Winter Self-Care Rituals for Cosy Wellbeing
The end of the year is nigh! December brings festive times and traditions in many cultures, so we’ll be using our last mindfulness and wellbeing post of 2024 to talk about how we can take care of ourselves and others over the holiday season. Read on for our eleven top tips on winter self-care.
Take stock
Even if you’re not a journaller by nature, the end of the calendar year is a good time to think about how the year went. Regardless of how the year went for you, you probably learned a lot, and if you faced challenges then you’ve no doubt built up resilience that will be helpful to you in future situations. It’s also good to reflect on the good times and think about anything you particularly enjoyed or did well over the year, and to try to carry this optimism forward with you.
Get nostalgic
A lot of people tend to have traditions surrounding the winter months, and television channels also tend to run a lot of old programming around this time, so if there’s an old film or television series that you love to watch then this is a great time to get stuck in. Winter is also a great time to re-listen to festive songs that aren’t played elsewhere in the year, so if you’ve been itching to stick on ‘Fairytale of New York’ again then now is finally the time.
Check in with people around you
If you celebrate any kind of religious or cultural holiday in the winter months then this already provides a natural excuse to check in with people that you might not always be in contact with, so it’s always nice to be able to take the opportunity to see what people are up to, whether virtually or in real life. Also remember that many people tend to feel particularly lonely in festive periods, which means that loved ones will probably be particularly glad if you check in on them.
Be creative
Even if you feel daunted by the prospect of creating something, it’s a great way of passing the time in the winter months. Something simple like sketching or knitting doesn’t require a lot of material, and with patience you can create something nice for yourself or somebody else around you. If you’re really pushed for time or resources then try to engage with creativity in other ways, such as by reading a novel or watching a TV series about something that interests you. It’s hard to feel inspired in dark months of the year, but interesting and creative ideas are everywhere once we start looking for them.
Take some time to reflect and think about those less fortunate
The end of a calendar year tends to prompt reflection in most people. Regardless of how the year’s been for you, there can be some value in thinking about how things have happened, and what you want to do in the new year to come. December also tends to be a time when media outlets run a lot of end-of-year run-downs, so it’s worth taking some time to reflect on global events too, at least from parts of the world that are widely covered in the media.
And while festive periods tend to incur a lot of expenses, if you feel you have some money to spare then donating to charity can be a good practical way of helping others while also helping you to reassure yourself that you’re trying to make a positive difference in the world. A lot of charities find themselves particularly stretched over key holiday seasons, especially animal charities, so anything that you can contribute will help other people or beings in need.
Spend some time on your own
Festive times of year generally mean a lot of time spent in the company of others, whether in the form of family celebrations or annual work social events. While it can be great to have an opportunity to catch up with people and break with the normal routine, it’s also important to take some time out to recharge, particularly if you feel daunted by social situations. If you find group situations hard but you need to attend events for social or work purposes, try to find ways of taking small breaks during the event, or plan a way that you can leave in a timely manner without offending people.
Do something you enjoy
Festive times normally mean a break in routine, so if you’ve been given some days off work or otherwise have time on your hands, it’s a great idea to treat yourself to something nice. Or, if weather and timing doesn’t currently allow for this, think about planning a small holiday or day trip for later in the year, so that you have something to look forward to. Even a cheap trip close to home can provide a valuable change of scenery and give you something to look forward to.
Cook nourishing food and keep moving
Self-care includes basic things like eating well and engaging in physical activity, both of which can be difficult to do in colder parts of the year and at times when there’s a lot of other things happening, all of which tends to be true in December and January. A lot of people get into bad habits then try to make a turnaround in January, but it’s healthier over the long run to try to adopt healthy habits whenever you can, and this way you’ll feel the benefits immediately and be better-equipped to deal with the more challenging parts of the season. While on the physical health topic, if at all possible it’s a good idea to try to use any time that you might have been granted off work to catch up with some sleep, since this will set you up well for the new year ahead too.
Declutter your domestic environment
If you have visitors coming then you might be tidying your house up anyway, but if not then this time of year is still a good time to do some deep cleaning and particularly to have a bit of a clear-out. If you have a home working set-up and your desk is cluttered then it can be a surprisingly big weight off your mind to throw a few things away and start afresh in a more pared-down environment. Likewise, the physical movement involved in cleaning and decluttering is likely to give you an endorphin boost too.
Be mindful of your own vulnerabilities (and those of other people)
The festive season can be a lonely time for a lot of people, particularly when there is so much outward pressure to create happy family moments and make memories. If you’re facing the festive season alone, or with people that you don’t feel comfortable around, try to focus on your own wellbeing and be mindful of the fact that you may be in a vulnerable position. If possible, avoid social media and Christmas adverts (or the equivalent in your culture), since these tend to present an unrealistic picture of how family life looks over the holiday period.
If you’re facing money struggles, this time of the year can be very hard due to the pressure to buy presents and socialise widely, so try to look after your own finances as best you can, and also remember that other people might be similarly pressured. If you have any kind of history with addiction, it’s particularly important to look after yourself at this time of year, as noted by writer and mental health advocate Marian Keyes (her video is linked at the bottom and is well worth watching in its entirety).
Make plans for the year ahead
January is a famously dismal month for a lot of people, because in much of the world it signals an end to the festive season and a return to normal routine, often at a time when the weather continues to be particularly bad and many people are short of money. To avoid the post-festive comedown, try to use January and the new year more generally as a chance to try something new (or, alternatively, get round to doing something that you’ve been putting off on previous years). This doesn’t even have to be a particularly huge task, but having something to focus your mind on will help you start the new year with a sense of purpose. In next month’s wellbeing and mindfulness updates, we’ll be talking about just that, and sharing some tips on setting realistic and compassionate goals for the new year ahead.
For now, we’d love to hear your suggestions on staying physically and mentally on form during the holiday season, so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments. And wherever you are and whatever (if anything) you are celebrating, we wish you a happy and safe season.
Thanks for following our mindfulness and wellbeing updates, and see you again in 2025!
Sources
Marian Keyes on taking care of yourself at Christmas (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4eDFg-XTuQ
Mental Health UK
Navigating your mental load at Christmas
https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/navigating-your-mental-load-at-christmas
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