselves. After all we are a part of nature! Wintertime is naturally a time of slowness and a time of rest. Animals spend more time in their burrows and nests conserving energy, and many plants go dormant, all so that they can thrive when spring comes around. Here are some ways you can use the season to embrace your natural instincts.

• Take on less and keep more free space in your schedule.
• Write in a journal and do some self-reflection.
• Write goals and plan projects for the future.
• Prioritize rest
• Go to bed early and get more sleep.

Snuggle Up and Get Cozy

In Denmark they have the word Hygge, which is used to describe a cozy and content mood that is created by comfort and conviviality. It is not just a mood but it is a lifestyle in which the activities you do and things and people you surround yourself with bring you maximum comfort and joy. Essentially creating an environment that evokes the warm and fuzzies. Here are some ways you can bring more Hygge to your life this winter:

• Wear fluffy socks and snuggle in a soft blanket.
• Have warm drinks
• Socialise, read, or do a creative activity by the fire.
• Put on the oven to bake roast dinners and casseroles, roast apples, chickpeas, or even pumpkin seeds
• Eat warm comfort foods like soups and stews.
• Have a game night with friends and family.
• Cuddle a loved one or an animal.
• Light candles and listen to music.
• Read a book.

From sunshine to cuddles, there are so many ways to take care of ourselves during the colder months. If we work with the natural rhythms and cycles of the seasons, we can avoid the winter blues and feel our best. Take some time to create a self-care routine that reflects the season and that works with your needs so that you can make the most of your winter season.

Melinda is our administration assistant and also works for her own business The Lotus and The Moon Massage. You can contact her for a professional massage here.