When the world grows quieter and the days draw shorter, we are left with our thoughts, our longings, and the gentle stirrings of our inner world. Winter is not a barren season. It is a season of preparation and of tending. Winter is a season that asks us to turn inward and care for the woman who stares back at us in the mirror. Today, I’m sharing how to nurture your own spirit and focus on winter self care this season!

A few years ago, a friend of mine wrote a beautiful piece on HoneyGood.com about the meaning of Hygge and how to cozy up your life during winter. If you missed it, please take a moment to read it here:

Hygge Meaning & 5 Ways to Cozy Up Your Life This Winter

Her insights on creating small, meaningful comforts are a balm for chilly days. Hygge, a Danish concept, is the celebration of simple pleasures: warm tea in your favorite cup, candlelight from your favorite winter candle, soft blankets, a moment of peace. Hygge is not a trend. It is a reminder to savor the present and create intimacy with your own life. Her words inspired me to think about how I care for myself as winter approaches. How do any of us? How do we tend to our interior landscape when life’s storms follow us into a new season?

Self Care During Storms

I know something about storms. I walk through them daily as a caregiver to my Ultimate Concierge, who continues to battle vascular dementia. I walk through them as a mother discovering new pathways in a complex family story. One daughter has stepped back into my life, and though it is fragile and new, I cherish this connection. I walk through them as a woman still navigating estrangement and acceptance. And I walk literally through them every morning with my pooch, America, no matter the weather. Our walks remind me that movement is a form of self care and that nature, even in winter, there is still hope.

Recently, I watched a short YouTube video about Hygge and reread my friend’s story about Hygge on HoneyGood.com. It felt like medicine. The visuals of peaceful winter landscapes and the gentle reminder to pause inspired me. Winter is not a time to shut down. Winter is a time to breathe differently and live with intention.

So today, I want to expand this idea of Hygge into something deeper. Let’s walk together into a more soulful conversation about winter self care. Not the commercial version built around bubble baths (though those have their place!), but the kind of self care that strengthens your spirit and steadies your mind. And if, as you read, you find yourself needing guidance, connection or simply someone who will listen, please write to me privately at AskMe@HoneyGood.com. I am here for you.

Create Emotional Warmth in a Cold Season

Winter amplifies whatever is happening inside of us. If you are in a season of joy, it sparkles. If you are in a season of grief, it aches more deeply. Both feelings are valid and both deserve care. Emotional warmth is the act of softening toward yourself. It is giving yourself permission to feel without judgment.

This winter, I am practicing emotional warmth with intention. I spend time journaling, lighting candles in the evenings, and listening to soft music. I allow myself to feel joy for the reconnection with my daughter, and I allow myself to feel sorrow for the wounds that remain. I do not rush myself through either emotion. Winter teaches us that some things must unfold slowly. If your heart feels heavy, darling, place your hand on your chest and breathe. Feel your humanity. It is not weakness to feel deeply. It is your strength.

Embrace Rituals That Ground You

Self care is often found in the consistency of small rituals. These rituals do not need to be fancy. They simply need to be yours. Every day, America and I take our walk. Sometimes the wind bites and the gray sky feels endless. But moving my body, breathing fresh air, and watching my pooch prance with joy roots me in my day. Even ten minutes of fresh air can transform your mood.

Rituals are not chores. They are invitations to connect with yourself and they anchor us. Consider adopting one or two of these winter rituals:

• Warm water with lemon each morning
• Five minutes of stretching or light movement
• Writing one sentence a day in a journal
• Lighting a candle before you read your emails
• Drinking tea by a window in silence
• Decluttering one small area a week to open mental space

Tend to Your Home as a Haven

The home we create shapes the spirit we carry. When winter arrives, I always refresh my condo in the sky. I add soft throws, lovely candles, and touches of sparkle. I arrange my dining table for the season because it brings me joy. Refreshing my home is not about keeping up with trends. It is about nourishing my soul.

Take time to make your home a place that reflects your spirit. Even the smallest touches, like a vase of winter greenery or a new mug for your morning tea or coffee, can breathe life into your environment. A refreshed home supports a refreshed woman.

Connect, Even When Life Feels Disconnected

Women need women. Especially during winter, when isolation creeps in like frost on your window. Though estrangement left a hollow space in my life, instead of shrinking into loneliness, I have chosen to remain open. I talk to women I meet. I listen, stay curious and build community in unexpected places. Connection takes courage, especially when you carry past hurts. But winter is a beautiful season to gently open that door.

Reach out to one friend, say hello to a neighbor, accept an invitation, or write to me at AskMe@HoneyGood.com! You do not need to walk this winter alone.

Acceptance as a Form of Winter Self Care

Acceptance is one of the hardest practices in life. I learned this truth while grieving the estrangement from my daughter, a journey that took years and shaped me into the woman I am today. That lesson sits in my heart like the small engraved stone I once pulled from a labyrinth. The word on the stone was “accept.” A word that has followed me for many years now.

Winter invites us to practice acceptance. Not resignation or defeat. Acceptance. Acceptance of what is present in your life. Acceptance of who you are right now. Acceptance that some relationships may heal in time and some may not. Acceptance that joy and sorrow can coexist. When we stop resisting the realities of our lives, we create space for strength, clarity, and peace.

Move Your Body, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Movement is nourishment. It sharpens the mind, softens the spirit, and energizes the body. As winter settles in, many women slip into a more sedentary rhythm. I understand it, but I gently encourage you to move. You do not need a gym and you do not need a grand exercise plan. You need only a willingness to take one step.

My walks with America have become a symbol of my resilience. Even as my husband’s health requires more of me, even as winter challenges my energy, I walk. It reminds me that life continues to move, even when parts of it feel stuck. This winter, choose movement… Your body and mood will thank you!

Let Yourself Dream Again

Winter is the perfect season for dreaming. While the external world rests, the internal world awakens. Ask yourself:

• What do I want to experience?
• What do I want to learn?
• What do I want to release?
• What do I want to call into my life?

I am dreaming of community, of family, of continued healing relationship with my daughter, and of the meaningful impact I hope to make through my work with the ZOA board. I am dreaming of new ways to serve women like you. Dreams do not need to be big. They simply need to be honest. Not sure where to dream this season? Write to me at AskMe@HoneyGood.com and let’s let’s find the path that feels right for you.

A Final Word for Winter

Winter self care is not indulgence. Winter self care is survival. It is how we gather strength for the seasons ahead. It is how we stay connected to our identities, our longings, and our worth.

You matter, darling. Your story matters. Your healing matters. So breathe deeply, slow down and let winter take you inward. And remember that you never walk alone. If you need a guide, a friend, a listening ear or a bit of wisdom, write to me at AskMe@HoneyGood.com. I am here, always.