How do you feel about heading into the autumn and winter season? I do like the cosiness of this time of year. What’s better than cocooning yourself in blankets, snuggling up in front of the fire and sipping on a hot chocolate?
At the same time, the lack of daylight, harsh cold weather and the impending Christmas rush can have a negative impact on our mental wellbeing. You might need to look after yourself a little differently to adjust to the seasonal change. If you’re not sure what that could look like, I have a few ideas…
Wellbeing Strategies for Autumn/Winter Months
Overall, my strategy is to embrace the season. Lean into the cosiness and make it enjoyable, whatever that means for you. Here are some of the things I do in the darker, colder months (and beyond) to support my wellbeing.
Burning essential oils
We spend a lot more time inside during the autumn/winter months so make your home a comforting and relaxing space you enjoy coming back to. Burning essential oils is a great way to do this because in a matter of minutes it fills the room with gorgeous, soothing aromas. Plus, the amazing wellbeing benefits of essential oils help the whole household to chill out and decompress in the evenings. Our tranquillity blend is perfect for this.
Aromatherapy bath
What’s cosier than a bubble bath on a chilly autumn evening? Well, an aromatherapy bath! Add a beautiful blend of essential oils to your bath and soak yourself in the aromas of relaxation. We have a bath and shower gel and body oil set specifically designed to help you relax and unwind. Take this time for you to be by yourself, be with yourself and be present in the here and now.
Mindful walks in the day
Getting some kind of physical activity into our day is good for us. Walking is particularly good for our mental wellbeing because the bilateral movement supports the healthy processing of emotions and events. I find it very regulating. See if you can get your walk in during the day to make the most of the daylight we do have. My best piece of advice for making this a habit is to fit it into your existing routine. I used to go on walks after dropping the boys at school in the 20 minutes I had before I needed to be at work. See if you can find a gap in your schedule like that.
Find a winter-friendly hobby
This is the time to pick up indoor activities again that we might have forgotten about during the summer fun. Don’t worry about being good at it. That’s not the point. Find something that you enjoy doing during the evenings. My go-to is repetitive tasks. You get into a rhythm that feels meditative. That’s why I enjoy labelling and bottling my products so much. It’s very relaxing. A hobby like knitting fits the bill too. Get away from screens and the busyness of running around and just be. Another example is Terry and I took up dancing. We’re going to a dance class where we learn line dancing and jiving, among others. We are even planning to go to Bergen in March on a dancing weekend. It is something we can do together, we love it, and it helps keep us fit.
Now I don’t want you to put too much pressure on yourself. That won’t help you feel any better. The best way to adapt your routine to support your wellbeing during the darker evenings is to do something for yourself little and often. Start by committing to having an aromatherapy bath once a week or spending 20 minutes a day on a hobby. Keep it simple and you’ll keep up with it. It’s surprising how big a difference small things can make. Especially when you have essential oils to help you switch off, unwind and relax. Shop our essential oil infused body and skincare products for a little pick-me-up.