Popularised by the author Katherine May in her beautiful book of the same name, ‘wintering’ is the art of living in rhythm with the seasons and weather. As the clocks have changed recently, how can we use the idea of wintering to enhance wellbeing when life outside is cold, dark and dreary?
Love it or loathe it, winter is on its way. And with it comes those colder, darker days when it can seem harder to muster up the energy required for everyday life. Let’s face it: traipsing to the shops or walking to work when it’s blowing a gale outside isn’t anyone’s idea of fun.
However, much as we may want it to, life doesn’t simply pause when the clocks change. While the trees are shedding their summer leaves and small animals are preparing to hibernate, many of us are gearing up for the busiest couple of months in our calendars (don’t worry, I won’t mention the C word just yet).
But what if I told you that it’s possible to boost your wellbeing by finding a balance between the chaos and the calm, by leaning into the season rather than fighting against it? The concept of wintering promises just this.
What is wintering?
Popularised in Katherine May’s book of the same name, wintering refers to leaning into the restorative power of nature and the seasons. Rather than attempting to override our instinct to hunker down and rest at this time of year, wintering encourages us to make small lifestyle changes that can help us to thrive in the colder, darker days ahead.
“Wintering is a conscious retreat into a period of rest and introspection, often prompted by hardship, fatigue or the changing seasons,” says psychotherapist Karen Hartley. “It is a time to slow down, tend to one’s core needs and conserve energy – much like how nature lies dormant. This deliberate pause provides the essential quiet needed to heal and gather strength for a renewed beginning.”
Leaning into the idea doesn’t have to mean full-on hibernation. You can adapt the concept to suit you, such as reading a book, making time to do a jigsaw puzzle or simply sitting down with a hot cup of tea.
What are the benefits of wintering?
We know: life is busy. But stopping for a while each day doesn’t mean you’ll fall behind. In fact, it might even make you more resilient and productive in the time when you are ‘on’.
“For many of us, especially women juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, the idea of slowing down can feel almost laughable,” says coach Becs Winterborn. “We’re in survival mode, operating on adrenaline and duty. But the gentle practice of wintering holds profound medicine for our overwhelmed nervous systems.
“As autumn arrives and the days shorten, we’re being invited to turn inward, to let go, to rest. This isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Your body knows this. It’s your conditioning that’s arguing. Wintering can help teach us that rest can be fruitful, and that small moments of beauty matter. Darkness has gifts if we stop fighting it.”
How to winter well
How you choose to embrace the season is a personal, movable feast, but what works for one person may not work for another. That said, there are some rituals that are universally restorative, so if you’re not sure how to start, why not try these?
1. Consider your social commitments
While social connection is absolutely vital for wellbeing, perhaps three Christmas parties in one week isn’t the best idea.
“I embrace the art of slow living in winter,” says Hartley. “Contrary to popular belief, winter is not the time for packed social calendars or ambitious projects, as our biological capacity for activity is lower. The art of doing nothing isn’t laziness: it’s the conscious, guilt-free act of simply being – staring out the window, sipping tea without my phone or just sitting by the fire.”
Winterborn goes a step further, recommending that we all ring fence one afternoon each weekend for rest. “Protect one afternoon a week for genuine rest,” she tells Stylist. “Not productive rest, not ‘I should’ rest, but true restoration. Your inner people-pleaser will resist this because it feels selfish, but it’s not.”
2. Make time to cook
While summer is made for whiling away long, lazy evenings picnicking with friends or simple BBQs, winter cries out for slow, nourishing dishes that simmer away on the stove. Is there anything more comforting than the thought of coming home to a warming pot on the slow cooker? We’ll wait.
“I batch cook nourishing foods, such as large pots of soup,” says Hartley. “Not only do I find this process meditative, but the result is physically warming and nutrient-dense, too.”
3. Create a candlelight ritual
There’s no denying that the nights can feel endless at this time of year, especially when the weather is dank and dreary. If keeping the lights on all day is getting you down, why not try creating a cosy candlelight ritual in a (safe) corner of your home?
“Creating soft, warm lighting in your home as the evenings draw in is one of my favourite rituals at this time of year,” says Winterborn. “Denmark uses more candles per capita than any other country, and there’s profound wisdom in this. Candlelight naturally slows us down. It signals to our nervous system that it is time to rest and creates an atmosphere of calm that soothes our often overstimulated minds.
“Why not light a candle when you arrive home as a ritual that marks the transition from work mode to home mode. This simple act tells your body and mind: you’re safe now, you can soften.”
4. Cultivate a calming sleep routine
No, you’re not imagining it: we really do feel a little more tired in the winter.
“As daylight hours shorten, it’s common to feel a little more sluggish or notice your mood dip,” says Emma Morgan, a sleep expert and founder of All About Sleep. “That’s why winter is the perfect time to prioritise a consistent sleep routine and nurture your wellbeing. Start by transforming your bedroom into a calm, clutter-free sanctuary. Invest in cosy bedding and supportive pillows that make your bed a place you truly want to retreat to.
“In the evenings, consider setting a ‘bedtime alarm’ as a gentle reminder to switch off screens and avoid late-night scrolling or binge-watching. Establish soothing nightly rituals to help your body wind down: jotting down thoughts or worries, reading a few pages of a book, putting on a sleep mask, spritzing your pillow with a calming scent or practising deep breathing.”
While these are all habits that will benefit us all year round, when it’s dark and cold outside, we might just have more motivation to stick to them.
5. Accept, don’t resist
We know that mindset can be a powerful tool, and never more so than in winter. While it’s tempting to complain about the dark/rain/wind, try flipping this on its head.
“Try shifting your mindset from resistance to acceptance,” advises Hartley. “Instead of saying. ‘I hate this weather,” reframe it with a mantra like, ‘This is a season for rest, not for hustle,’ or ‘The dark is my cue to turn inward.’
“Acceptance doesn’t mean I have to like the cold and dark; it just means I stop wasting energy railing against it.”
And who doesn’t want more energy right now?