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When people from the UK discover that I’m Australian, they often marvel that I could choose to live here over the sunny climes of my native country. The truth is, many of my peak life moments have been wintery ones. That out-of-towner curiosity gives me fresh eyes to the joys unique to winter. Yes, we have to work much harder for our energy, but there is much to savour, and that’s why I wrote Self-Care For Winter. In this new book I share the research of why winter can be pretty tough and that we need a framework to help us compensate for the colder temperatures and lack of sunlight. That, and a toolkit of easy to do nourishing practices that can help to lift our mood...
If you’re in need of a little inspo, here are six things that can really help your mood and energy levels in the cold, dark months ahead...
1. Turn Winter Dread Into Anticipation And Excitement
Winter can be a tough slog. The lack of warmth and daylight have a very tangible impact on how we feel. While we need to stay anchored in the reality of the winter months, let’s not set our sights on just weathering them. Let’s aim to transform winter dread into hopeful anticipation.
Winter dread trains our eyes to see all the things we don’t enjoy, whereas anticipation taps us into that sense of curiosity about what’s possible. What are the joys unique to winter that you treasure? Are there natural delights that you look forward to? Crisp mornings where the frost turns things into dazzling works of art? The opportunity to hunker down and get cosy? Make a mind map of things you can look forward to in winter. The local starling murmuration are a highlight for me... and lighting a Candle or two of course!
2. Pace Yourself
You’re not lazy or weak… it’s just winter! Don’t expect yourself to have the same energy, motivation and performance all year round. It’s ok to need more sleep and rest. Where you can, manage expectations and pace yourself. My winter mantra? To be gentle with myself.
3. Hibernate... But Don’t Stagnate
We might be tempted to hunker down, but the key to thriving in winter is to find ways that you can without completely stagnating. We know that movement has a can work wonders for our wellbeing. The challenge here is to find ways of moving that appeal to you even when your energy levels may be low. Wrap up and get your dose of daylight in the morning to help you feel more alert during the day and promote better sleep at night. On days where motivation is zero and you can’t face the thought of going out, remember that lying down stretches count!
4. Retreat... But Don't Isolate
Winter is a time where we naturally tend to turn inwards and nights in feel super appealing. This can have plenty of benefits, but try to be mindful of not shutting off completely. We need social connection just as much as we need food and water, so think about ways you can nurture a feeling of shared experience with those dear to you, regardless of proximity, and ways to feel connected with yourself too. Being in nature is such a powerful way to feel part of something bigger than yourself. Make it a priority to stay in touch and choose some friends that you can winter with... that kind companionship makes all the difference trust me.
5. Take Up Cosy, Comforting Rituals
Do you feel it too? The genuine urge to cocoon? To thrive in winter, we need to find ways to comfort ourselves. Rather than relying solely on warming food and drinks, turn to practices involving nurturing touch or uplifting breath work. See my feed for guided face yoga and breathing practices. A warm bath with a good book is another favourite of mine.
6. Be Reflective
As the weather closes in, we often have no choice but to reconnect with ourselves and our values. For some, this comes easily but for others, it’s a skill that needs some gentle cultivation to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t know where to start, try these three simple prompts from Self-Care For Winter:
My purpose this winter is to…
I give myself permission to…
My priorities are…
Try jotting these down in a journal either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I love to take pen to paper to help clear my mind and practice mindfulness.
About Suzy Reading
Suzy Reading is a mother of two, an author, Chartered Psychologist, yoga teacher and coach. Suzy has over two decades of experience in the health and wellbeing industry, with qualifications in personal training from Australia and yoga teacher training accreditation from The Life Centre in London. She draws these modalities together with psychology to help people build sustainable healthy lifestyle habits and is one of the top UK experts on self-care. Suzy is the Psychology Expert for NEOM Wellbeing and is a founding member of the 'Nourish' app. She now makes her home in the hills of Hertfordshire, UK.
For more wellbeing tips and advice, check out Suzy’s NEW book – Self-Care For Winter or follow her on Instagram - @suzyreading
