10 Self Care Habits for the Winter Blues

During the colder, darker months it’s natural to feel groggy and blue. Some of us feel tired and unfocused and some of us feel deeper seasonal depression. Either way, this is a time of heightened sensitivity for all of us and it’s normal to want to hibernate and wait for the summer months to roll back in.

Here are 10 ways I stay grounded, uplifted, joyful and calm during the winter months and see myself through healthfully and with vitality until the sun comes back to play.

take vitamin d

During this time of year in the northern hemisphere we have less access to direct sunlight which means our vitamin d levels are lower, which means we’re getting less serotonin (also known colloquially as the natural happy drug), our immune systems aren’t as strong which is why we get sick more often, we feel more tired and we’re more prone to depression. So I make to sure eat lots of foods with vitamin d in them like mushrooms and tofu and drink soy milk and I also take a daily vitamin d supplement to keep me topped up.

have a sleep routine

Getting into a regular sleep routine is really important. Making sure I not only have enough sleep every night (for me 9 hours is optimal) but am also making sure I have some unwinding time before bed without blue light from screens and away from work related or stressful thought. I notice the biggest difference if I’ve not had this time to unwind or enough hours of sleep and find I’m way more productive, happy, grounded and optimistic when I do. Some ideas to help you unwind are reading, listening to a podcast, playing gentle music, meditating, catching up with someone you live with, playing an instrument, having a bath or setting your intentions for the next day.

practice journaling

As a writer I best express myself through written word and I find writing extremely therapeutic. Some smaller, daily writing practices that help me jot down my thoughts, work through my emotions and be more mindful of my thought patterns are morning pages, writing a string of thoughts without pause, gratitude journalling and dream recording. At the moment I’m writing one line of gratitude every day so when I have a day where I’m feeling negative I can read a page of all of the things I’m grateful for in my life and be reminded of all of the positivity that surrounds me. Sometimes, in the darker months especially, it can be easy to forget. This way I’ll always have a catalogue to refer to when I need it.

create a sacred space

Creating a sacred space allows us to focus our minds and change our perspective. Our thoughts create our external reality and when we take the time to slow down and focus our energy, even for a moment, on creating a ritual of light, comfort or love then we start seeing more of that around us. When our lives are filled with turmoil, distraction, equal highs and lows then making space to create ceremony brings us pause so we can feel grounded again.

take CBD

Taking CBD has shown me so many benefits including helping with regulating my mood. CBD helps to boost serotonin production in the brain – the happy drug that is also boosted by vitamin d which is why we feel so much brighter during summer months. It has both anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects which I have found to support my focus and sleep and calm my social anxiety and low moods. I take it before bed to aid in sleep and in the morning to help me focus and be calm.

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stay connected with loved ones

It’s easier to go longer without seeing others when it’s cold and dark outside and staying home feels much more comfortable, so it’s important to say connected to friends and family. Our choices of activity reduce as we say goodbye to summer picnics, nature swims and long, destination-less strolls. I love hosting people for dinner, movie nights, grabbing a hot tea with a friend or two or simply texting or calling someone to catch-up. A lot of us feel lonely or isolated at this time of year and staying connected keeps us mentally and emotionally healthy. Take this as your reminder to call someone you love today, perhaps after this video, and ask how they are.

have things to look forward to

Having things to look forward to allows us to feel positive and excited even on our bluest days. Adding small things to your diary that you’re anticipating will give you something positive to focus on that doesn’t seem so far off as the summer. This doesn’t have to be just big things like holidays or parties but add smaller treats, too, like dinner with a friend or a date with yourself in the park.

move your body

Moving my body feels good. Getting oxygen pumping and blood circulating makes me feel more energised and motivated, so I like to start the day with movement to give me a morning lift. We know I enjoy a good yoga sequence, but sometimes I also like to let loose and flow freely with some intuitive dancing. Dancing (and singing) when nobody else is around feels so uniquely uplifting and connects us to ourselves again. Allowing our bodies to express themselves unencumbered by judgement is complete embodied joy.

get outdoors

I can be a bit of a hermit and easily stay indoors in my own cocoon for days without noticing. As an introvert, I’m totally fine with being alone in my space, but going outside, connecting with earth and feeling the crisp wind on my cheeks transforms my mood, reignites my creativity and lifts me up like nothing else. Even just a 10 minute walk can really change the course of my day. I focus on connecting with as much nature as possible so seek out trees, grass, waters, skies and animal kin. Even on the days I don’t feel like going out to begin with, I always end up thanking myself for these moments. And to make it more cozy I’ll wrap up in a big snuggly scarf, take a warm drink with me and perhaps some nuts and seeds to share with others. Sometimes I’ll listen to music or a podcast but mostly I enjoy listening to the sounds of nature, distant conversations, dogs running on the rocks and the waves lapping the shore. I feel fully emerged in my surroundings. I’ll take notice of the small gifts around me and breathe in the moment.

eat nourishing foods

Creating nourishing, nurturing foods is one of the most profound forms of self love and care. Our bodies survive and mobilise off what we feed ourselves, our energy is matched by what we put into these bodies and our health is largely determined by our meal choices. Our very selves are created by the matter we decide to consume every day. I have cultivated a mindful and intuitive eating practice so that I can better understand my body’s desires and needs and meet them with healthful and satisfying foods that have me feeling full of vitality and lightness. I love to feed my body what it’s calling for and have nurtured a connection with myself through doing so that affects every part of my life. During the winter I choose foods that are warming, grounding and packed with nutrients whilst still keeping me light and feeling energised. I take this time to really enjoy my meal, be grateful for its nourishment and be mindful of how it makes my body feel. Cultivating this body connection has allowed me to notice how different foods affect my body and my energy. I eat for taste, of course, and I also eat for health, connection, compassion and vitality.