Don't waste winter

It’s the time of year everyone hates. Here’s how to survive – and maybe even thrive, in winter.

Winter gets a bad rap, that to me seems somewhat unfair.

Yes, it is cold. Yes, being cold is unpleasant. Yes, if you live in Australia you will probably be cold both indoors and out, if you live in an older house, because they are not well-maintained. This is the first winter I’ll spend in a house with insulation, and I’m beyond excited about it. What, I won’t need to wear four jumpers inside my home, just to maintain an even, comfortable body temperature? What a treat.

I digress.

Winter is not the enemy. It’s not a three-ish month period you should spend moping around, wishing spring would hurry up already.

It’s a time for hibernation, for nourishment, for introspection. Things get a bit quieter. A little more thoughtful.

Winter goes hand-in-hand with ritual. A time to connect to place, to the self.

Some rituals to see in midwinter

I’ve compiled some thoughts on making the most of these cooler, quieter months below. Not to build yourself up for summer only – more to round yourself out as a complete human.

As winter, if done right, will not only set you up well for the rest of the year ahead. It can be fun.

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Prepare

Where you live in the world will probably determine how you prepare for the cooler months. From a romantic point of view, I like the work that is associated with the cooler months, work I associate with a childhood spent partly in the countryside.

Collecting wood for fireplaces, chopping, stacking. Having family and friends over for a bonfire. Getting your hands dirty in the garden, planting lettuce, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and the like for spring. Or bedding the soil of your garden down with mulch (you can also just use discarded autumn leaves), to protect it from frost. It’s all a bit romantic, but not practical if you live in say, a metropolitan setting like myself.

There are still acts you can do to prepare yourself for the season of winter. Air out your winter blankets on one of the last nice days of autumn, letting the sunshine do its magic work. Get out your flannelette sheets and pyjamas. Rearrange your wardrobe, so your winter coats, clothes and woolies are in easy reach. Polish your boots. Buy some top quality woollen socks.

If you’re in a rental, there are still things you can do to ensure you stay even that little bit warmer. It’s ridiculous to pay as much as we do for rent in Australia and not be comfortable. Seal gaps with blankets, door snakes or even foam fillers and silicone sealants. Invest in rugs, whether bought new, handed down or found at thrift stores, to add some warmth to cold floors. Make sure your furniture doesn’t block airflow, so the heat from heaters can reach you. Cover windows with used bubblewrap, for extra insulation.

Get a really decent dressing gown that you can snuggle into, or perhaps one of those heated blankets (I had one but I somehow misplaced… the whole blanket??). Likewise, invest in a great pair of Ugg boots (I’ve been wearing my Mortels for no joke, twenty years). This heat pack is also one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, for a stack of winters essentially spent without heating.

Move

Although winter is associated with slowing down, with hibernation, it’s also a really beautiful time to move your body. And don’t do it just to be ‘beach ready’ by December. Do it because it’s good for your mind and body.