10 Winter Self Care Essentials To Cope With The Winter Blues

This post contains 10 self care tips that are perfect to get you through the colder winter months.

Winter is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to get all our winter self-care essentials ready in preparation for a cosy winter season.

However, for some, this is also a challenging time in terms of their mental wellbeing.

Many individuals dread the winter months. Don’t worry if the idea of darker evenings and cooler temperatures provokes anxious feelings, I promise you you’re not alone!

‘Winter depression’ or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a genuine condition that is brought on by the shift in season.

As someone who can be affected by SAD, I know how awful it is to experience. In fact, I have actively avoided the previous 3 winters by travelling around Southeast Asia and Australia!

So you can join me in my preparation for the winter months, I created this post to help share with you what winter self-care items I’ll use to prioritize my mental and emotional well-being. I hope that these winter self care ideas will help you cope with your own winter blues!

The goal is to shift our perspectives from winter being a daunting time, to it being an opportunity to focus on ourselves. We’re simply developing a toolkit to help the winter months become much more enjoyable.

If this sounds good to you then read on!

Due to the harsher weather conditions, we tend to stay indoors much more during the winter. The lack of natural light, as well as time spent outdoors, can cause intense feelings of isolation, low mood, irritability, and even physical exhaustion.

This highlights the importance of adopting effective self care routines during the winter months in an attempt to reduce or better cope with these feelings!

The astounding benefits of prioritizing self care during winter include:

• Reducing stress and anxiety caused by the shorter winter days
• Boosting mood and energy through self care practices such as physical activity and eating nutritious meals
• Preventing burnout by promoting mindfulness and relaxation
• Developing emotional resilience by adopting healthy lifestyle habits through our self care efforts

Now we understand the importance of winter self care, let’s take a look at some of the best purchases or activities we can do during this time for the good of our mental wellbeing.

If you’ve heard about or are knowingly affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder then chances are you’ve already heard about a SAD lamp.

This lamp mimics the natural sunlight that we humans lack during the winter months, with the aim of reducing melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and increasing serotonin (a hormone responsible for improving your mood).

SAD lamps come in various shapes and sizes, I use the Lumie Vitamin L Light Box which can be plugged in wherever I am in the house.

However, if you’re unsure if light therapy is for you, make sure you speak to your doctor before investing in a SAD lamp.

Nothing adds a cosy ambience to an evening like curling up with a good book!

I’ve recently made the switch from using social media in the evenings to reading a chapter or so of my current book, and I can say with confidence that this is one of my favourite parts of the day.

It has been great to finally have the time to read some of the books that have been on my wishlist for a very long time.

When reading, you have no choice but to be fully present to be able to follow the story along. This helps you to switch off from the day and take repose in another world.

Whether you love tuning into some fiction or would prefer to indulge in some more personal development-style reads, taking the time to immerse yourself in someone else’s writing is a true luxury in today’s overstimulating world.

Since replacing social media with reading, I’ve also found myself reading online books more to keep up with the rate at which I’m going through them. Therefore, I’m thinking of treating myself to one this winter to allow for the unlimited amount of reading going to take place!

If you’re a little bookworm like me, then considering purchasing a Kindle or (simply downloading the app for a lot less!) may be a great idea to help you pass the winter time with ease.

Another great way to cope with the darker winter evenings is by adding a luxurious feel to the evenings.

What better way to do this than treating yourself to some cosy pyjamas and snuggling up after work? This will help your mind make the switch from work mode and enter relaxation mode.

Allowing yourself to switch off from the day to rest is an awesome way to demonstrate self care. Not to mention how cute you’ll look every evening! Besides, it’s all about the little things!

Making your bedroom into a sanctuary during the winter months is a must! Especially if you’re likely to be staying indoors a lot more over this period.

The most important part of any bedroom has to be the bed which is why you can’t undergo winter self care without treating yourself to some fresh and soft winter bedding!

You can find some great affordable yet cute bedding online, so why not treat yourself for the winter and spruce up the bed sheets a little?!

If you haven’t already then consider purchasing a lamp or fairy lights that cast a warm glow around your house.

I purchased a sunset lamp a few years ago which is great for making it feel like your bedroom is actually located in a warmer, tropical climate. If you want to pretend you’re not stuck in a country prone to harsh winters, I cannot recommend this lamp enough!

I’ve spoken a lot about getting snuggled up in your cozy bed however it’s even more important to stay active when looking to fight off the winter blues!

Physical exercise releases endorphins which increase feelings of wellbeing and reduce stress.

To ensure that you won’t skip your workouts due to the cold, try to get your hands on some warmer winter workout clothes such as long-sleeve tops and leggings.

Gymshark hosts their annual Black Friday sale in November, so if you’re on the lookout for some high-quality affordable gym wear, why not check them out during the sale?

This is the latest addition to my winter self care toolkit and I can’t believe how much it has helped with the transition to the winter season!

As someone who is naturally very pale, I always feel a little unhealthy during the winter when my skin is as pale as it can be.

This year, I’ve started using Garnier gradual tanning moisturiser to add a sunkissed look to my complexion.

With just a small amount, I feel a dramatic difference in my appearance (even if the changes are subtle to everyone else). My skin looks much more radiant and healthy, which helps me to feel a lot more put together and confident during the cold season.

I cannot recommend trying this out enough!

Not only do herbal teas have tons of health benefits such as reducing stress, improving digestion, and helping you sleep better, but they also can keep you warm during the winter!

Experiment with different herbal teas to see what you enjoy. By the end of the winter, you’ll have become a herbal tea connoisseur!

Invoke feelings of calm and sensuality using an essential oil diffuser.

I have used an essential oil diffuser for many years to help with anxiety and because I love the fresh scent it adds to my room without using chemical sprays or candles!

You can purchase essential oil diffusers that have mood lighting, which adds to the calming ambience that it creates.

My personal favourite essential oils for the winter period are cinnamon bark, sweet orange, and sandalwood!

The winter period can be an expensive one with Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the New Year. Therefore you may be looking to cut back on costs in other areas of your life.

Getting an at-home manicure kit is a great way to ensure you have beautiful professional-looking nails, without forking out a small mortgage for every nail appointment.

Investing in a good home manicure kit is also a great way to pamper yourself and add some luxury to the dark evenings. You can even invite a friend over for this cosy evening activity!

• Start a new project or hobby: use this time to reframe your mind and give yourself another purpose. Maybe you’ve been wanting to start your own business or take up yoga! Whatever it is, use the winter evening downtime to focus on yourself and anything you want to achieve. This helps bring some more meaning and enjoyment to those darker evenings.
• Focus on the small things that bring you joy: take extra care to appreciate the little things that make you happy throughout the day. This is one of my favourite mindfulness practices known as romanticizing your life!
• Be kind to yourself: self care is synonymous with self love. It’s normal to have down days, especially during the winter, and even though this can be upsetting, it’s important to remain kind to yourself. Self care is all about having patience with yourself, so make sure this is part of your practice!

Here are my top winter self care essentials to help you cope with the winter blues!

Although these items are intended as treats for yourself, they can easily double up as festive gifts for your loved ones!

I’d love to know what your winter survival essentials are so I can take inspiration from you. Let me know in the comments below!

You may also like:

• How To Design a Luxurious (Yet Affordable) Night Time Routine For Better Sleep!
• The Art Of Joyful Living: Romanticizing Your Life
• Mind-Altering Self-Help Books to Read in 2024