The 10 Best Ways to Baby Yourself and Your Loved Ones All Winter Long By Stacie Rose

As the cold sets in, and the light barely lingers, many fair-weather fans begin to panic. The Winter seems to last sooo long. The threat of cold, flu, COVID-19, and every other icky virus loom in the colder months. The?4:30 fade to black?makes the beauty of ambition feel a little less glamorous.?

And for some, it's not just run-of-the-mill winter doldrums, but full-on feelings of complacency, isolation, dread, and just being stuck.?

?Winter is a season for many things, but one strategic spin on self-care that could make the season bright is to baby yourself and your loved ones. You have been busy, in high gear, making it all happen, keeping it, all together and maybe even documenting a lot on social media. What a grind!??

It's a beautiful time to pause, think, be introspective, and give yourself and others love and comfort. But where to begin??

"Winter is a season of recovery and preparation."?— Paul Theroux

Book It

?Booking a winter getaway gives you something to look forward to when summer seems so far away. Whether it's a quick road trip, a cold weather romp, or a snowbirds' paradise, getting something on the calendar could carry you through the long, cold months. If an escape plan is not quite in the budget, planning a staycation or procuring a new stack of books could be your ticket to self-care or family bliss. Flip the script on beach reads and carve out time for lunchtime or nighttime reading rituals or even a book club. Books make beautiful gifts and are a great way to baby yourself and others while budget conscious.

Get Nourished?

?Remember during the pandemic when everyone baked bread and made soup? Thinking back on the fact that so many were making warm, nourishing meals for themselves and loved ones from scratch, it felt revelatory. Yet people all over the world have been making home-cooked meals forever. Somehow as a society, we got sucked into the fast food, take-out, pick-up, heat-up paradigm. But something about choosing good, clean, wholesome ingredients and putting our time, effort, and care into preparing food makes all the difference. Baking your own treats and seasoning your creations is so satisfying. Preparing food for friends and family exemplifies love and care. Soups, stews, beans, and any warming foods you can rustle up, throw in the crock pot, or let simmer on the stove can provide comfort, nourishment, and immune support.?

Nourishment can come in many forms; for some, it's creativity that does the trick. Since Winter is a more indoorsy time of year, it's the perfect time to think, emote and create. Whether you write stories or songs, paint, play piano or old records or photograph family members, friends, or footprints in the snow, cultivating creativity and allowing this beautiful flow is a way to feed the soul.

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."?— Edith Sitwell

Cultivate Balance

Winter is a beautiful season bursting with opportunities to get busy, see the sights, hunker down and binge-watch a show. It's a lovely time to bundle up and wander, pack it early, and listen to your body. It's a time to remember the importance of being social, the positive impacts of gathering, and going underground when hibernation calls. It's a little of this and a little of that and releasing expectations, social pressure, or fear of missing out. Balance seems more challenging to fashion during the winter months. It may be the absence of the radiant warmth of the sun. It's vital to catch some of that sunlight each day. A little sun on your face can enhance your mood and help your perspective.?

?"Winter is the time of sacred balance and rejuvenation of life in preparation for the coming spring. It represents abundance, teaching and gratitude."?— Noelle Vignola

Get a Move On

?Staying physically fit in the winter months takes planning and creativity. Starting a ritual is a great way to baby yourself and your loved ones. Whether it's yoga, daily walks, a group trip to the gym, some Peloton, or Pilates -do what feels good! Some need a plan; others mix it up and go with the flow—some like solitary movement and time to rock out to a great playlist or grab a podcast. Many activities are family-friendly, like indoor tennis, rock climbing, bowling, or going for walks or runs. It's easy to get sedentary in Winter, and that's not great for your physical or mental wellbeing. Working movement into your schedule will help you feel better, look better, sleep better and power through the season. Remember that fifteen minutes of fitness a few times a week, walking, stair-taking, and intentionally stepping away from the computer or phone can make all the difference.?

