Winter doesn’t have to be something to endure. Experts share how to slow down and make the season feel better

Words: Stephanie Fitzgerald. Images: Shutterstock

‘I hate winter!’ are words I have increasingly heard over the last few years, and not just in casual conversation when there’s been a sudden downpour, or icy mornings mean that wonderful, finger-numbing job, defrosting the car.

No, from September onwards, even when we’re often still enjoying golden late-summer days, our socials are full of posts and reels offering us top tips on how best to grit our teeth through the seemingly eternal battle with winter. No wonder we may offer a lukewarm welcome to the chilliest season.

At face value, it is easy to see why the prospect poses some challenges. After all, winter arrives on the blustery, dark coat-tails of autumn, bringing with it worse weather, colder temperatures and the chaos of Christmas.

Because, whether we celebrate it or not, winter is often synonymous with the festive season and, having already been marketed Christmas for months (I spotted mince pies being loaded onto the shelves on August 27 this year!), it can feel as though the season is almost endless. We are completely sick of it by the time we see in the new year, forgetting that actually winter has only officially been with us for a few days (winter officially begins on December 21!).

Now, there’s no denying that winter is tougher for those who are not a fan of a drop in temperature, but there are aspects that we make hard for ourselves. We make no room for winter. We don’t give it any space. We make zero adjustments. We stick to the same routines: we set the same alarm, eat the same breakfast, work the same hours and then complain that we find winter challenging.

Of course we do! But that’s not winter’s fault. Much as we wouldn’t try to climb a mountain in flip-flops, winter should see us adjusting to align with and live in the season.

Simply seasonal

Nutritionist Fiona Berry is so passionate about living seasonally, she has made it the focus of her whole career. ‘When I was little and people would ask “what’s your favourite season?”, my answer was always “all of them”,’ Berry tells me.

‘I love the change. Every season offers an opportunity to live life in a different way.’ She supports clients to embrace seasonal living and make the necessary adjustments to move through seasons with ease, especially winter. Far removed from the pressure of once-a-year new year resolutions, Berry tells me that living seasonally allows for continual adaption.

‘I’m constantly playing with the habits I want to build and how I support my wellbeing. Regularly reviewing and adjusting food, movement and habits makes it all feel quite gentle.’

As we continue chatting, I feel a playful curiosity arise. I find myself reflecting on my own winter habits and what could change for me. ‘The reflection and review process begins with some questions’ Berry explains. ‘Ask yourself “how do I want to feel in 12 months?”, and particularly “how do I want to feel on the other side of winter?”’

This curiosity is less about a punchy goal than a refocusing on how we want to feel and what we want to achieve, and it all seems to happen within a much more realistic time frame. Berry confirms: ‘The nice thing about seasonality is that it doesn’t have to happen overnight. It’s planting that seed of intention that builds over a few months. You then have the chance to review and build on those habits in the next season.’

As well as reviewing how we feel, there are some practical adjustments we can make in winter to give us a better seasonal experience. Beth Kempton, best-selling author of Calm Christmas, tells me ‘Simplicity is the key to a calm winter. Simplifying the external, embodied by your spaces and schedules, can usher in order and quietude. Meanwhile, simplifying the internal, through presence and mindfulness, can foster deep tranquillity.’

It’s also a good time to review workload, especially in those early stages when winter is inviting us to slow down. Berry reminds me that, in December, we try to deliver a full month’s work in just two weeks, as businesses around us close or adjust their hours. Add that to increased social obligations and we can start winter feeling very overwhelmed.

Kempton agrees: ‘If possible, try bending and shaping your workload so you are not buried under a mound of tasks. If you work shifts, or in an industry like retail or hospitality that ramps up as Christmas approaches, take extra care to schedule downtime and nourish yourself with good food, plenty of hydration and lots of sleep.’

It’s never too early to align with the energy of the season. Berry tells me ‘From autumn onwards, I’ll be really aware of how many social plans I am making and what I am over-committing to. I make different suggestions of things to do with friends, things that will help our wellbeing rather than over-indulging and I cut back on visiting lots of people to make sure I don’t feel exhausted by the end of December.’

From an evolutionary perspective, winter was a time for small gatherings. The weather was too poor to travel and so we would gather with our immediate clans, sharing stories and food. Our brain still craves those cosy connections. At a time when society is telling us to have loud, noisy gatherings, our brains are hoping for deeper conversations and gentle connection.

Kempton echoes the importance of managing your social calendar. ‘It’s healthy for all of us to guard against overcommitment at this time of year. If you have children, consider reducing their after-school activities and use the time to do more things together at home. Think ahead. November and December weekends and evenings are the perfect times to prepare for the season in a way that feels joyful and enriching, not stressful and draining.’

In a season where it is so easy to get swept away by the social and business demands of others, Kempton issues a timely reminder: ‘Be sure to include yourself in the list of people who need attention at this time of year.’ We have a tendency to block winter out. When the temperature lowers and the light dims, we flick a light switch and crank up the heating.

This can mean we lose touch with winter and the adjustments we need to make, including being more intentional about rest. Berry tells me: ‘We don’t need to hibernate, but adjusting behaviours to suit less daylight hours is really important.’

We may not be able to start work any later, or push back the school run, but we can get into bed earlier, put down glaring screens and read by gentle lamplight. We can stop the frenetic absorption of external information and tune into our own desires and ambitions. We can slowly exhale as winter wraps us in cosy softness and offers us a period of rest and recovery after a high-energy year.

Winter doesn’t have to be so difficult. There are many gifts and opportunities that it can afford us, but we need to budge up a bit and make space for it in our year. When we spend our time wishing we could avoid winter and head straight to spring, or even summer, we are missing out. Winter doesn’t need to be hard; we just need to make it a bit easier.

Expert advice

Beth Kempton is a bestselling self-help author whose six books, including Calm Christmas, have been translated into nearly 30 languages. She writes about doing what you love and living well. dowhatyouloveforlife.com | bethkempton.com

Fiona Berry, Registered Nutritionist, mBANT, CNHC, specialises in seasonal living programmes that promote lasting change through nutrition and lifestyle habits. itstheberries.co.uk