A restorative winter: tips for making the most of this peaceful season

Allowing ourselves to properly rest during winter can boost our immune systems, rejuvenate our energy levels, improve our sleep, reduce stress and enhance mental clarity – which means we’ll emerge feeling renewed and full of vitality by the time spring rolls around! 

If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to slow down and make the most of this peaceful season, this guide is for you. Here are our tips for finding deep rest, practising mindfulness, replenishing your body and mind, and embracing winter’s restorative power. 

Embrace hygge

Hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) is a Danish concept all about enjoying cosiness, taking time away from the daily rush to be with loved ones (or by yourself) and savouring life’s simple pleasures. The long, dark days of winter are a particularly good time to embrace the concept. Having coffee and cake with friends, reading a good book by the fire, or lighting scented candles in your home on a rainy day could all be considered ‘hygge’. These small acts of comfort can bring a beautiful sense of peace, connection and contentment into your days. Denmark is always near the top of the list of the world’s happiest countries, despite their dreary winter weather, so there’s sure to be something in it.

Go for walks in nature

Whilst it might be tempting to stay indoors when it’s cold and wet, getting out for a walk in a beautiful natural environment can do wonders for our wellbeing in winter. As well as providing the tangible physical benefits that we get from exercise, like boosted circulation and endorphin release, a winter walk can help you feel more connected to the rhythms of nature, which is beneficial for our mental health too. It can also give you a chance to practise mindfulness. If you pay attention to the senses you’re experiencing – feeling the crisp air as you breathe, noticing the striking silhouettes of bare trees, smelling the damp earth beneath your feet – it can help to clear your mind and reset your nervous system. It’s often a much quieter time of year to explore our beaches, woodlands and parks, so wrap up warm and go and make the most of it. 

Practise yoga

Yoga can be a powerful way to recharge your body and mind, whether you’re at home on the mat or going along to a local class. ‘Restorative yoga’ and yin are particularly suited to this time of year. These gentle forms of yoga are all about helping the body to release tension, calm the mind and deeply relax, with long-held poses often supported by blankets and bolsters. A few sessions of restorative yoga each week can help recharge your energy and allow valuable healing time for your body and mind in the winter months. Here’s a short restorative practice from well-loved yogi, Adriene Mishler.

Cook seasonal food

With the drop in temperatures and shorter daylight hours, our bodies naturally crave warmth and comfort – so winter is the perfect time to embrace hearty meals made from seasonal ingredients. Root vegetables, greens and warming spices are all readily available for you to create nourishing soups, stews and roast dinners. Their richness in vitamins and minerals are great for your immune health and will replenish your energy; and adding ginger, cinnamon and tumeric to your dishes can also aid digestion and enhance circulation, as well as add comforting wintery flavours to your meals, of course. There’s something beautifully grounding and wholesome about cooking with seasonal foods too, that’s bound to nourish your soul as well as your body. Here are some winter warmer recipes to try from Riverford.

Take care of your skin

The cold weather, dryer air and central heating can strip moisture from our skin in the winter, so it needs extra love and attention during these months of the year. Having a good skincare routine with gentle, hydrating products will help to protect your skin, restore dryness or dullness and support its natural barrier function (you can find some great suggestions for natural products to use in winter here). Beyond the physical benefits, a mindful skincare routine can be a soothing self-care ritual in the colder months. Why not light a candle too, and make it a part of your day that you truly look forward to?

Journal

Journaling is a simple-but-powerful practice with a wealth of wellbeing benefits. It’s something that you can add to your wellness routine all year round – but in winter it’s particularly helpful for pausing, reflecting and staying connected with yourself. Putting pen to paper can help you notice how you feel and identify what you need to feel good, especially if you’re someone whose mood is impacted by the colder, darker days. Journaling can also help you to practise gratitude, express yourself creatively, set and achieve meaningful goals, record your memories, and more! If you’re seeking more inspiration for what to journal about, take a look at the autumn and winter prompts in our recent guide from Journal For Joy.

Enjoy unplugged activities

Whilst it’s lovely to spend evenings curled up on the sofa watching your favourite shows in winter, it’s also a great time to engage in unplugged activities like board games and puzzles. These simple activities offer a welcome break from screen time and your digital devices, which is especially important if you’re at a computer for most of the day, plus they can offer a chance to be present and feel more closely connected with your loved ones at home! Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of healthy competition playing Articulate, Monopoly or Scrabble? Lowering your exposure to blue light before bed can reduce overstimulation too, helping you to fall into a more peaceful, restorative slumber.

Meditate

Meditation is a mind-body practice all about focusing on the present and being aware of your body and breath. A common misconception is that meditation is about needing to rid your mind of thought – but actually it’s about being aware of any thoughts or sensations that arise in the present moment, and letting them go without judgement. Meditating offers a chance to sit in quiet and stillness, cultivate a sense of calm, and reconnect with yourself – which aligns perfectly with the natural restorative pace of winter. Benefits include lower cortisol levels, improved sleep and clarity of mind, and even just five or ten minutes a day can make a difference. There are many different ways to meditate, but guided meditations from apps like Headspace or Calm are a great place to start. 

Take supplements

Reduced sunlight exposure can impact our energy levels, bone health, immune function and mood – so it’s important to take a vitamin D supplement to combat these things in the winter months. In fact, the government recommends that everyone in the UK should take a supplement of vitamin D every day in the autumn and winter! Other key supplements to consider in the winter are vitamin C and zinc to support your body’s natural defences and fight colds and flu, omega-3 fatty acids to support brain health and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and probiotics to promote good gut health and boost your overall health and wellbeing. Before starting any supplements, just remember that it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure they are right for you and your needs.

Get crafty

Is there anything more cosy than settling down to enjoy your favourite crafts from the comfort of home on a wet and windy day? Whether you’re crocheting chunky scarves, arranging Christmas wreaths or making decorations for your tree, winter is the perfect time to savour a creative project. Crafting provides entertainment, a creative outlet and a sense of achievement – but it’s also a great way to engage in mindfulness and get into a flow state, which can release dopamine and offer a wonderful feel-good antidote to the winter blues. Crafting with others comes with the added benefit of social interaction too, so why not plan a cosy craft day and rally your creative friends together?

Soak in the bath

A beautiful way to make the most of the colder weather in winter, is to more regularly indulge in a long soak in a hot bath. Baths can soothe aching muscles and help you to totally relax, especially when you add in epsom salts, which are rich in magnesium and perfect after a long day or workout. Essential oils are a lovely addition too – eucalyptus is a good choice in winter for boosting your energy and helping clear your sinuses; or if you’re ready to unwind in a bath before bed, nothing beats lavender. Light a few candles and put on some gentle music, and you’ve got a soothing spa experience at home. 

Get more sleep

If you find yourself craving extra time under the duvet in the winter months, know that this is completely natural! As the days grow shorter and colder, our bodies need the additional downtime to recharge – some studies suggest that we need around 30 minutes of extra REM sleep each night. It’s thought that this can bolster your immune system, improve your mood, regulate your appetite and sharpen your mind – so there are plenty of reasons to give yourself permission to go to bed earlier. All of this extra hibernation time is sure to help you embrace nature’s winter rhythm and feel totally rejuvenated for spring.

Enjoy a winter break

For the ultimate restorative winter activity, treat yourself to a much-needed escape to nature; somewhere you’ll have time and space to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, make special winter memories and practise all of the above. Whether you’re seeking a coastal adventure in the invigorating sea air, or a peaceful retreat in the rolling countryside, you’re sure to find something that’s perfect for you in our handpicked collection of hideaways across the UK. Plan your winter break here.