Winter is a dark, cold season that can put us in a bad mood.
We feel tired and our mood isn’t the best, but that’s exactly why we need to give importance to our mental, physical, and emotional health if we don’t want to fall into burnout.
Taking care of ourselves is the key to being able to face each season in good health and support your overall wellness. This is why you need self-care during winter months that will help you lift yourself!
Today in this post, we are going to look at 36 winter self-care ideas that you can practice to level up your mood, productivity, and mental and physical well-being in the winter season.
Don’t forget to check the 6 types of self-care you need to focus on and these 25 days of Christmas self-care ideas for an extraordinary holiday.
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Winter self-care ideas
Below you will find some simple self-care ideas to put into practice during the winter months to lift your spirits, fight winter stress and blues, and face the winter season with more energy and happiness.
1) Get a daily dose of sunlight
Vitamin D is essential for the well-being of our body as it helps to maintain the normal function of the immune system, bone health, and good muscle function.
Vitamin D can be ingested through food or produced by our body with sunlight.
In winter, therefore, it is very important to get a daily dose of sunlight, at least 15 minutes a day.
I know for a fact that it can be difficult due to the freezing temperatures, but being outdoors is good for your health and allows your body to produce vitamin D with the sun’s rays.
2) Enjoy and experiment with new delicious recipes
This is definitely the favorite activity for those who love to cook!
Since staying at home can be boring, why not take the opportunity to experiment with new things in the kitchen and try new delicious recipes?
For example, if you love oriental cuisine, you could try some dishes to your liking, or if you love desserts, you could prepare a cake your way, inventing your own recipe!
3) Drink warm water
It may seem obvious, but many of us forget to drink enough water, including me, so I think this is one of the most important winter self-care ideas that you will find in this list.
Drinking enough water and staying hydrated means taking care of yourself and thinking about your health.
Since it’s winter and it’s cold, every time you drink water, you can warm it up a little and make it warm and sip it slowly.
4) Play and cuddle with your pet for more happiness
Spending time with your four-legged family member is one of the best self-care you can practice, whether it’s summer, spring, or fall.
The advantage of winter is that thanks to the cold, being next to your pet transmits warmth and it’s also the perfect time for cuddles.
Cuddles convey happiness and peace, both for you and for your puppy. So cuddles, cuddles, and cuddles at will.
5) Watch your favorite movie or show
During the winter season, it is normal not to feel like going out and staying warm at home.
Especially if you’re not in the mood to do anything, you can choose to watch a movie or your favorite series.
Even if you think it’s unproductive or could slow down your productivity, it’s good to know that relaxing in front of your favorite movie is part of self-care.
It allows you to switch off from daily commitments, enjoy time with your loved ones and relax after a tiring day.
6) Have a pajama day
It’s cold, so stay in your pajamas!
Sometimes even I don’t feel like changing my clothes, and the only thing I want to do is stay in my comfortable pajamas and do my usual things.
Sometimes we don’t feel like showing up all dressed up and smelling good, and that’s okay.
The important thing is that you are comfortable and that you can have a wonderful day.
7) Think about your goals for the next month
Surely you will have set goals that you would like to achieve this year, or you would like to start setting goals to transform your life.
Whatever the case may be, without a vision and without having written clearly what you would like to achieve, the probability of not achieving them is very high.
This is because if we write down our goals, we are more inclined to work on them and always have our goals in front of our eyes.
Just thinking about it, there is a risk that after some time, you forget it or that you don’t work hard for lack of a plan.
Think about the goals you have for the next month and write them down. It’s fun but also a source of motivation.
8) Organize your winter clothes
Not all of us have a closet or shelf for every season’s clothes, so whenever summer rolls around, we put away winter’s clothes and vice versa.
Since it’s winter, you could organize your winter clothes, and have fun in the process.
Organize them by color, type of dress, or from longest to shortest. Get creative and donate clothes you know you won’t use again.
9) Make sure to get enough sleep at night
Self-care means taking care of yourself. And how can we take care of ourselves if we don’t pay attention to our health?
One of the amazing winter self-care ideas is to give more importance to your sleep.
Sleeping at the right time and prioritizing sleep instead of staying awake allows you to always stay active, happy, and healthy.
So make sure to get enough sleep at night.
10) Be mindful and present
The past is now past, and we cannot predict the future. All we have is the present and nothing else.
What you should do is be mindful and present. Enjoy the present, live every moment and at the moment, and be aware of what you are doing and where you are.
These also include being aware of your thoughts, feelings, body, and the environment around you.
11) Enjoy quiet time alone and visualize your dream life
Have you ever wondered what you really want to do with your life? How do you imagine it in the future and where would you like to be in the next five years?
