In his book WinterKatherine May reframes winter as a necessary break—a time to rest, retreat, and reset. He writes about winter both literally and metaphorically: the seasons in our lives when energy runs out, routine falls apart, and we are asked to draw in rather than move forward. He says these moments are not failures of impulse—they are invitations to take care of ourselves.
What does Winter It is interesting to emphasize that rest does not just happen. Regression can be effective, even fruitful. Slowing down, May discovers new kinds of food: warmth, culture, meditation, and the restoration that comes from honoring where you are rather than resisting it. Winter, in this sense, becomes a season of subtle transition—not an audible or visible sound, but a deeply restorative one, shaping what follows.
Featured image from our interview with Sami Bernstein Spalter by Michelle Nash.
A Guide to Making Your Winter Love
The winter of love begins here. Not in pretending the season is endlessly easy or comfortable, but in choosing to meet it with purpose. With small habits, comforting routines, and a gentle approach to wellness, winter can be a time of self-care—allowing for healing, softening, and renewal underneath. The following ideas are based on that philosophy: simple ways to make winter feel more livable, meaningful, and supportive as you go through it.
What It Means to Make Love in Winter
When I talk about falling in love with winter, I’m not talking about forcing myself to love the season or pretend it’s always nice. For me, it’s about adjusting expectations—recognizing that winter is asking something different of us and responding carefully rather than resisting.
In the winter, I stop expecting to work full time. I schedule fewer social commitments, simplify my routines, and prioritize rest without discussing it. That doesn’t mean walking out of life—it means walking into it with more softness and less pressure to improve.
Falling in love with winter also means paying attention to the little things that make the season so livable: a warm drink to welcome you in the morning, going to bed early without the guilt, choosing familiar foods over fancy ones, and letting my home feel comforting instead of demanding. It’s all about relying on small decisions that add up.
At its core, winter dating is about meeting yourself where you are. Some days it seems like leaning into comfort. Some days, it just seems to pass. They both count.
Small Cultures That Support Winter Health
Winter fitness works best when it’s simple, repetitive, and low-effort. These are the traditions I return to when power is limited, and consistency is more important than durability.
- Start the day with something warm. I love choosing a drink to drink, preparing it and enjoying it a little. A small, sensory-based 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 calm tone.
- Rely on multiple breakfasts and lunches. A few food choices make winter easier. I love these hearty winter recipes.
- Low lights in the early evening. Lamps and soft light make your body feel down.
- Choose a supportive movement. Walking, stretching, and short workouts all count.
- Go to bed early—every night. Winter is not a time to fight fatigue.
These practices are designed to support you on days when energy is low. Because when the basics are taken care of, everything else feels possible.
Cool Winter Ways to Support Your Everyday
When winter is tough, I’ve learned that comfort is all about keeping things organized so everyday life requires less effort. These practices focus on your home, your body, and your evening, making winter easier to navigate without relying on motivation.
1. Make your bedroom a focal point. Winter nights are long, so your bedroom should feel like a place to relax. Fresh sheets, soft lighting, and a comfortable temperature will make your nighttime atmosphere more comfortable.
2. Keep bedding accessible. Wear a throw over the sofa, chair, or end of the bed so that warmth is always easy to reach. Convenience is important—if it’s close, you’ll use it.
3. Light candles 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 softens the space quickly.
4. Prepare your morning the day before. Laying out the laundry, setting up the coffee maker, or preparing breakfast reduces friction when mornings feel dark and slow.
5. Keep something warm on the stove or in the oven. Boiling soup, roasting vegetables, or warming bread—heat in the kitchen adds comfort even before you sit down to eat.
6. Deliberately cut back on evening plans. It’s okay to protect your energy in the winter. Fewer commitments leave more room for rest, recovery, and unstructured time at home.
7. Create a simple nightly reset. Clean the kitchen, straighten the sofa, or clean one area before bed.
8. Let your home be “good enough.” Winter is not a time for perfection. A livable, comfortable environment is more important than style.
Finding Beauty in the Younger Season
Winter doesn’t always feel good outside. Days are short, energy is low, and the pace of life can feel strange—especially if you’re used to measuring your days by output. I have found that, in the winter, beauty appears quietly, and usually when I stop running I pass by them. These small changes help me notice it more often.
1. Give up the desire to make winter productive. When I stop treating winter as a holding pattern and let it go slowly, I feel less resistant and lighter.
2. Notice what you repeat—and let that comfort you. Same breakfast. The same walk. Same evening routine. Repetition can feel overwhelming in the winter, especially when everything else feels uncertain.
3. Select several inputs. Less noise, less responsibilities, easier systems. Winter feels a lot more manageable when I’m serious about what I’ve brought.
4. Find beauty by taking care of yourself. Resting when you are tired. Eat when you’re hungry. Staying at home if you need to. These options are practical maintenance actions.
5. Let your energy flow without judgment. Some days will feel limited—others won’t. I’ve learned not to read too much into this as well.
6. Be aware of small comforts and let it count. Because beauty doesn’t have to be impressive.
7. Stop waiting for the season to end before enjoying it. It’s easy to put life on hold until spring. I’ve found that winter feels longer when I want it—and easier when I share it as it is.
8. Allow moments of silence to exist without filling them. Not all breaks need a purpose. Sometimes sitting, being aware, or doing very little is enough.
9. Hope this season does something for you. Even if it’s uncomfortable, winter has a way of bringing back what’s gone. You don’t have to force growth—it usually happens quietly in the background.
Invitation to Winter Well
Winter doesn’t need to be changed to be meaningful. Sometimes, the most supportive thing you can do is meet the season as it is—with fewer expectations, more care, and a willingness to rest when rest is needed. Falling in love with winter doesn’t mean making it perfect. It’s about creating small pockets of lightness and warmth that help you get through the months feeling cared for.
If there’s an invitation here, it’s simple: let winter be a time to prepare. Choose the rituals and routines that make your days feel a little smoother, and let go of the rest. Spring will come when it’s ready. Until then, it’s enough to take care of yourself where you are.