Top Ten Tips for Stress Free Wintering: A Guide to Winter Self-Care for Working Women

Winter is meant to be a season of rest, reflection, and slower living, yet many working women experience the opposite. Shorter days, heavier workloads, festive events, school schedules, and endless to-do lists often create more stress and less energy. Instead of easing into the season, it can feel like you’re dragging yourself toward the end of the year with nothing left in the tank.

Traditionally, winter is a time for restoration rather than productivity. Allowing yourself to recalibrate during the colder months plays a crucial role in preventing burnout. This guide offers ten practical, supportive ways to embrace stress-free wintering so you can enter the New Year feeling restored instead of overwhelmed.

1. Embrace a Seasonal Pace (Not a Summer One)

Your energy naturally dips in winter and that’s biology, not failure. Try adjusting your expectations with fewer evening commitments, more intentional rest, mono-tasking, early bedtimes and a lighter schedule when possible. Productivity isn’t about constant motion, it’s about sustainable routines that work.

Maybe you can work from home an extra day a week? or try a later start once in a while. I promise the world won't fall apart if you take a small step back to embrace the season for a little while.

2. Create a Morning Routine That Supports You

Morning routines can feel easy in summer, we bound out of bed straight into the sunlight. Winter mornings can feel heavy but a supportive morning routine can still be valuable and let you start the day in a positive way. A warm drink by yourself before checking emails or making the kids breakfast, five minutes of stretching, or why not try a daylight lamp to support mood and focus. Remember, the key to a successful morning routine is consistency, not complexity so why not try starting your winter morning with something just for you.

3. Move in a Way That Brings Warmth, Not Pressure

Forget the winter gym guilt. I love the gym but in winter if I don't feel like it, I'm not giving myself a hard time. I find myself leaning more towards things like yoga, winter walks, low-impact strength sessions or gentle jogs. I love cold water swimming, even in winter, but sometimes it feels like too much so I opt for a sauna and cold dip instead. Its all about listening to your body and not feeling guilty if you need to adapt your movement routine.

4. Nourish Without the Diet Culture Noise

Winter cravings are normal and supportive. Think warm soups, wholegrain carbs, herbal teas, and foods that stabilise blood sugar during stressful days. This season is about nourishment, not restriction so if you find yourself craving heavier meals than normal, know that's just your body telling you what you need.

5. Schedule Sunlight Like an Appointment

During the Scottish winter the daylight is limited. This can have a significant impact on your mood. The solution can be as simple as spending 10–15 minutes outdoors in the daylight every day. In winter you can't rely on getting your hit before or after work so you need to book in a walk at lunch time or between meetings during your work day.

I know it can be hard but these daylight appointments can make a huge difference to your wellbeing. If work makes it impossible some days, try eating lunch near a window or using a SAD lamp at your desk.

6. Rest Proactively, Not Reactively

Burnout thrives in environments where rest is postponed so the key is to build rest in before you need it. Don't think of the festive period as an adrenaline marathon you need to get through before you're allowed to rest. Think about a weekly no-plans evening, a slow Sunday morning and a bedtime routine that signals “off-duty”. Take a Saturday or Sunday off from the kids sports routine and have a family couch day in front of the fire, or take a morning off work in the middle of the week, just for you. Remember rest isn’t a reward, it’s essential maintenance.

7. Create a Cosy, Calm Environment

Your surroundings matter more in winter. Add small touches that make home feel like a restful sanctuary. Think about warm blankets, light that scented candle your friend gave you for your birthday, create a dedicated “unwind” corner for reading or quiet time. This isn’t about aesthetics, interior design or spending lots of money (unless you want it to be!), it’s about small touches that create your very own winter sanctuary and support nervous system regulation.

8. Protect Your Boundaries Like Your Energy Depends On It (Because It Does)

Work intensifies toward year-end for many women. It seems to come at us from all directions, end of year work deadlines, organising the team Christmas night out, festive fundraisers, school fares, Christmas jumper day, organising the gifts, end of year events for clubs or committees and Christmas nights out with friends. And this is all before you have even thought about "the big day" itself. All of these things can be enjoyable but if you start to feel overwhelmed now is the time to strengthen boundaries.

Clarify expectations with colleagues, say no where you can and make sure you finish work on time at least a few days a week. If you organised the team event or volunteered to set up the school fare last year, its fine to leave it to someone else. Boundaries aren’t barriers, they are a critical anti-burnout tool.

9. Focus on Feel Good Connections

Winter can be isolating, but over-committing to social events is also draining. Finding the balance can be hard and you might find yourself swinging between over committing and withdrawing completely.

Commit to attending fewer events which you know you'll really enjoy or if even that feels like too much choose meaningful connection like a walk with a friend or a quiet dinner. Be sure to let go of any obligation based socialising to save your energy for the people and things that matter to you most.

10. Think Of Reflection as a Form of Rest

Winter is a natural time for reflection. Journaling, meditating or reading self-supportive books (hello, Anti-Burnout Bookshelf). If this doesn't sound like you, simply checking in with how you are feeling helps create clarity and prevents burnout from creeping in unnoticed. Find out more about how to do this with my anti-burnout check-in.

A Final Word: Wintering Is Not Weakness

When we allow ourselves to operate according to the season, not against it, we become more resilient and far less susceptible to burnout. You deserve a winter that restores you, not drains you. For more on preventing and managing burnout try out my free resources including the Ultimate Anti-Burnout Guide for Working Women.

FAQs

What is “wintering” and why is it important?

Wintering refers to slowing down, resting, and adapting your lifestyle to the natural rhythms of winter. It’s important because it supports mental wellbeing, reduces stress, and helps prevent burnout especially for working women managing multiple responsibilities.

How can working women reduce stress during winter?

Working women can reduce stress in winter by simplifying schedules, prioritising rest, creating supportive routines, setting boundaries, getting daily daylight, and focusing on nourishment and gentle movement. Small adjustments can greatly improve energy and mood.

Why do I feel more tired or overwhelmed during winter?

Winter fatigue is common due to shorter daylight hours, reduced sunlight exposure, colder temperatures, and increased workloads around the festive season. These factors affect mood, sleep, and energy levels, making burnout more likely.

What are the best winter self-care habits for busy women?

Supportive winter self-care includes slowing your pace, building a calm morning routine, eating warm nourishing foods, setting boundaries, creating cosy spaces, scheduling rest proactively, and engaging in movement that warms rather than exhausts you.

How can I prevent burnout during the winter months?

Burnout prevention in winter requires intentional rest, realistic expectations, saying no when needed, balancing social commitments, taking breaks during the workday, and checking in with your emotional wellbeing regularly.

Mairi Joyce

28 November 2025

www.balancingbluebells.co.uk