Wrap Up the Year with Cozy Self-Care: A Winter Lifestyle Guide
First in the Season of Care Series from Exploring Over Coffee
So happy you’re here for the first post in our Winter Season of Care Series!
Exploring Over Coffee Club’s embracing cozy self-care, festive fun, and mindful practices to wrap up the year with intention.
Here's your ultimate winter guide for blending self-care with the season's wonders, complete with a bucket list, mindfulness exercises, and creative ideas for making this winter unforgettable.
What’s Ahead:
Winter Wonders Mindset
Podcast Episode
5 Ways to Embrace Winter Wonders
Downloadable Bucket List and Self-care Routine
If you’re new here, subscribe to stay connected for more seasonal self-care stories and podcast chats.
Get into Your Winter Wonders Mindset
Isn’t it beautiful how just as the world gets a little bit gray, cultures around the world find a way to create light?
That’s the same kind of intention I want us to pour into our routines this season.
Take time for rejuvenation, create space for coziness, and recenter before rounding out the year.
What’s Winter Wonders All About?
It's about weaving seasonal joy into your everyday life. Imagination, kindness, coziness, joy, and all the other ingredients that make winter special.
This mindset is not just about celebrating one day or two days on a calendar.
Explore wonder throughout the season. Soak up everything winter has to offer.
Spice Up Your Coffee Break with a Winter Lifestyle Podcast Episode
Let’s lay the foundation for end-of-year adventures with our lifestyle guide’s podcast episode.
You’ll gather plenty of inspiration including a winter bucket list to enjoy throughout the season. Listen along or keep scrolling to gather seasonal self-care inspo. I put this episode together last year, but the self-care tips and ideas are still just as helpful.
If your looking for a cozy way to boost your coffee break, this episode’s a great companion blending mindfulness with seasonal fun.
Exploring Over Coffee Podcast’s now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Enjoy on your platform of choice and stay connected for future episodes.
1. Explore the Season with Your Winter Bucket List
Whether or not your world has turned into a snowy wonderland, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy seasonal activities. Make the most of the season with activities blending joy and adventure.
Here are a few ideas:
Snowy Adventures: Head out for frosty fun at a winter-themed lounge. Have a snow day for winter sports. Not a fan of the cold? Turn on a movie set in winter or a nature snowfall video.
Seasonal Sights: Sample treats at a holiday market. Visit a light festival for scenic views. Explore an ice sculpture exhibit to appreciate cool artistry.
Creative Fun: Enjoy a cozy afternoon indoors with a DIY gift crafting session, baking treats, or learning a new skill like crochet.
Unique Getaways: Take a daycation or weekend trip. Escape to a winter beach vacation or visit the Northern Lights for a new adventure this season.
Let’s Play a Game
What are some of your favorite winter activities? Play along with the Winter This or That game in the podcast episode. Use the This or That activity page to list your answers.
I’d love to swap answers! Share your choices in the comments
2. Connect with Your Glimmers
For a comforting wellness practice, discover your glimmers and add them to your winter self-care routine.
Glimmers are small sensory moments that spark joy and comfort.
It might be the smell of freshly baked cookies, the feel of a fluffy blanket, or the sound of a nostalgic song.
Just like how you feel panic or stress when coming across a trigger, a glimmer brings a sense of peace and comfort.
"In our overstimulated worlds, glimmers can be the answer to regulating our overwhelmed nervous systems.” -Theodora Blanchfield, VeryWell Mind
Read more: Glimmer: How to Trigger Feelings of Joy and Safety
Why It Matters: These moments are mindfulness in action, helping you stay present and find joy in the everyday.
How to Find Your Glimmers:
Reflect on your positive winter memories to identify winter glimmers
Get intentional with the sight, sounds, flavors, other sensory stimuli you enjoy this season
Practice being present to notice peaceful things you love about the season
Capture your glimmers through journaling, photography, or art.
Some of my favorite winter glimmers are falling snow, warm white Christmas lights, soft jazz music, and cinnamon scents.
3. Share Kindness This Season
As I mentioned earlier, our community’s exploring our Season of Care series.
For our third Winter Wonders tip, I want to emphasize that care isn’t just something we give ourselves. It’s something we share through kindness and compassion. This season, let’s brew connection by coming together.
Check in with a friend, volunteer for a cause close to your heart, and do something nice for a stranger.
Ways to Encourage Community Kindness:
Express your care through words. December’s Write a Friend month, so send a thoughtful card or text.
Join an uplifting group for community empowerment
Do acts of kindness for people in your community
Give back through donations and volunteering’
Brighten someone’s day with a cheerful message
Now more than ever, it’s important to be kind.
4. Create a Cozy Haven
Transform your space into a sanctuary for relaxation and self-care. Gather soft blankets, light candles, and stock up on your favorite books and beverages.
Your haven is your space to practice self-care, try creative hobbies, spend quality time with loved ones, and enjoy relaxing entertainment.
Ideas for Your Haven:
Practice Hygge by incorporating cultural traditions, like Danish coziness routines or unique recipes. Listen to the Art of Hygge episode for more info.
Do nourishing personal care to nourish your skin during the season.
Pick up a good book. Right now I’m enjoying Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Bring winter to your coffee break. Have a cozy winter tea party or sweet sip social with friends.
One of my favorite evening rituals is a journaling session while sipping on comforting drinks. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.
Here’s a journaling prompt to try during your cozy self-care experience.
Take a moment to reflect on what makes winter magical for you. Consider the sights, sounds, scents that evoke a sense of joy and warmth during the season. Then brainstorm ways to sprinkle in this magic into your winter experiences.
5. Envision Your New Year with Imagination Sessions
Goal-setting, new year’s resolutions, and personal growth are a big focus at the end of the year. Combine visualization and self-care with an Imagination Session.
Enjoy cozy at-home activities to uncover your dreams
Try self-reflection exercises
Dream about your future.
Create a vision board or write a journal entry to keep your goals in sight.
Pro Tip: Pair this practice with cozy music or a warm beverage to set the tone for intentional dreaming.
Learn more about Imagination Sessions with this post in our Season of Care series.
Wrap Up Wishes
Biggest message I want to drive home is winter is a reminder that we have the power to create light, warmth, joy, and connection. Embrace wonder this season to uplift your wellness and community.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope this winter lifestyle guide sparks inspiration for your season.
So excited to kickoff our club’s Season of Care series. Like and subscribe to stay connected for more in our series.
Coming next, we’ll dive more into Imagination Sessions to help you explore your dreams for the new year.
What are three ways you’re embracing winter wonder? Share in the comments.