Holistic Winter Self-Care
These are some additional ideas that can bring joy and holistic wellness to a season when the days are lacking in sunlight and the darkness is more intense.
AIRING
Airing out the house by opening the windows in all the rooms and allowing the crisp cold air to flow through, can refresh the whole house and remove the stale odors that tend to stagnate inside. When windows aren’t opened for long periods of time, the air inside the home can become chock full of chemicals from all the invisible off-gassing from all the products we own and use, including paints, carpets and construction materials.GREENERY
When the trees are bare, it’s nice to bring greenery inside the home with easy to care for indoor plants. Greenery is very soothing for the soul and reminds us of the beauty and calming quality of nature that we see during the other three seasons.
NASA compiled a list of indoor plants that act as air purifiers. These plants cleanse the air from the off-gassing of chemicals from all the products around us. Some of the easy to maintain plants mentioned in the NASA study are the Areca palm, snake plant, money plant, gerbera daisy, Chinese evergreens, and golden pothos.FRESH FLOWERS
Fresh flowers can go a long way in beautifying a space and making it very welcoming. We must not always wait for someone else to bring us flowers. There is much joy in selecting and purchasing our own bouquets of vibrant sweet smelling florals to brighten up our homes.SOFT LIGHTING, LAMPS, CANDLES & A FIREPLACE
Soft lamp lighting is much more cosy in the evenings than the harsh, glaring overhead LED (light emitting diode) lighting. LED lighting can cause migraines and sensory overload for sensitive individuals.
Another way to bring in incandescent light into the home is to light candles around the house. Please note that a burning candle must never be left unattended. It’s safe to use tea light candles in glass lanterns or placed within repurposed glass jars.
The best non-toxic candles are those made of beeswax with natural cotton wicks that are lead free and with no added chemical fragrances. Beeswax candles burn cleanly and emit a soft, warm, scent of honey that is calming and soothing.
A fireplace is also conducive to bringing warmth and comfort into the home. Gathering around a real log or simulated gas or electric fireplace is another way of keeping warm, while gazing into the dancing flames and listening to the soothing crackling sounds of the burning embers.COMFORT
Comfort is key to feeling sheltered and safe during the colder months. Cosy woolen socks, oversized sweaters, soft cushions, comfortable throws and blankets, are all little ways to make ourselves feel warm and sheltered.WARM DRINKS
Hot cocoa with marshmallows (vegan/kosher/halal), fragrant herbal teas, spiced chai teas, coffee and lattes are all warming and comforting drinks. Wrapping our hands around a beautiful handmade mug with something delicious to drink is a way to savour the joy of little things. We love stoneware mugs in earthy colours, for the natural clay pottery feel, handcrafted by local artisans. Each person only needs the one special mug to treasure, as we gather around a fireplace for companionship and conversations with loved ones and friends.AROMATHERAPY
To bring in the natural scents of nature inside the home, we boil a large pot of water on the stovetop with lemon peel, orange peel, and whole spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and mace. The steam emitted from the water will waft all over the home, wrapping everyone in a sense of warmth and comfort.
There are also electric wax melt warmers, to which beeswax can be added, together with a few drops of steam-distilled essential oils such as lavender, geranium, bergamot, rosemary or citrus oils. If someone has the sniffles, a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oils in the wax melt warmer, or added to steam diffusers strategically placed around the house, or on the shower floor, can help clear airways, allowing for easier breathing.
Essential oils can also be applied to the skin when they are properly diluted with a carrier oil such as avocado, almond, jojoba or fractionated coconut oil. Calming scents give us a warm and cosy feeling of calmness, uplifting our moods and relaxing our bodies.
