Winter Self Care Ideas *
AD, Gifted | It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the night’s longer, and it’s been very cold the past few days. In fact, if you’ve been following me on Instagram, you may have seen that I woke up to snow this morning!
Winter truly is here. And with the holidays right around the corner, many of us will be rushing around the next few weeks. Whether that’s Christmas shopping, visiting loved ones or social events, it’s definitely one of the busiest times of year.
Sadly a lot of us (me included) forget to put ourselves first during the holidays. We put too much pressure on ourselves and it’s unsurprising why some people experience low mood (SAD) this time of year. So making sure you take care of yourself is vitally important.
With that in mind I’m sharing some of my favourite Winter self care ideas with you. But keep in mind, self care is a very personal thing, so if these don’t work for you. Try different things until you find the ones that do. 😊
Winter Self Care Ideas
Pamper yourself
Whether that’s painting your nails, popping on a face mask, or spending extra time to do your hair and make-up. Find something that makes you feel good about yourself.
For me, my favourite pamper treat is a relaxing bath with either a scented bath bomb or bubble bath. It’s a great way to warm yourself up as well as pamper yourself. Warm baths can also help relax tense muscles, which you may find you have, after being hunched over protecting yourself from the elements!
If you don’t have a bath, then a shower works just as well. Just make sure to pop your towel, dressing gown, and lounge wear in the tumble dryer beforehand. Or on a heated towel rail, or radiator, if you don’t have one. You’ll definitely thank yourself for it. 💞
Get Creative
One of my favourite ways to relax and unwind is by doing something creative. Whether that’s trying out a new craft (like cross stitch), doodling in one of my many notebooks, or colouring; it’s a great way to switch off. And I always feel so refreshed afterwards.
Recently I’ve been favouring colouring books. There are so many different themes to choose from, including intricate patterned designs, animals, fandoms, (like Doctor Who), and even fairytale, or fantasy ones.
For me, I love a colouring book where I get to choose my own colour scheme, which is a little more difficult if the book includes a famous landmark or character. So this dinosaur colouring book by Feel Happy Colouring* is an ideal choice.
I love their cute illustrations and the fact that I can have free reign over the colour scheme (especially with their dinosaur book). It also appeals to my inner child who wanted nothing more than to be a paleontologist digging up dinosaur bones when she grew up.
Stay hydrated
If there’s one thing I easily neglect more of in the Winter, it’s keeping myself hyrdated. Honestly, the thought of grabbing a cold glass of water when I’m already feeling cold, just doesn’t appeal to me. Instead I’ll top up my fluids with a warming drink, usually a soya hot chocolate, but fruity teas, coffee, or squash with hot water, are also great options.
Drinking plenty of water is also a good way of keeping skin hydrated, which is even more important in the Winter months. The cold harsh weather strips our skin of moisture, and indoor heating can make the air very dry, leaving most of us with extremely dry, flaky skin! So switch up your skin care routine would also be a good shout.
Go for a Walk
If there’s one thing I loved about the Autumn / Winter season it’s how pretty everything looks. From the changing colours of leaves, to a blanket of snow, or even a frosty morning sun rise. There are so many beautiful things to appreciate this time of year.
So why not bundle up in your favourite Autumn / Winter accessories and go for a long nature walk? Not only will you be able to appreciate this time of year, but you’ll also be getting some much needed sunlight, and excercise. Which leads me to my next Winter self care activity…
Indoor Excercises
When it’s cold, wet, and windy outside, it can be very tempting to curl up under a blanket rather than go for a run, or out to the gym. Believe me, I know the feeling. Which is why home workouts can be a great alternative during the colder months.
Exercises such as yoga or circuits can easily be done at home, or modified, for at home workouts. But if you have the space a home gym set up could also be a great alternative.
You can also up your steps when you’re out and about, by parking further away, going for a lunchtime walk, or while you’re busy Christmas shopping. The most important thing is to keep moving.
Treat yourself
At a time of the year where we’re so focused on other people it can be nice to treat ourselves too! And it doesnt have to cost much either. Besides a relaxing bubble bath, one way I like to
treat myself, is allowing myself time to recharge and not feel guilty for it. This way be curled up under a blanket with a good book, catching up on one of my favourite shows, or even a decluttering session, which always helps distract my busy mind.
What self care practices do you adopt in Winter? Let me know in the comments. 😊