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Why is Winter Self-Care Important?

We all have heard this phrase before: “Self-care isn’t selfish.” You may have an already set self-care routine that you follow. However, does it change during the cold winter months? Winter brings a whole host of challenges that can affect us both mentally and physically. From lack of vitamin D to awful moods from seasonal affective disorder, this cold season means a change of self care to stay on top of both your physical and mental health. 

Even though many of us spend our days inside our homes or offices working, we still made time in the summer to walk our dogs and get a bit of sunshine in our backyard. That small luxury is taken away from us in the winter time. Because of this, it’s easy to give up on self-care all together. You’re trapped inside, no one is going to see you, so who cares about self-care? Wrong! While self-care can make you more presentable to the world, it’s really about taking care of yourself mentally and physically for your well-being.

Don’t worry if you have no idea where to even start with a winter self-care routine. We’ve created this list of winter self-care tips for you that are absolutely vital to surviving the winter.  

15 Winter Self-care Survival Tips

“A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Well, that sounds nice, doesn’t it? That is the definition for the Danish culture of hygge (pronounced hue-guh). The Danish people practice self-care to the max. In a country that is cold most of the year, self-care in winter time is practically a mode of survival. We’ll be talking about a few tips that originate from hygge and a few that fall under no specific category or culture, but make you feel that much calmer and at ease.  

Journaling

Journaling is great for many reasons. It gets out all of your thoughts onto a page of paper and allows your mind, in turn, to calm down. Any stresses from the day are lifted off of your shoulders and put onto the paper. Also, if you’re having the winter blues, journaling can help you find the root cause of your sadness and deal with it in a way that is also productive to your overall health.

Journaling doesn’t have to be done in a particular way or at a particular time. A good rule to follow is to pull out your journal whenever your mind becomes too chaotic. Release that chaos and continue your day with a clear head.

Get More Sunlight

This can be hard to keep up with in the winter time. Hours of sunlight during the day are shorter and you may miss direct sunshine completely if you work a standard 9 to 5 job. However, try to get outside even if it’s just during a lunch break. Vitamin D is essential for your immune system, bone health, and your mental health.

If you can’t get natural sunlight, consider investing in an artificial sun lamp, also known as a SAD lamp. These lamps mimic sunshine and give you the same chemical boost that you would receive from natural sunlight exposure. It’s also good to take vitamin D supplements during the winter to make sure you’re getting a healthy amount of this essential vitamin.

Start a New Book

Starting a new book can be like traveling without leaving your house. Set aside time in your day (when you can) to getting fully immersed in a book you’ve been wanting to read. Not only will this help boost your intellect and creativity, it will act as a helpful distraction from the gloomy winter.

Take a Bath

When we say take a bath, we mean go all out. Light candles around you, throw in a bath bomb or soap for bubbles, turn on your favorite cozy playlist, and grab that new book you’ve been wanting to start. This comfort is akin to that of hygge practices. You’re getting comfortable in your space and blocking out distractions for some “me time.”

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Another staple of hygge is warmth. Cozy up with warm pajamas and fuzzy socks. Even wrap yourself up with a blanket to ensure you’re nice and warm. The comfy nature of being in clothes that make you feel good will bring a sense of calm all over you.

Moisturize

It’s easy to slack off on our skincare routine until our face is tight from the winter dryness and our hands are cracked from the wind. Winter is the perfect time to get your skincare routine in order. Moisturize from head to toe to avoid dry skin from winter temperatures. A great tip is to bring around lotion with you wherever you go.

Especially with cold and flu season, we’re washing our hands and putting on hand sanitizer more than ever before. This leads to dry, cracked hands if not taken care of with lotion. Apply moisturizer multiple times a day to protect your skin—it’s your largest organ after all.

Dry Brushing for Skin

Dry brushing exfoliates your skin and improves circulation. This is great for brushing off dead skin cells from dry winter skin and promoting new growth of radiant and healthy skin. Dry brushing is also known to help the lymphatic system and rid the body of toxins. Talk about a recharge!

Go to Bed Earlier

With less sunshine, it’s more important now than ever to go to bed early so you can get a full eight hours of sleep and wake up bright and early the next day. It can be hard to get out of your bed on chilly winter mornings. If you don’t have a dog, cat, or child that forces you to get up out of bed, find a different way that works for you.

Try placing your alarm across the room or jumping into the shower from the moment you get up—the possibilities are endless! Try a few different methods in your morning routine and see which one wakes you up and helps to start your day best.

Drink More Water

Other than below freezing temperatures, not drinking enough water is one of the leading causes of dry, winter skin. Try to make a habit of drinking a glass of water right when you get up in the morning… yes, even before making your coffee.

Try a Humidifier

Stuffy, dry noses can be caused from a lack of humidity in the air. Save your nose the pain and invest in a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air in your home.

Light Candles

This is another Danish attribute of hygge. Candles and soft light bring a coziness factor to your space that makes you melt into your couch cushions and relax like nothing else.

Bake Something New

Everyone loves to indulge in baked goods during the winter months. Why not make it the time to learn a new recipe and bake? You’ll feel good about trying something new and you’ll have a tasty treat when you’re finished.

Indulge in Your Routines

Make your showers more intricate, your skincare routine more elaborate, or your night and morning routines more extravagant. Take these moments as little meditations throughout your day to remind yourself that you are worthy to be cared for.

Meditation

Speaking of meditating, even just a few minutes a day of concentrated breathing can help you clear your mind and erase that cabin fever you may be feeling from being trapped inside. 

Get a Workout In

Workouts are especially vital in the winter. Our energy is lower because of the lack of sunshine, and naturally, we aren’t moving around as much. During the summer, you may find yourself taking a walk in the park for fun, playing a game outside with friends, or going for a hike. However, during winter most of our activities are trapped indoors.

With the decline in physical movement also comes the decline in our mood. Keep your mood and endorphins up with regular movement wherever you can get it. Carving out just 30 minutes of your day for some quick workouts (even at your desk!), stretches, or activity will up your mood and allow you to take on the rest of the day’s challenges.

The winter time can be a difficult period, both mentally and physically for everyone. This is why self-care routines are so important during this period of the year. Digest these tips and pick your favorite ones that best serve you and your self-care routine. You deserve to pamper yourself this winter, so start by incorporating a few self-care tips into your day now.