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How do you feel about winter? Do you have any seasonal self-care and wellness practices?
I love the coziness, but I also know that winter can be a complicated season. Many people (myself included) experience some form of winter blues.
Fortunately, we can take action to practice self-care and combat the winter blues.
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
Finding opportunities to romanticize life can help us counteract potential downsides of our present situation (like the season). Use these tips to feel like your best self, regardless of the season.
I created this guide based on the habits that I am cultivating to prioritize my wellbeing this winter.
As always, take what works for you and leave what doesn’t. And feel free to substitute your own habits.
Photo by Valentina Conde on Unsplash
What Does It Mean to be “That Girl?”
The “That Girl” social media trend refers to being the highest version of yourself. “That girl” typically is very organized, put together, and has dedicated wellness routines.
She seems like she’s got it all together.
Since looks can be deceiving and the Internet can sometimes create unrealistic expectations, I feel it is important to clearly define what “That Girl” means and doesn’t mean (in my opinion).
Being “That Girl” Means
⟢ Prioritizing your wellness and well-being (physical, mental, and spiritual)
⟢ Living a balanced lifestyle
⟢ Living authentically
⟢ Protecting your peace
⟢ Creating routines that help you feel your best
Photo by Marissa Grootes on Unsplash
Being “That Girl” Does NOT Mean
⟢ You have to wake up at 5 am
⟢ Rigidity
⟢ Living by other people’s expectations
⟢ Practicing habits that don’t serve you
Now that we have that out of the way, I can get on with the tips to help you be “That Girl” this winter. Use these tips to help you romanticize your life and feel your best during the winter months!
Photo by Yuliia Tretynychenko on Unsplash
Overall Winter Wellness Tips
◇ Develop Cozy Routines
Cozy living is all about doing things slowly and mindfully, while savoring life’s precious moments. You can create a cozy lifestyle by intentionally developing cozy routines that make you feel comforted and soothed.
Some of my favorite cozy routines include:
⟢ Starting my day with a guided meditation
⟢ Taking a Hot Girl Walk + listening to a podcast
⟢ Eating dinner with a candle, a book, and a jazz playlist
Keep Your Routines Simple
A pro tip for establishing routines is to develop simple ones that you can actually stick to. There is no point in creating overly-complicated and unrealistic routines that you won’t keep up with. This will most likely just lead to you feeling bad about yourself if you fall short.
Learn to Prioritize
I’m learning that prioritization is key to living more intentionally and with less stress. Trust me, I am far from perfect and will continue working on implementing this tip. But, I wanted to share this becacause I understand that keeping things simple by prioritizing what truly matters to you is essential for your peace of mind.
◇ Stay Warm
I’m a girl. I get cold.
As much as I love the winter vibes, I do not enjoy feeling uncomfortably cold. I simply do not feel like the best version of myself when I am too chilly.
If you can relate, these are my top tips for staying warm and cozy!
Photo by Joshua Newton on Unsplash
Tips for Staying Warm During the Winter
Get a Heating Pad
Do not underestimate the power of a heating pad for getting you through the colder months. I keep my heating pad on and in my lap while I’m working, as well as while I’m just relaxing. This makes a huge difference, especially if you want to stay warm without turning on the heat!
I recommend looking for a heating pad that turns off automatically, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it on for too long.
Get a Microwaveable Pillow
The pillows that you can heat up in the microwave are also game changers when it comes to keeping warm! I have a neck pillow, which I throw in the microwave for two minutes and then hold onto to stay warm.
These are examples of what I’m referring to.
Wear Layers
You best believe I wear so many layers when it’s cold outside. I do not care that I live on the west coast and it’s “not that cold.” It’s all relative, so I will unapologetically wear my long sleeve shirt, sweater, puffy jacket, beanie, fuzzy socks, and scarf.
Thank you very much.
Use Blankets
A good collection of warm blankets is also essential for keeping warm. I keep a stack on my couch, as well as on my bed, so I can maintain a comfortable core temperature.
Image by Thought Catalog from Pixabay
Drink Tea
The highest version of myself drinks tea. Drinking tea and unwinding at the end of the day is an example of what my dream life looks like. So drinking tea is one way I get to show up as that version of myself today.
Plus, a warm beverage is such a great way to warm yourself up, feel cozy, and bring hygge to your life.
If you don’t know what Hygge is (or if you are curious to learn more about it), make sure to read this blog post about How to Use Danish Hygge Elements to Create Your Dream Cozy Life.
Photo by Dan Smedley on Unsplash
I challenge you to identify small habits you can implement to connect you with the highest version of yourself today.
Also, if you struggle to stay hydrated, you might find drinking hot tea more appealing than drinking cold water when it is chilly outside.
Photo by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash
◇ Winter Physical Self-Care
Prioritize Skincare
Truthfully, my skincare is very simple and minimal. I don’t foresee myself keeping up with those intensive, multi-step skincare routines I sometimes see on TikTok. If that is your thing, I totally admire you! But if that isn’t your thing, I just want to remind you to take care of the basics.
Combat the dry winter air by keeping your skin hydrated. Remember to apply face cream after washing your face in the morning and at night. And make sure to apply body lotion after you shower. This will help you keep dry skin at bay.
I finally purchased a new bottle of body lotion (after going without it for a while), so I am very happy!
Photo by michela ampolo on Unsplash
Wear Sunscreen
Yes, you still need to wear sunscreen in the winter. The sun still exists. Trust me, your future self will thank you for using sunscreen.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Use Face Masks
I have collected so many face masks and eye patches over the years. I am not in the habit of using them, however I would like to make using a face mask part of my weekly self-care. This is such a simple way to pamper yourself and feel like That Girl.
