in his book winteringKatherine May reframes winter as a necessary pause: an interval of rest, retreat, and recalibration. He writes about winter both literally and metaphorically: the seasons of our lives when energy wanes, routines fall apart, and we are asked to retreat inward instead of moving forward. These moments, once again, are not failures of impulse: they are invitations to care for ourselves more carefully.
What are you doing? wintering so resonant is his insistence that rest is not passive. Retirement can be active and even fertile. By slowing down, May discovers new forms of nourishment: warmth, ritual, reflection, and the restoration that comes from honoring where you are rather than resisting it. Winter, in this sense, becomes a season of subtle transformation, not loud or visible, but deeply restorative, shaping what comes next.
A Guide to Romanticizing Your Winter
The romantic winter begins here. Not pretending that the season is easy or infinitely welcoming, but choosing to face it with intention. Through small rituals, comforting routines, and a gentler approach to wellness, winter can become a time of self-care, a time that allows for recovery, softness, and renewal beneath the surface. The ideas that follow are rooted in that philosophy: simple ways to make winter feel more livable, more meaningful, and supportive as you go through it.
What it means to romanticize winter
When I talk about romanticizing winter, I don’t mean forcing myself to love the season or pretending that it feels good all the time. For me, it’s about adjusting expectations: recognizing that winter asks something different of us and responding with care rather than resistance.
In winter, I stop expecting it to run at full capacity. I plan fewer social commitments, simplify my routines, and prioritize rest without negotiating it. That doesn’t mean opting out of life; It means going through it a little more smoothly and a lot less pressure to optimize.
Romanticizing winter also means paying attention to the little things that make the season more bearable: a warm drink that anchors the morning, going to bed earlier without guilt, choosing familiar meals instead of aspirational ones, and letting my home be comforting instead of demanding. It’s about leaning on the small decisions that add up.
At its core, romanticizing winter is about meeting yourself where you are. Some days seem to lean toward comfort. Other days, it seems to just get by. Both count.
Small rituals that support winter well-being
Winter wellness works best when it’s simple, repeatable, and requires little effort. These are the rituals I return to when energy is limited and consistency matters more than intensity.
- Start the day with something warm. I love choosing a favorite drink, making it, and enjoying it slowly. It’s a little sensory moment that helps me transition into the day.
- Create a buffer before screens. Even 15 minutes before checking your phone can reduce stress and set a calmer tone.
- Trust in repeating breakfasts and lunches. Fewer food decisions make winter mornings easier. I love these nutritious winter recipes.
- Dim the lights earlier in the evening. Lamps and dimmer lighting tell your body to relax.
- Choose a supporting movement. Walks, stretches, and shorter workouts count.
- Go to bed earlier, every night. Winter is not the season to combat fatigue.
These rituals are meant to support you on days when you have low energy. Because when the basics are taken care of, everything else seems more feasible.
Cozy winter routines that support your daily life
When winter gets tough, I’ve learned that comfort is about setting things up so that daily life requires less effort. These routines focus on your home, your body, and your nights, making it easier to take on winter without relying on motivation.
1. Make your bedroom a priority space. Winter nights are long, so your bedroom should feel like a refuge. Fresh sheets, softer lighting and a comfortable temperature will make your night’s rest non-negotiable.
2. Keep blankets within reach. Drape a blanket over the couch, a chair, or the end of the bed so warmth is always easy to access. Convenience matters: if it’s nearby, you’ll use it.
3. Light candles early in the evening. As soon as the sun sets, lighting a candle helps mark the transition from day to night. It’s a small habit that instantly softens a space.
4. Prepare your mornings the night before. Laying out laundry, putting on the coffee maker, or making breakfast reduces friction when mornings feel darker and slower.
5. Keep something warm on the stove or in the oven. Boiling soup, roasted vegetables or warmed bread – the heat in the kitchen adds comfort before you even sit down to eat.
6. Limit evening plans on purpose. It’s okay to protect your energy in winter. Fewer commitments leave more room for rest, recovery, and unstructured time at home.
7. Create a simple reboot overnight. Tidy up the kitchen, straighten the couch, or wipe down a surface before bed.
8. Let your home be “good enough.” Winter is not the season of perfection. A livable and comfortable space matters more than an elegant one.
Finding beauty in the slowest season
Winter doesn’t always feel beautiful on the surface. The days are shorter, the energy is lower, and the pace of life can feel unfamiliar, especially if you’re used to measuring your days by your performance. I have found that in winter, beauty appears quietly, and usually when I stop rushing, it passes. These small changes help me notice it more often.
1. Let go of the need to make winter productive. When I stop treating winter as a holding pattern and allow it to slow down, I feel less resistance and more calm.
2. Notice what is repeated and allow that to be comforting. The same breakfast. The same walk. The same night routine. Repetition can be distressing in winter, especially when everything else seems uncertain.
3. Choose fewer entries. Less noise, fewer commitments, simpler plans. Winter feels more manageable when I am intentional about what I let in.
4. Find beauty by taking care of yourself. Rest when you are tired. Eat when you are hungry. Stay home when necessary. These choices are practical acts of care.
5. Allow your energy to fluctuate without judgment. Some days you will feel balanced, others you won’t. I’ve learned not to read too much into either.
6. Notice the little comforts and let them count. Because beauty doesn’t need to be stunning to matter.
7. Stop waiting for the season to end to enjoy it. It’s easy to put life on hold until spring. I’ve found that winter feels longer when I wish it away and lighter when I face it as it is.
8. Let quiet moments exist without filling them. Not every pause needs a purpose. Sometimes it is enough to sit down, notice, or do very little.
9. Trust that this season is doing something for you. Even when it’s uncomfortable, winter has a way of restoring what’s been depleted. It is not necessary to force growth; it often happens quietly in the background.
An invitation to the winter well
Winter does not need to be transformed for it to have meaning. Sometimes the most caring thing you can do is face the season as it is: with fewer expectations, more focus, and a willingness to rest when necessary. Romanticizing winter doesn’t mean making it perfect. It’s about creating small spaces of tranquility and warmth that help you get through the months feeling sustained.
If there is an invitation here, it is simple: let winter be a time of care. Choose the rituals and routines that make your days a little smoother and let the rest go. Spring will come when it is ready. Until then, just take care of yourself wherever you are.
