1. Keep it simple
This is key to self-care.
Self-care does not have to be grand expensive gestures such as a weekend break, spa day or fancy brunch. Self-care can be as simple as switching your phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’ for an hour each day or even once a week.
It can be removing work emails from your phone or turning down social invitations to stay in and read a book instead.
Self-care is ultimately choosing to do something that will improve your overall sense of well-being in a healthy, non-toxic way.
The simpler self-care is, the more likely you are to do it regularly.
2. Keep moving
As the temperature drops and the days shorten, winter is a time when our physical self-care can be neglected.
It’s easy to curl up on the sofa to binge-watch the latest popular show on a chilly evening.
However, if you’re not careful, Spring will arrive before you realise you’ve not taken 10K steps in 3 months!
Go for a walk, find an online workout you enjoy, create an up-tempo playlist to dance around to or choose a few simple stretches to do daily.
Find a way to move regularly that feels good and gets your blood pumping.
3. Have a soak
Not everyone has a bath in their home and of those who do, many rarely, if ever take a bath.
Having a long soak in the bath can be a simple act of self-care you can do in winter.
If you are sensitive to colder temperatures, you may find yourself feeling stiffer and tenser during the winter months.
Taking a bath is an easy way to relax, and feel cosy and warm and it has many health benefits.
4. Live within your means
Being mindful of your finances is another way you can practice self-care.
Retail sales are on steroids during the winter months and it can be tempting to buy something solely because it has been reduced in price.
To avoid temptation, unsubscribe from all the shop newsletters and unfollow any brands or accounts on social media that may entice you to make unnecessary and perhaps unaffordable purchases.
As winter falls between the end of one year and the start of another, it can be a good opportunity to review your spending habits, set some new intentions or recommit to previous financial goals.
5. Know what works for you
There is no one size fits all approach to self-care. It’s unique for each of us.
Memes, social media accounts, podcasts and blogs are overflowing with suggestions on the best ways to practice self-care and it can be tempting to follow the latest popular self-care trend.
However, keep in mind that trends change.
Consider your day-to-day routine, the time you have available and how much, if anything you are willing to spend.
Additionally, reflect on what feels nourishing and soothing to you. Ask yourself:
- Who or what gives me a sense of ease, peace and joy?
- Who or what relieves my stress and tension in a healthy way?
Let your answers help you to identify and meet self-care needs.
Remember self-care is essential, not a luxury.
If you struggle to make self-care part of your daily life, I hope that these 5 self-care tips for winter help you to create a more consistent self-care practice that improves and maintains your overall health and well-being.
Image Credit: Unsplash
