At Feel Good Norfolk, we know how important it is to prioritise wellbeing, especially during the darkest months. With a few gentle habits, winter can become a season of nourishment and renewal rather than stress and depletion. Here are some simple ways to care for your mental and physical health during this time.
Daylight can be in short supply, so make the most of it. (Image: Getty Images)
Seek out the light
Reduced daylight can affect mood and energy. Maximising natural light helps regulate your body clock and lift your spirits.
● Take short walks outside whenever possible – even 10 minutes can help.
● Position yourself near windows when working or relaxing indoors.
● Consider using a light therapy lamp on particularly grey days to mimic natural sunlight.
By deliberately welcoming light – even the soft, weak winter sunlight – we remind our bodies and minds of seasonal rhythms. Every patch of brightness can feel like a gentle gift.
Nourish your body
Winter is a season for comfort, but it’s also a time to support immunity and energy through nutrition. After the festive period, gradually shifting towards seasonal, wholesome foods can make a big difference.
● Enjoy hearty soups, stews and seasonal vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.
● Include plant-based proteins like beans, lentils and pulses for sustained energy.
● Stay hydrated – herbal teas are perfect for warmth and comfort on cold mornings.
Small changes in what we eat can have a surprisingly powerful effect on both physical and mental wellbeing. Rich stews, warming drinks and slow-cooked meals offer nourishment not just to the body, but to the spirit.
Move in ways you enjoy
When it’s cold and grey, it can be tempting to stay indoors. Yet gentle, regular movement supports both body and mind.
● Try indoor activities such as yoga, Pilates, dancing or home workouts.
● Wrap up warm and take a brisk walk – even a short daily stroll can lift your mood and boost energy.
● Focus on activities you enjoy rather than what you feel you ‘should’ do – this makes it easier to stay consistent.
Movement doesn’t have to be strenuous to be beneficial. A few gentle stretches, a little time dancing to a favourite tune, or a mindful stretch beside the radiator – they all count.
Socialising and staying connected with people is hugely beneficial. (Image: Getty Images)
Stay connected
Winter can bring feelings of isolation. Maintaining social connections is vital for emotional health.
● Check in with friends and family via a quick message, call or video chat.
● Smile at strangers, make small talk in cafés or greet neighbours on walks – these tiny interactions can brighten your day.
● And if you need solitude, honour it – self-care starts with recognising your own needs.
At Feel Good Norfolk, our aim is to foster community and connection through our monthly Feel Good Hub, wellness initiatives and our local directory of wellbeing resources. For many, the simple act of reaching out or opening up – even just a little – can bring ease and reassurance that we not alone.
The winter slow down is a great time to pay attention to life admin. (Image: Getty Images)
Practise mindfulness and self-care
Slowing down can be deeply restorative during winter.
● Try short mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, meditation or simply noticing your surroundings.
● Include self-care rituals that bring you joy: reading, creative hobbies, warm baths or journalling.
● Prioritise rest if you’re feeling unwell – it supports recovery and resilience during cold and flu season.
Winter offers a chance to step off the treadmill of busy-ness and practise what some call ‘active rest’. In her book, Wintering, author Katherine May, puts it perfectly: ‘We may never choose to winter, but we can choose how.’
By inviting the winter in – allowing ourselves to slow down, reflect, rest and retreat – we can transform the darkest months into a time of replenishment.
Honour the slower rhythms
Modern life seldom pauses, but every year the natural world slows down – and often in that quiet we find space for healing. Just as deciduous trees drop their leaves, take a break and store energy for new growth, we too can use winter to recharge.
As Katherine reflects in Wintering, winter isn’t just about cold and darkness: it’s a cyclical phase – a time for ‘reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.’
This could mean reorganising your home, sorting paperwork, clearing physical and mental clutter, or simply lingering over a warming tea while listening to the rain. It might feel small, but these are acts of care – foundations of emotional and physical resilience.
Be gentle with yourself
Winter invites us to slow down and be kind to ourselves. By embracing light, nourishing food, movement, connection and mindful rest, we can navigate these darker months with calm and resilience.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or tired, remember: this season doesn’t demand productivity. It invites patience, presence, and self-compassion. As Katherine writes: ‘If we don’t allow ourselves the fundamental honesty of our own sadness, then we miss an important cue to adapt… A great deal of life will always suck … Both [the highs and the lows] are normal.’
Spring will return before we know it – until then, take care of yourself and savour the quieter rhythms that winter offers.
Feel Good Norfolk is a wellbeing directory and community supporting the people of Norfolk to find wellness services, events and practitioners. Discover more at feelgoodnorfolk.co.uk