Chemical based plugins and spray based air fresheners should be completely eliminated from homes all year around. Other chemical based products to eliminate for optimum health and wellness are toxic perfumes, detergents, cleaning products and skin care products.SKINCARE
The increased dryness in the air and constant heating of homes can leave hair and skin feeling dry and flaky, and can exacerbate eczema. We use natural moisturizers such as shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil and almond oil to moisturize the skin. We add a few drops of steam distilled essential oils to enhance the moisturisers with our favourite fragrances.JOURNALING
Journaling is an excellent way to clear and declutter the mind by writing everything down on to paper. When we journal, we are doing it for ourselves. We aren’t concerned about what anyone else thinks and the writing will be free flowing. By seeing our thoughts on paper, we can reorganize them, let thoughts that no longer serve us go and focus on thoughts that do matter. This is an excellent time for self-reflection, to do a spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-check within ourselves. Journaling is a wonderful way to reflect upon the past, live in the present and plan for the future.
A bullet journal can be used to plan out the day, the week, the month, and/or the year. This type of journaling is an excellent analogue tool in the digital age, to reflect upon our blessings, track our daily tasks and habits, and to make goals and plans for the future.GRATITUDE
Reflecting upon our blessings and being grateful for them is a way to stay upbeat and focused. We can consciously place more emphasis on what we do have and what is working in our lives, rather than what we don’t have or what is not working in our lives (though it is important to reflect on the latter too). If we have a place to live, enough food to sustain us, loved ones who care for us and whom we care for, and peace in our day to day life to live, work and worship, then we are truly blessed in all the things that matter.NASHEEDS
We love listening to a soothing list of nasheeds (chants or songs) when we are sitting together for the children to feel uplifted and cheery during the colder days. There are several nasheed artists who do not use musical instruments for those who prefer vocals only.MEMORIES
During times of isolation and loneliness, it’s nice to look through old photos, remember the joyful moments and relive memories. Winter is also a good time to decide which photographs to keep, to organize them into folders, print and make scrapbooks and albums.VISUALIZATION
On days that we do struggle, especially if the weather outside is dismal, it can help to visualize ourselves in a happier place, in a happier time, with happier companionship. We can use our five senses to bring a soothing scenario to life in our minds to help us feel calm and content and navigate through the darker hours when worry and anxiety may overwhelm us.BOOKS & AUDIOBOOKS
Having a stack of books to peruse is one of our favorite pastimes all year around but especially in the winter. Books are a way to go on grand adventures while learning about new places, peoples and ideas.
Sometimes, it’s nice to close one’s eyes and listen to audiobooks, whether fiction or nonfiction, rather than strain our eyes reading.ARTS, CRAFTS & LEARNING SOMETHING NEW
Winter is a great time to learn a new craft or learn more about an existing craft. Whether it is drawing, colouring, painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilling, or card-making as these can be very relaxing pastimes that can also be functional and serve a purpose. There are plenty of YouTube videos where we can learn new crafts.
There are many online institutions offering all kinds of courses to gain spiritual and secular knowledge and skills.BAKING & COOKING
This is a wonderful time to come together as a family to bake and cook and explore new recipes. The delicious scents of baking and making fresh food brings comfort to everyone, as the family gathers together around the dinner table to share a meal that was prepared together and infused with love.CARD GAMES, BOARDGAMES, CHESS, SUDOKU, CROSSWORD, & JIGSAW PUZZLES
Puzzles and games are a great way to bring the family together for some technology free entertainment. Everyone has a great time reconnecting, laughing and interacting, while engaging in friendly competition with each other. Game night should be a regular weekly family event in all homes.IN SERVICE OF OTHERS
Making a regular practice of doing something nice for others can be very uplifting and allow us to overcome our own challenges by taking the focus off of us and placing it on others. By serving others, we are serving God and gathering more good deeds to take with us to the next world.
We can be checking in on our neighbors, dropping off groceries for a new mother, bringing a warm meal for a sick family, stopping by with coffee for a friend who is in need of a walk and hold space for them during a difficult time.
We can also donate supplies to refugees, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters or simply hold learning circles at the local mosque to bring people together to teach and to learn in a socially distant manner and properly masked.
Though we live in the most technologically connected of eras, many people are still alone. The epidemic of loneliness is rising and it can be especially intense during the cold, dark days of winter.
If we can make a small difference in someone’s life, we should do our best to do so. It might not mean much to us but it may mean the world to them and make a tremendous difference in their lives. People thrive when there is a sense of genuine community spirit, where we check on and take care of each other, as we seek to build a better world for all of us.
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