Spending time in silence and imagining how you would like your life to be in a couple of years is important.
Thanks to the visualization of your dream life, you can then create a plan to achieve it.
This is part of self-care, as it is a step towards making what you most desire come true, and giving importance to your ambitions.
Also, imagining the life of your dreams brings a certain type of happiness and motivation into your day.
12) Have a digital detox
One of the self-care activities that I love is taking at least one day away from social media.
This means no Instagram, no Facebook, no checking unimportant messages but also no watching TV or YouTube.
A digital detox must sometimes be done to get away from the outside world and focus only on yourself and on the present.
Definitely, one of the self-care activities to try in winter.
13) Do some decluttering
One of the things I love to do during the winter season is take care of the house.
That means, organizing my room, dusting the furniture, or mopping.
An organized home gives the feeling of cleanliness and peace. This is also very important for the mind.
In fact, with a messy home, we’re more likely to feel sad and demotivated, not to mention our level of productivity.
So declutter your home on a daily basis and enjoy the tidiness of your home.
14) Maintain a balanced diet
If you have a healthy body, your life will be better too.
Taking care of yourself takes time, patience, and love.
The food we eat affects our lives, so it is good to follow a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
But that doesn’t mean sweets and crap aren’t good. There’s room for them too, even I can’t live without them but it’s enough just not to abuse them.
15) Do something nice for others
One of the things that come to mind as winter self-care ideas is to behave well and do something nice for someone.
Perhaps it may seem obvious to you, but making a nice gesture for someone is not for everyone.
Some have a hard time, some just don’t want to.
But I do believe that doing something nice for another is a loving gesture and can make that person’s day and life better.
16) Spend time in nature
Would you have imagined reading this point as one of the winter self-care ideas that I would offer you?
Winter, as cold and bare as it may be, also offers some crazy natural landscapes.
Whether it’s snowing or raining, it’s good to spend some time in nature and breathe in the fresh air.
Nature is fantastic and honestly, it’s the only place where you can be carefree and at peace.
17) Enjoy small things
One of the amazing winter self-care ideas is to appreciate and enjoy the small things in life.
Whether it’s a person next to you, an internet connection, water to drink, or anything around you, try to notice them and enjoy them.
Many times we don’t pay attention or take things for granted, but in order to fully experience this life, we have to slow down and enjoy all those little things we have in life.
18) Do some deep breathing exercises
If you’re always anxious,
stressed, you could do some deep breathing exercises.
I tried it myself, and I tell you it works wonders.
By focusing on your breath and your body, the moment of anxiety you are going through can be stopped.
Whenever I feel anxious or stressed, I do these exercises and after a couple of minutes, I instantly feel better.
If you’re like me too, then all you have to do is introduce these exercises into your daily winter routine.
19) Practice gratitude
If you have a roof over your head, good food health every day, and a family that loves you, well, know that you’re part of a small percentage of the population that has those things.
Practicing gratitude is also a way to remember all the things you have and take for granted and be grateful for them.
You can practice gratitude at any time of day, first thing in the morning, or before you go to sleep.
20) Enjoy a hot cup of coffee, tea, or chocolate
Have you ever seen those commercials, which depict a snowy and cold day, and the person in the house who is sipping a hot and steaming drink?
The reason is that drinking hot drinks during cold periods is relaxing and calming and can literally change your mood.
You can choose between herbal teas, hot chocolates, or beloved coffee.
I sincerely love all three, and every time I take the opportunity to dedicate myself to my blog, reading a book, or my favorite TV series.
21) Spend some time journaling
Another of the amazing winter self-care ideas that come to my mind, is journaling.
Writing daily in a diary your thoughts, your emotions, and the positive and negative things of your day, helps you to understand yourself, and to improve what needs to be improved.
It can also be an outlet valve, and freeing yourself from your thoughts can help you face the day in a better way.
22) Binge on your favorite Netflix series
Although many may say that it is counterproductive, it is also true that sometimes, binge-watching your favorite Netflix series is a relaxing thing that can be done.
We are human, and we don’t have to make every day perfect, quite the contrary!
Days that are all the same can get boring with time, and it’s activities like these that break the monotony.
And it’s also true that on freezing days, what’s better than this accompanied by a hot chocolate?
23) Sit in front of a fireplace
Who doesn’t love sitting in front of a warm fire while the storm is raging outside?
Not everyone has the opportunity to have a fireplace in their own home, but you could create the same environment with a warm stove or by displaying a fireplace video on your TV.
24) Spend time with loved ones
Spending time with the people you love is a very important form of self-care, as being with people who make us feel good and with whom we feel good fills our days with positivity and happiness.
Whether you spend time with grandparents or friends, the important thing is that you spend quality time, having fun and above all where you can be yourself.
