Winter Self-Care Ideas to Support Mind, Body, & Style

Despite the magic of holiday lights and glistening snowflakes, winter can be a drain on your body and mind. The cold makes it harder to get moving, there are fewer hours of daylight, and simply leaving the house can turn into a lengthy process of layering and lacing up.

Ultimately, wintertime presents roadblocks to ongoing self-care practices, like spending time in nature or socializing with friends. This means it’s more important than ever to pay attention to your emotional and physical health during these colder months in order to get ahead of the winter blues or, in more extreme cases, seasonal depression.

Fortunately, you can brighten winter days and nurture your overall well-being with warm, supportive habits as part of an effective winter self-care routine.

Why Winter Self-Care Matters

Like your meals and your wardrobe, some elements of life require (and significantly benefit from) seasonal changes. That includes your self-care practices.

But why does winter self-care matter so much?

Winter’s Impact on the Body

Winter brings plenty of changes that are harsh on our bodies. And it’s more than just the extremes of frostbite and hypothermia. Consider:

• Low humidity that leads to dry, itchy, and cracked skin
• Asthma symptoms due to cold, dry air
• A more sedentary state due to the lack of warm-weather sports and activities
• A lack of sunlight, which lowers vitamin D levels
• Higher incidence of cold and flu germs, particularly from indoor-vs-outdoor gatherings

Plus, exposure to cold can result in:

• Stiffness and joint pain
• Cardiovascular strain from blood vessel constriction and thickening of the blood
• Weakened immune response and increased infections

Winter can also bring increased lethargy, sleepiness, and hunger, all of which add more of a challenge to achieving or maintaining your wellness goals.

The Mental Stress of Winter

The impacts of winter aren’t just physical. In the U.S., about 5% of the population experiences seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a subtype of clinical depression. Interestingly, concentrations of those experiencing SAD increase the further north you go, with nearly 40% of people self-reporting a drop in mood during the winter.,

Why is this?

In addition to the impact of a lack of sunlight on our brains, winter can also bring:

• Inclement weather that makes it difficult to maintain a social life
• Holidays that add pressure and reminders of losses or unmet expectations
• Less time outdoors in nature and fresh air

There’s also a lack of time in general to consider.

It All Takes More Time

The winter season can easily eat into your schedule, reducing the amount of time you may have had for short walks, meditation, yoga sessions, or self-care routines in the spring and summer. That’s because when you’re living amidst ice, snow, and plunging temperatures, it’s not just about throwing on a coat.

On a bad day, you may need to spend extra time putting on full winter gear, shoveling a driveway, chipping away ice from a car windshield, and driving more slowly due to poor conditions. All of these extra minutes add up, especially with the darker, shorter days that come with this time of year.

In other words, it takes thought and planning to fit self-care into a busy winter calendar.

Fortunately, with a better understanding of winter self-care ideas and rituals, you can make the time to support your mind, body, and overall well-being and mental health.

Cozy Rituals for Your Mind

Think connection, mindfulness, calm, and engagement this winter to nurture your mental and emotional balance. After all, as humans, learning, socializing, and nurturing a passion help us feel our best.

Consider these comforting winter self-care ideas that can benefit your mind and spirit as you navigate the winter blues:

• Use a lightbox at 10,000 lux every day for 30 minutes before 8 a.m.
• Explore creativity through cooking, crafts, or any home-based hobby
• Get strategic with a board game, escape room kit, or bespoke indoor treasure hunt
• Catch up on your to-be-read list with a mix of fiction and nonfiction
• Watch a movie mindfully—lights off and no multitasking—and discuss afterwards
• Connect with friends in person when possible, or virtually when not

Body Care Rituals for Cold Weather

While the self-care tips above can also have some benefits for both the mind and body, there are specific steps you can take to reduce the toll winter weather can have on your physical self.

Let’s start with what to do about the drop in humidity:

• Hydrate – In the wintertime, women need at least 2.7 liters and men at least 3.7 liters of total water daily.
• Moisturize – Take a more/and approach to your winter moisturizing regimen. As it’s getting colder, pay attention to the texture and absorption levels of your skin when using your regular products, and increase the amount and frequency of use as needed. Add more intensive moisturizing products to areas like heels, elbows, and knees, and be sure to moisturize thoroughly after every bath, shower, and hand-washing so that your skin doesn’t dry out.
• Humidify – Consider a humidifier in your home, particularly if the humidity level drops below 30% in winter.

