As the days get shorter and the evenings are a bit colder, fall and winter will be upon us. Now is a great time to focus and establish self-care routines that can keep you mentally strong in the months ahead. This post will discuss the seven important self-care ideas to help you thrive in the fall and winter months. 

Schedule “Me” Time

One of the most underrated things we lack in our lives is “Me” time. We often constantly run from place to place, answering the phone, picking up XYZ, and at the end of the day, we wonder where all the time went. Taking time for yourself is extremely important. “Me” time reduces stress, enables better work-life balance, and resets your mind, improving concentration so you can be more productive and at ease. There are many ways to get time for yourself, such as meditating, listening to music, playing video games (yes, I said it), or just taking a walk sometime during the day and listening to your favorite podcast.  

Prioritize Sleep

Shorter days and longer nights make sleeping easier in the fall and winter months more manageable. The key is to make sure sleep is a priority and make time to get enough sleep. Most leading experts agree that 7-9 hours of sleep is the right amount. Yet is the number of hours equal quality? Maybe not. Higher-quality sheets, heated blankets, or the right comforter can change how well you sleep during those 7-9 hours. Additionally, sleeping close to the same time every day is beneficial. Your body has a rhythm, and adhering to it dramatically improves sleep quality.    

Revisit an old hobby or start a new one

Was there a specific recipe you said you would make or learn a new language? The fall and winter months are great for taking the time to follow through on those hobbies. There are many apps, cookbooks, and other ways to get started, and Youtube, Pinterest, and blogs are great ways to get started.  

Purge 

Everyone knows there are things in their closet that you didn’t wear in the summer and don’t plan on wearing in the winter. Now is the perfect time to sell or donate them to create room in your house or closet. Poshmark, Mercari, and Craigslist are great places to post items for sale. Remember, The Salvation Army and Goodwill are good places to donate your used items. Just make sure they are in good shape. 

Spend Time Outside

At first, you are probably thinking, why go outside when the temperature is dropping, yet something about bundling up and going for a walk in the winter is enjoyable with the right clothes, stroll downtown or around the neighborhood for a short while to see the holiday decorations can be delightful. Bring your Contigo mug with your favorite tea or homemade hot cocoa to keep you warm, or stop by your favorite coffee shop and pick up your matcha or lavender latte.    

Boost your Diet

It’s easy in the winter to get carried away, and binge eat—especially when the next episode of your favorite series is released, and the temperature outside is below acceptable. Eating healthier foods during the fall and winter months and allowing yourself a cheat day is more beneficial than you think. A study published by Science Daily suggests that high sugar intake may drive obesity. Replacing your diet with the Mind Diet can boost your mood and health. Pfizer has a beginner’s guide and shares many options to choose from to stay healthy and eat great food. I have always been a fan of the Blue Zone Diet. The more you eat nutritious foods and combine that with some exercise, the less likely you are to binge eat. Yet, if you are going to do a cheat day, don’t beat yourself up. Just enjoy it and get back on track.

Candles

Before electricity, candles were a necessity to illuminate your home. Since then, they have become more of a decorative piece by adding colors and unique ways to put them. Better ingredients help candles last longer and release unique scents that permeate pleasantly throughout the room. Candles help create a smooth and relaxing atmosphere. Just think of a nice dinner or spa, and a candle is almost always burning. On those rainy fall days or cold winter nights, a nicely placed scented candle may be all you need to complement a nice book, a comfortable blanket, or next to that great meal you just prepared.