Winter is Coming

I am an avid winter hater. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me — I despise the winter months. I’m a highly melanated summer baby; I like the heat and I love the sun. Honestly, I barely even like air conditioning. Every year I joke, “I wish I could just hibernate through winter and pop back out in April as if nothing happened.” If bears can do it, why can’t I?

But this year feels different. I’m still not thrilled about the cold, but instead of bracing for the cold, I choose to embrace the season. The way farmers till their soil before the frost, I’m tending to my inner self to prepare for the Winter Solstice on December 21st.

Winter has always felt daunting, dark, and unnecessarily disrespectful with the cold. And even though I’m rarely alone, it can still feel lonely. Every year, it tries to drag me into what I’ve self-diagnosed as seasonal depression. But this year, I plan to winter gracefully.

Instead of just surviving it, I want to come out on the other side feeling restored and proud of how I spent my time.

So here’s my plan to make sure this winter actually bears fruit in the spring.

Step 1: Hobbies + Creativity

When I was a child, I never looked at myself as a “creative”. However, stepping into adulthood revealed to me how vital creative outlets are for my sanity. What starts as a pastime often becomes artistic expression as a way to release and take my mind off the noise of the world.

This winter, I’m leaning into my creative side with a few passion projects:

Reading + Writing

My goal is to read at least two books per month and improve my writing by publishing weekly blogs. (Yes, this one counts as me getting back on track!) Plus, winter is the best time for a healthy amount of escapism.

Exercising + Nutrition

Well all know the cliche quote “health is wealth”, and I’m on the road to increasing my wealth holistically. Healthy movement keeps me grounded — kickboxing, strength training, Pilates, walking, and stretching are my main go-tos. And I’m focusing on eating mostly whole foods to support my energy and mood. And listen..I know I’m getting older because soup is on the menu all winter long.

Baking

Baking has become pure joy for me in the last few months. I’ve realized it’s so much more fun than cooking. There’s science, patience, and a little magic in it when I add in some extra love. No better time for a warm cookie or banana bread than the winter months. Perfecting my weekly recipes for baked goods will absolutely help me stay sane.

Coloring

Childish? Maybe. Relaxing? Absolutely. We all need to let our inner child get into its flow state every once in a while, and coloring is such a simple, mindful way to unwind and reset.

Crocheting

This one’s new. I promised myself I’d start last winter and never did…so here we go again. If I’d followed through, I could’ve been handing out homemade Christmas gifts this year! If I start now, I’ll be ready for Christmas 2026.

Continuous creative output is the goal.

Step 2: Routine: Meditation, Devotion, + Breathwork

Routine is the foundation of my healthy winter.

I started waking up at 4:30 a.m. (5 on my late days) recently to give myself more time for stillness and structure. I might have to bump that up to 4:00 a.m., but we’ll cross that frozen bridge when we get there.

Spending my mornings with mindfulness helps to quiet out the noise and set my intentions for the day. It has become so easy to just wake up and go and that can take a mental toll. A nice reset with God will gets me right. Daily devotions, meditation and breathwork help me ease my mind, so dedicating time to it is critical.

Consistency keeps me sane.

Here’s the winter rhythm I’m sticking to:

Wake-up: 4:00–4:30 a.m.
Bedtime: 8:00–9:00 p.m.

If I veer off track, I’ll reset and get back to it. No guilt, no drama. Just grace.

Step 3: Limiting Social Media

My motto: consume less, create more.

The truth is, too much social media fries my brain a little. It’s overstimulating, distracting, and pulls me out of myself more than I’d like to admit. Winter feels like the perfect time to let go of anything that isn’t benefiting me, and this is at the top of the list.

I deleted TikTok from my phone and shifted my attention to Pinterest, YouTube, and Substack — platforms that feel calmer, more intentional, and aligned with the energy I want this winter. I’ll still create short-form content, but it won’t be my main focus anymore.

This part is going to challenge me though — TikTok is where I get all my recipes and my laughs…but I am willing to sacrifice my bad habits to grow.

Step 4: Looking Good, Feeling Good

For years, I’ve worked jobs where athleisure was basically my uniform. Now I’m learning to find small ways to elevate how I dress day-to-day — not for anyone else, but because when I look good, I feel good.

Reflection & Refinement

I’ve never actually planned my winter before. This year, I’m determined to make it intentional. I want to enter spring feeling like I built something meaningful in the quiet.

My mindset is that winter is for slowing down enough to listen to yourself again.

“The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.”

Does winter make you feel down too? If so, what are your plans to make it through gracefully this year?

About the Author

I’m Daric— a birth coach, personal trainer, and educator helping women find strength through every season of life.

From Bracing for the Cold to Embracing the Season