More ways to care for your body include:

• Practicing daily movement – Plan a structured fitness routine for exercise that can be done at home on days (or weeks) you can’t get to the gym, community center, or outdoors. Consider live virtual classes rather than on-demand options to boost the sense of urgency and timeliness. You might even consider trying something new, like line dancing or cardio drumming.
• Wearing supportive footwear – Treat your feet right! Even when you can’t get outside and have to opt for exercising at home, it’s important to choose the right footwear for the activity and follow it up with aftercare sandals that promote comfort and relaxation, like the Rejuvenate Recovery Sandal. Find our guides on the best types of heels to wear in the winter and topics like ‘can you wear loafers in winter?’ for more guidance on picking the right footwear for the season.
• Eating mindfully – Plan meals that provide joy through color, texture, variety, and preference, as well as the nutrition you need. Don’t be afraid to embrace winter menu clichés—hardy soups and stews are ideal choices for eating healthy in chilly weather. Additionally, talk to your doctor about what supplements—such as vitamin D—may benefit you during winter.

Style Rituals That Make Winter Dressing Effortless

Winter gives you access to just about everything in your closet, but just because it’s cold enough to wear every layer and accessory doesn’t mean you should pile them all on! Instead, keep these winter dressing tips in mind:

• Layer thoughtfully – Layering thoughtfully is key to staying comfortable when you’re moving from frozen outdoors to heated indoors. Layers make it easy to adjust for changes in temperature throughout the day while still effectively maintaining body heat.
• Prioritize winterweight materials – The cold months mean enjoying the feel, drape, finish, and cozy warmth of fabrics and constructions that are put away during summer. Bring out your cashmere, merino wool, velvet, chunky knits, oversized sweaters, and lined coats and pants.
• Experiment with hand and hair accessories – You can easily find cute winter hats and gloves in a variety of colors, materials, and functions to fit every style. Incorporating these cozy accessories into your winter self-care routine keeps you warm and helps protect your skin throughout the day and all season long.

Supportive Slippers for At-Home Comfort

During the winter, your feet need two things: warmth and well-designed support. This isn’t just the case when you’re venturing outdoors. The right indoor footwear is equally essential for promoting self-care during the winter months.

When you’re looking for comfort, prioritize indoor slippers that pay as much attention to your heel, arch, and toe support as other footwear does. A few of our favorite options include:

• Open toe with open back design, like the Relax II Slippers
• Closed-toe with open back design, like the Gemma II Mule Slippers

Weather-Ready Boots for Warmth and Stability

Before you commit to a pair (or a collection) of winter boots, be mindful of what activity, length of time, and exposure to the elements you anticipate for your footwear.

For primarily indoor use (for instance, long workdays or shifts), prepare to stay on your feet with stable and supportive boots that offer full-day wearability.

For outdoor wear that goes beyond walking from your parking spot to the door, you’ll want to evaluate the elements that keep your feet well-protected from ice and snow. If you’re wondering how to keep feet warm in winter, look for the following features in a serious cold-climate winter boot:

• Snug but nonconstrictive fit over the weight/layering of socks you plan to wear
• Sturdy lacing that rises above the ankle to promote stability
• 8 – 10 inch shaft height to keep snow out, plus a snow collar for added protection
• Traction and grip for icy terrain—look for thick, deep treads with widely spaced lugs
• Waterproof design with a rubber or synthetic upper to retain warmth and keep moisture out

Next, consider insulation related to temperature and activity:

• 100 – 200 grams for milder temperatures and short outings—suitable for city living
• 400 grams for cold temperatures while active
• 600 grams for extreme cold and/or use while stationary

For style and comfort in lighter winter weather, consider our water-resistant Redding Ankle Boot and Livermore Lace Up Boot. Both will keep your feet cozy and provide excellent support and flexibility.

Make Winter Self-Care Easy with Vionic 

Self-care is important for every season. For practical winter self-care, focus on cozy routines like layering, hydration, and cold-weather skincare to protect skin and maintain comfort. Don’t forget foot care—supportive, warm footwear keeps you active and helps prevent discomfort all season.

At Vionic, you’ll find footwear for all seasons and occasions that prioritizes well-being, support, and performance without compromising on style. Explore the women’s slippers and women’s boots mentioned above or take a look at our featured shoes for the season, including our targeted collections of winter shoes for women and women’s weather-resistant shoes, to discover your new favorite winter weather options.

For more seasonal preparation tips, check out our guides on walking in cold weather and transitioning outfits from winter to spring.

 

Sources: 

Mental Health America. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). https://mhanational.org/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

American Psychiatric Association. New APA Healthy Minds Monthly Poll Finds that Nearly 40% of Americans Face Declining Mood in Winter. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-finds-americans-mood-declines-winter

Yale School of Medicine. How Should I Obtain a Light Box? https://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/research/clinics-and-programs/winter-depression/obtain/

USDA. Water: An Important Part of a Healthy Winter Diet. https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-articles/2012/water-an-important-part-of-a-healthy-winter-diet/

SaveOnEnergy. What’s my home’s humidity level – and why does it matter? https://saveonenergy.ca/en/For-Your-Home/Advice-and-Tips/Home-humidity-levels