The winter days are getting shorter and many of us find ourselves slowing down a bit. Darker mornings and shorter afternoons can leave us feeling more tired, the shape of our days might be different, and our minds might also be feeling a bit different too. Many people find that spending even a short time outdoors boosts their energy, mood and sleep during the darker months — which is why those small moments of natural light can make such a difference to our winter wellbeing.
We all find our own ways to bring warmth and comfort into the winter months, and one word that we hear mentioned a lot when people talk about this, is Hygge (“hooga”). This is the Danish concept of cosy and contented living. It’s a lovely way to approach the cold winter months, and people often borrow little bits of it and make it their own.
We’ve recently stumbled across a new word to describe a similar idea. Cozymaxxing, with no less than two xx’s. It encourages us to embrace the simple joy of feeling at ease in your own space, building warmth and comfort into everyday life. Think soft blankets, lighting candles or just cosying up in your favourite chair. The trend encourages us to slow down and to create your own menu of comfort – your winter “mindapples”. It’s even reached the Cambridge Dictionary new-words list, which tells you just how far a good blanket and a soft lamp can travel.
Whatever language we use, many of us share that need for winter wellbeing, to rest well, look after our mental health and find small habits that help us feel more at ease.
In our Feed Your Mind course we explore the Five Ways to Wellbeing, simple and evidence-based actions that help us to understand what supports our mental health throughout the year. And winter can be a great time to re-visit them, because changes in light and routine can impact how we feel, so dependable habits can help us feel more grounded.
Connect
Shorter winter days can make it a bit harder to see people, often we just want to head home and get cosy but social connections can help us to stay healthier and reduce stress. It doesn’t mean we have to become the life and soul of every Christmas party, it can be as simple as a cup of tea with someone you trust, a shared meal or a quiet conversation.
Be Active
It can be hard to get the motivation to move our bodies in the winter months, but even gentle activity can have a positive impact – just small amounts of movement can improve our mood and sleep. It could be getting outside for a short walk, doing a bit of stretching while dinner cooks, a kitchen disco is always the firm favourite at Mindapples, but most importantly it should be something you enjoy!
Take Notice
Being aware of small moments in our day can bring calm to our minds and support our wellbeing. Noticing the world around us, paying attention to how we feel and savouring everyday experiences can help us to reconnect with what matters and feel more present in ourselves. And there’s lots to notice in winter, how the light changes or the warmth of being indoors, the sparkly frost or the steam from a hot drink. If we can catch a few of these moments across our day, they can help us appreciate what matters and bring a little bit of stillness into the busyness of winter.
Keep Learning
We love this one! Learning, or trying something new can increase our confidence and improve our mental wellbeing. Winter can be a good time for curiosity, you might want to reignite an old interest, try a new recipe, consider a new hobby or learn more about your mind and how to take good care of it. Learning something new can feel daunting but even small steps can spark that curiosity and bring a sense of enjoyment to our days.
Give
We know that acts of kindness are linked to increased wellbeing for both the givers and the recipients too. Winter can bring about increased isolation for some, and small gestures can really matter. So, we might consider doing something nice for a friend or a stranger. A simple thank you, offering your help or skill, or giving back to your community can help us to feel more connected and grounded. And when we see the difference our actions can make, it can be incredibly rewarding too.
We don’t need a perfect seasonal philosophy to take care of our minds and whether we draw inspiration from Hygge, Cosymaxxing, our own familiar routines or communities, winter can be an opportunity to slow down, take stock and be intentional about what helps us. If you can, gather your winter mindapples, make time for warmth and light where you can, and rest when it’s needed.
If you’d like a few ideas to get started, take a look at our 50 Ways to Take Care of Your Mind campaign, filled with suggestions from the Mindapples community.
You can also download our Feed Your Mind tipsheet for more practical ways to support your mental health and wellbeing this winter.