Prioritize Sleep
Do you often feel more tired during the winter? I know that I find crawling out of bed challenging during the colder months!
Given this information, take care of yourself by establishing a consistent sleep schedule. Try to wake up and go to bed at about the same time every day. This is something I am currently focusing on, and I am far from perfect. But I am trying, and that is what counts.
Don’t try to make a drastic change at once, just try to go to bed 15 minutes earlier. Once you adjust to that, push your bedtime up another 15 minutes. Repeat that until you consistently go to bed at your desired time.
Photo by Michael Held on Unsplash
Get Sunlight During the Day
Since winter shortens our days, it is especially important to make sure to get some sunlight when you can. Make a point to go outside when the sun is up.
If you work in an office, or spend most of your day indoors, try to take at least a small break to spend a few minutes outside, or even by a window. Intentionally spending time in sunlight during the day is important for your circadian rhythm.
Optimize Your Winter Movement
If one of your goals is making sure you incorporate movement into your lifestyle, then you want to make sure you pick the right type of movement for you.
Picking activities that you enjoy and that match the vibe of your current season of life is going to help you remain consistent and motivated.
For example, say you tell yourself that you are going to go for a run everyday. But you hate running, and it’s cold outside. How likely are you to actually keep up with that goal?
Photo by James Wheeler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-trees-1552212/
But alternatively, you could decide to try an indoor workout class that you are interested in. You are still accomplishing your goal, but taking an approach that you can realistically keep up with.
I’m not saying one of these scenarios is better than the other, I’m just expressing how important it is to know and honor yourself. This is the key to setting yourself up for success when setting goals. So carefully consider how you can incorporate joyful movement into your winter routine.
Moving your body in ways that feel good to you is called intuitive movement, which is important for feeling your best.
If you want some indoor workout inspiration, check out this blog post for online yoga YouTube channel recommendations.
◇ Winter Mental Self-Care
Read
Picture this: a cozy sweatshirt, a candle, a warm beverage, and a good book. Is there a better winter activity?
One of my 2024 goals is to read long-form content every day. Any amount. Any medium. Whether I read one book chapter, one page, or one long blog post, I met my goal. I am less concerned with how much I read and am more focused on maintaining a reading habit. Plus, I want to capitalize on reading’s brain health benefits.
I created a Notion habit tracker to inspire and motivate me to keep up my reading goal. Checking off that habit everyday gives me something to look forward to!
If you’ve never heard of Notion, this is an all-in-one productivity and note-taking app that completely changed my productivity game! It is so fun and motivating to create custom templates for your goals and habits!
Use this link to check out Notion!
Notion also has a handy AI feature, which you can check out here!
Read Cozy Seasonal Books
Seasonal reads are a great way to embrace, celebrate, and romanticize the season. I’m currently making my way through The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody and Emma by Jane Austen.
The Chaos of Standing Still takes place in winter, making this a perfect seasonal read.
And I associate classic literature with fall and winter, so Emma fits perfectly with that. Intentionally selecting books that fit the seasonal vibe helps us feel grounded and present, which is an important aspect of living mindfully and intentionally.
Do you find it difficult to get yourself to read? If so, check out this blog post for tips to help you fall in love with reading and establish a reading habit!
Embrace Cozy Hobbies
Do you have hobbies?
Having hobbies is an important aspect of creating a balanced life. But, if you don’t feel you have any hobbies, that is totally okay. Hopefully, this post helps you gain some inspiration to develop one.
I love crocheting, because it is soothing and relaxing. Plus, I can make cute custom gifts for friends and family! Check out this post to learn about some of the mental health benefits of crafting.
Hobby Benefits
⟢ Hobbies help you relax and de-stress.
⟢ Hobbies help boost your self-esteem.
⟢ Hobbies meaningfully fill your free time.
⟢ Hobbies engage your brain.
⟢ Hobbies make life enjoyable.
⟢ Hobbies can provide a sense of community.
Cozy Hobby Inspiration
Check out this blog post from Montanahappy.com for inspiration on the 31 Best Hygge Hobbies for Women to Try in 2024.
Photo by Craig Adderley: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-writing-illustration-in-spiral-notebook-1767016/
These are some of my ideas for potential cozy hobbies!
⟢ Painting
⟢ Drawing
⟢ Crocheting
⟢ Reading
⟢ Knitting
⟢ Quilting
⟢ Jewelry making
⟢ Coloring
⟢ Diamond art
⟢ Calligraphy
⟢ Cooking
⟢ Baking
⟢ Video games
⟢ Board games
⟢ Puzzles
⟢ Scrapbooking
⟢ Embroidery
⟢ Learning new subjects
⟢ Origami
⟢ Candle-making
⟢ Learning an instrument
YouTube is a great learning tool. How amazing is it that we can learn about virtually anything just by looking up a YouTube video?
YouTube is where I go when I want to start a new crochet project!
I encourage you to take advantage of this free resource to enrich your life with new hobbies.
Photo by Harper Sunday: https://www.pexels.com/photo/daily-care-routine-3321416/
Make Time for Self-Care and Relaxation
As I write this, I am starting a much needed Relaxing & Recharging Self-Care Weekend. I can really feel that I need this opportunity to rest. This is a friendly reminder to listen to your physical and mental cues and practice self-care before you get completely depleted.
All the tips I mentioned in this post will help you do just that!
I hope this post helps you feel your best this season. I hope you got some inspiration for winter self-care practices. Leave me a comment to let me know how you implement these practices into your life!
Do you have your own tips for winter self-care and beating the winter blues? Leave a comment to let me know!
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Life by Julia 