Winter may not be my favorite season especially living in New England where I’m constantly slipping and sliding on black ice, but I do enjoy it for my birthday and nature’s reminder to slow down and reconnect with yourself with some winter wellness.

While Jan-March usually means “go after your goals” in the human world, nature believes otherwise. Look outside your window, you might notice how bare the trees are and how quiet everything is.

Humans should learn to give themselves permission to have a season of slowness. If we decide to constantly go after it, we are setting ourselves up for burnout. When was the last time you gave yourself permission to slow down and truly rest? The days are colder and shorter, meaning we’re more prone to staying in, conserving our energy, and planting our seeds.

Seasons aren’t just here to be our aesthetic reminders. Seasons are nature’s way of reminding you how fast or slow your journey should feel right now. After all, there is a strong reason why Persian New Year starts in Spring.

A fresh renewal after hibernation and rest? Yes, please.

Here are 5 winter wellness habits for you to implement to stay grounded this winter –

Being intentional with friends and family

Winter can feel isolating when social plans aren’t as common as they are during warmer weather, but that doesn’t mean you have to experience life alone. From FaceTimes to actual face times, reconnecting with folks is one of my favorite activities especially in winter. You can schedule FaceTimes for your LDRs, enjoy movie nights, social gatherings, etc all while remaining indoors. Plus, quality time is always good for the soul (yay wellness!)

Journaling and enjoying cozy days in

Winter is my favorite season to journal in because we’re spending more time reflecting this time of year. Nothing better than opening up one of your journals to scribble your reflections in while sipping on a cup of tea (umm, hi cozy chai!). I also love that slowness this season invites you to be more introspective of yourself as you take in the peace and quiet. Reflect on the previous year, maybe even create a vision board (it’s not too late!), show yourself some gratitude, etc.

Taking supplements like Vitamin D

Let’s be real. You’re not getting as much sunshine as you should be. Being intentional with supplements to make up for the things usually lacking in winter is important. I personally need Vitamin D and all sorts of minerals (because hi New England), but others may need something different as well. If you have the means to do so, I also recommend getting your functional labs done to find out exactly what you’re deficient in.

Prioritizing intentional movement

From getting some walks to adding in some gentle yoga flows, your body will thank you. I also use the Peloton app for strength training 4x/week because I love the idea of an instructor telling me what to do versus thinking of workouts myself! If you’re more of an in-person workout class person, I also use ClassPass to get my community workout fix in once a week. Other ways to add intentional gentle movement is doing somatic practices to release and restore. I’m also very intentional with my steps. Not everyone has the luxury of getting a walking pad and walking outside in the cold seems like a chore, but I do make it a priority to hit at least 7K-10K steps a day. Hitting this goal is good for my back and mental health!

Trying out a new winter-focused recipe

By no means am I a chef, but I do enjoy cozy recipes like soups or anything using what’s in season. Aside from cookbooks, I also love referencing other lazy winter recipes because I’m a newbie in the kitchen and of course, slowness should also apply to to the kitchen this season… am I right? 🙂

Overall, winter is all about slowing down and reconnecting to yourself. Be gentle and kind with yourself this season and sip on some delicious hot chocolate (I’ve already had four this season lol). Looking forward to hearing some of your reflections as you try out some of these winter wellness tips to winter proof your health this season.