As daylight shortens and winter settles in, many of us feel a quiet pull inward. While colder days often invite cosiness and comfort, they can also signal a perfect moment for gentle resets that profoundly boost our health.

Words Damian Chaparro

I have seen first-hand how even small, mindful changes can transform our wellbeing – inside and out – and winter is the perfect time to explore simple ways to boost your health. Winter is not just a season to endure but an opportunity to pause, restore, and nourish yourself deeply. So, where do you begin?

Connect with Nature Daily

Even a short walk in your local park or garden significantly elevates your mood and clarity. Increasing your daily exposure to nature can be a simple but life-changing addition to your day. Bundle up warmly, step outside, even just for 10 minutes, and notice how quickly you reconnect with yourself and your environment.

Prioritise Your Sleep

Good sleep is the cornerstone of strong immunity and emotional resilience. During the colder months, aim for deeper rest by reducing screen exposure before bed and setting a gentle night-time routine – perhaps lighting a candle, sipping herbal tea, or reading a book, helping your body to regenerate naturally.

Nourish Through Nutrition

Winter is the ideal season for slow-cooked meals packed with seasonal vegetables. Think hearty soups, warming broths, or veggie-rich casseroles. Eating seasonally and mindfully not only nurtures your body but also grounds you in the natural rhythm of the seasons. It’s comfort food in its original form.

Move Gently and Regularly

Exercise doesn’t need to be intense to be effective. Gentle yoga, stretching, or daily walks increase circulation, lift your mood, and sharpen your mental clarity. Just a little regular movement makes a big difference. Remove barriers to your movement. Use online resources, local resources, and your nearest friends to make movement easy.

Slow Down and Check In

Perhaps the most transformative practice is the simplest; do less, without guilt. Firstly, let go of anything that currently sits on your shoulders, that you can’t change. Then work on shrinking your list of expectations of others. Let others in your life be as they are. You’ll feel the difference. Lastly, prioritise what’s most important in your life. Just two or three priorities per week is plenty.

 

Crafting and sharing the art of inspired living, Damian Chaparro is a founding partner of wellness utopia Aro Hā Retreats and is a passionate advocator for evidence-based wellness intensives to allow individuals to thrive together. aro-ha.com