Feeling a little dull as the cold weather and gloomy skies set in? This post will break down exactly how to build a perfect winter wellness routine that reenergizes and motivates you.
A winter wellness routine doesn’t need to be completely different from your everyday routine, it just needs a little extra tender love and care to support your mind and body through these harder months.
Winter is when the sun sets early, it’s cold, and motivation and energy levels tend to dip without us even realizing it.
Learning how to build a winter wellness routine helps nourish that exact space in your mind and body, so you can keep showing up for yourself and still enjoy all the good parts of winter.
Winter is full of family time, sweets, and holiday chaos, but it’s also such a powerful season to focus on becoming the best version of yourself, gently, not obsessively.
This winter wellness routine isn’t about doing more; it’s about supporting yourself through the season you’re in.
Why a Winter Wellness Routine Matters
A winter wellness routine isn’t about doing more.
It’s about staying consistent when conditions aren’t ideal.
Shorter days and colder weather can affect your mood, energy, and motivation more than you think, and this routine helps anchor you during that shift.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s nourishment, movement, and care that feels realistic in winter.
1. Keep Your Activity Up (For Your Mind, Not Just Your Body)
One of the most important parts of a winter wellness routine is keeping your body moving, and not in a punishing way.
Walking, exercising, lifting, stretching…all of it counts. Movement in winter doesn’t just stimulate the body, it nourishes the mind, which is honestly the biggest concern this time of year. When movement drops, mental health usually follows.
I know it can be a huge struggle, especially when weather conditions make it hard or impossible to exercise outdoors.
But it is so important you find a way to keep your movement up and keep showing up. Maybe this means investing in a gym membership is your usually activities during the summer months are outdoors.
2. Prioritize Immunity (Because Winter Is Not the Time to Be Down Bad)
Winter wellness routine real talk: winter is prime time for getting sick. I know this because I unfortunately get sick most winters and constantly need to take my own advice.
This season, your routine should include:
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vitamin C
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zinc
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washing your hands more than you think you need to
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getting enough sleep
Sleep is a non-negotiable part of any winter wellness routine. Rest supports your immune system, your mood, and your ability to stay consistent with everything else.
And stay warm!
Check out this post for 11 foods that boost your immune system naturally!
3. Hear Me Out… Hot Pilates & Yoga
Okay, listen. If you know me, you know I LOVE weight lifting and feel my best when it’s part of my weekly routine. That said…hot pilates and yoga in the winter just makes sense.
It’s cold outside. Your muscles are tense. Your body craves warmth. And the vibes? Immaculate.
Adding hot Pilates or yoga into your winter wellness routine:
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warms your muscles safely
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improves mobility and recovery
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feels cozy but still challenging
I highly suggest booking a few hot Pilates or yoga classes this winter, even if you’re a lifting girl through and through like me.
4. Eat to Nourish, Not Restrict
A winter wellness routine doesn’t mean cutting out sweets or holiday foods. If fact, it probably means you’re going to be around MORE sweets.
And girl, eat the cookie! Restricting in general, but essential during the winter/holiday season, is setting yourself up for failure.
Instead of restriction, focus on:
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balanced meals
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enough protein
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warm, nourishing foods
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staying hydrated (even when you don’t feel thirsty)
You can enjoy the cookies and fuel your body properly. Both can exist.
Plus, helloooo soup! My favorite warm, comfy foods.
5. Protect Your Energy & Your Evenings
Winter naturally calls for earlier nights and slower evenings. Lean into that.
Part of a sustainable winter wellness routine is:
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winding down earlier
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limiting late-night scrolling
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creating a cozy nighttime routine
Candles, warm showers, skincare, reading, these aren’t just aesthetic, they help regulate your nervous system during darker months.
As I’ve gotten older (I’m 25 for reference), but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the value of knowledge and books are one of the best ways to take in more knowledge and continue pushing your mind. In school, you can practically forces to take in knowledge, but as I’m adult, it’s easier to get complacent.
Use winter as a way to reconnect with that through books and cozying up in a warm blanket.
A Little Best-Friend Reminder
Your winter wellness routine doesn’t need to look perfect to work. It just needs to support you through a season that can feel heavy if you let it.
Stay active, take care of your immune system, move in ways that feel good, and let winter be both cozy and productive. You don’t have to choose one or the other.
You’re doing better than you think, even on the cold, low-energy days 🤍
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