Spruce Up Your Space

The art of changing up your personal space is one to consider. Adding color, plants, and lighting and taking time to organize and spruce up is a way to baby yourself. Think about the lengths you might go to make a guest feel welcome or create a lovely space for someone you love. Reducing clutter, livening things up and changing your space to fit your current aesthetic and mood is a beautiful gift you can give to yourself and others. If you are an artist of any kind, you owe it to yourself to create a loving space for your work and craft. Although the earth may feel frozen, Winter can provide fertile ground for beautiful things to emerge.?

"I write probably 80 percent of my stuff over the winter."?— Bob Seger.

Practice Gratitude?

There is never a bad time to be thankful. But Winter is a worthy time to take stock of things that you?do?have. It's a time to bask in gratitude and joy and share those feelings with others. A gratitude journal strategically planted on a bedside table and some late-night jotting could help you sleep like a baby. Life is never going to be perfect. We live in the ebb and flow. We need to seek out the goodness and laugh at ourselves. There is so much turmoil in the world. How you frame and experience things and the light you let in begins at home.

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."?— Victor Hugo

?Create Rituals?

?Be it Taco-Tuesdays, game night, a boozy brunch, Thursday night with friends, early morning journaling, meditating, tech-free, family dinners around the table,? engaging in acts of kindness, expressing appreciation and support for your loved ones or spending time with a beloved pet, little rituals can be acts of love and ways of taking care of ourselves. The uncertainties in life can be challenging, and anxiously awaiting warmer weather can be trying, so having sweet little pre-planned moments and even making room to create new rituals spontaneously is a surefire way to show yourself and your people some love.?

"In the middle of winter, I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer."?— Albert Camus

Winterize with Care

You might put winter tires on your car, check the heating system in your home, and make appropriations for the snow and ice. So why not invest in a warm, flattering coat and severe winter boots? Warm blankets, think cozy towels, super soft bedding and a few good sweaters round out this initiative.?

You matter. Gifting yourself or a loved one's fuzzy socks or a luxe scarf, knitting one yourself or commissioning one is pure love and warmth. It's so much easier to embrace the cold when we feel safe and toasty from the inside out and from our heads to our toes. When the weather dips below 40 degrees, consider a hat! You lose most of your heat through your head and your feet!

"To keep a warm heart in winter is the real victory."?— Marty Rubin

?Make Small Adjustments

?With all the heat pumping through your home or office and coming through your car's vents, you're likely to get parched during wintertime. Remember to hydrate! Drinking more water in the cooler months is essential for good health. Dehydration is the cause of many ailments. Consider running a humidifier at night, choosing seasonal skincare products with more substantial moisture and hydration in mind. Make sure to condition your locks and keep your eyes hydrated. (Tis the season for dry eye and dry scalp). And when it comes to sleep- you can never be too mindful. Sleep habits vary from person to person, and many get so run down during the Winter. Whether you opt for less night-scrolling, bathing before bed, refraining from eating two to three hours before sleep, upgrading your bedding, grabbing a good book, some music, journaling, breathing or some conversation, often the thoughtful choices you make in the name of rest help you face the next day with bright eyes and a bushy tail. You need not rearrange your entire life. Small, intentional changes to your routine and attitude toward health and sleep can make a big difference.

?"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."?— John Steinbeck

Shine Bright!?

Why not be the light you wish to see in the world this Winter??Give your love, time, and energy to better your life and that of others. Volunteer, smile, breath, and use your intuitive power. Go with your gut. Don't sweat things too much.?Figure out what matters in life and choose those things for yourself and your people. Embrace your successes, your body, and your uniqueness. Let go of judgment. Give compliments generously to yourself and others. Be gracious and give help. Ask for help. Be honest with yourself and thoughtful of others—many people struggle in the Winter. As the darkness closes in, shine brightly as a beacon for others. When you are giving, charitable, inclusive, and compassionate, the world feels it, and that energy feeds us all.?

"One kind word can warm three winter months."?— Japanese Proverb.

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