25) Enjoy seasonal activities
Since we are in the middle of winter, why not take the opportunity to practice some seasonal activities?
There are several activities, such as building a snowman, snowball fighting, traveling to a wonderland place, jumping into a pile of leaves, going snowboarding and skiing are just some of them.
Or what traditions are celebrated in winter?
Even during the holidays, there are special activities, such as pumpkin patches, or decorating the Christmas tree.
Get creative and try as many seasonal activities as you can.
26) Treat yourself to a skin pamper day
Maybe you’re short on time or you’re not used to it, but taking care of your skin, especially in winter, is a necessity to keep your skin beautiful and healthy.
You could go to the beautician and get a full facial treatment, or you could simply carry out your skincare routine in the comfortable four walls of your home.
Whatever you choose, remember to follow skincare according to your skin type and hydrate it thoroughly and it will thank you.
27) Do some stretching
Physical movement is always good, but sometimes playing sports after a tiring day isn’t always the best.
Especially in the winter months, when the mood to do something is under your feet, stretching helps you keep fit.
Stretching is the perfect one for every occasion, for beginners and experts! Whether you work or study, stretching allows you to relax and remove the stress of the day, train your muscle flexibility, and improve your posture.
28) Soak your feet in warm water
Taking a warm water foot bath is practically a must for tired feet that need to relax.
During the winter, our feet need care and attention, because very often we forget about it, not having to expose our bare feet.
Just soak your feet in hot water for 15 minutes, perhaps with coarse salt for more benefits.
In winter I do it too, and while my feet are in the water, I take the opportunity to read a book and relax.
Don’t forget to apply a cream to your feet after bathing to hydrate them.
29) Give yourself a massage
When you have a couple of free minutes, you can take advantage and relax a bit with a nice massage.
Not everyone has someone you can always ask to massage you (if that were the case) but we can easily give ourselves a massage.
You can use oil, or cream, or simply massage the part that hurts or give it an anti-cellulite massage, a scalp massage, and so on.
30) Make homemade hot chocolate
Another fun thing you could try as a winter self-care idea is to make homemade hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate in winter is one of the best remedies to warm you up, and it’s perfect especially when you have the mood under your feet. Because let’s face it, chocolate makes you happy!
Prepare your cup of chocolate, turn on a light bulb and immerse yourself in reading your favorite book, or wrap yourself in your blankets, and enjoy the steaming chocolate in front of your favorite movie.
31) Take a nap
Taking a nap doesn’t mean being lazy or having nothing better to do.
Every time, I hear that anyone who takes a nap is a lazy person. This is absolutely not true. Taking a nap whenever you feel it, is self-care.
Resting in the afternoon allows you to recover energy, and gives you a boost in productivity as it takes away tiredness and helps you concentrate during the day and it also improves your mood.
If you feel tired, you can take a 30-minute or 1-hour nap, and then you’re ready to continue your productive day.
32) Moisturize your skin
Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize your skin during winter.
With the cold, the skin tends to become dry quickly and to crack and age.
This is why it’s important to take good care of your skincare and apply the right products for your skin type.
Apply the cream after your skincare routine and don’t forget sunscreen even in winter!
33) Plan a holiday to a cozy place
One of my favorite winter self-care ideas is to plan a vacation to a cozy place. This can be a few days long vacation or just a full day vacation.
Planning trips keeps the mood positive, makes you happy and winter turns into something wonderful instead of boring and cold.
34) Take up an online course or learn a new skill
You read right.
Take up an online course or learn a new skill.
Many people are convinced that things have to be learned from a young age and that as an adult you are too old or forget things easily.
This is completely false. You can learn many things even if you are not young, and they will always come in handy in your life.
If you’re passionate about something, don’t be afraid you won’t make it.
Take lessons or learn on your own. It’s important to improve yourself and then, what would life be like if we stop at our knowledge base?
35) Breathe in the smell of pine
For those who love nature and are always out in the open, you know what I’m talking about.
The scent of pine is a magical thing and in winter it can be felt even more.
If you live in a wooded area, you can see and smell this wonder and I highly recommend you do.
For those who live in the city or where there are few trees, I recommend taking the pine-scented bubble bath. I know it’s not the same thing, but it’s the least you can do and that’s what I do too ;)
36) Get yourself a giant puzzle
Since we spend most of our time at home, why not take advantage of it and build a giant puzzle?
Puzzles are the perfect pastime to do in the winter and let’s face it, even addicted.
I dare you to take a 1000-piece puzzle and finish it by winter! Let’s do it together!
Conclusion
These are the 36 winter self-care ideas to try right now to fight the winter blues and take care of yourself even in the coldest season of the year.
Hope you found this post helpful!
With love,
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