Winter Slow Living: How to Start Living Intentionally Throughout Each Season
A gentle guide to winter slow living through intentional rhythms, cozy home practices, and mindful seasonal habits.
The winter season often arrives with cold weather, lingering sickness, and pressures of our New Year's resolutions, demanding our attention. In the middle of it all, I find myself wondering if this season was meant to be a gentle reminder to take time for rest, self-reflection, and planning. Rather than rushing through the colder months, winter offers the opportunity for intentional slow living, rooted in simplicity and peace.
In Scandinavian culture, the winter season is seen as a season of restoration, and the word "hygge" is used to describe the intentionality of living by the seasons (literally and figuratively). In these cold climates, the transition into the winter season is a time for “Friluftsliv” meaning open-air living and being outside, and “Koselig” referring to creating warmth at home.
Although many of us may not live in Scandinavian winters, the season reminds us of the same request: to move with the season rather than against it and embrace the slow moments around us.
6 Things to do Intentionally in the Winter Season that Create Warmth within the Home
1. Cooking a Warm Meal from Scratch
Remember that recipe you saved on Pinterest, or the one in that recipe book you read two years ago? Yes, time spent cooking from scratch is perfect for the cold winter months. It allows the mind to focus on what is used to make the meal, bringing more awareness and understanding of the nourishment our bodies need.
2. Plan Out Your Spring Garden
Planning during the winter months is a great way to spend time. Being intentional in our planning, especially when it comes to gardening for the spring season, enables us to budget efficiently, start seeds on time, and organize storage space for the gardening season.
3. Study Native Plants, Flowers, and Herbs
One of my favorite things to do in the winter season is to learn about native plants, flowers, and healing herbs. In the season of colds and the flu, I wondered if healing could come from a natural source, as many of the Native American tribes would use herbs for healing. If you are curious about these plants, here are a few great resources to learn more:
A Handbook of Native American Healing Herbs
Barbara O’Neill’s Official Website (a certified Holistic Medicine Specialist, known for her knowledge in herbalism)
4. Journaling and Reading Scripture
Another great thing to do in the winter season is enjoying a warm beverage and journaling or reading Scripture. By allowing oneself to reflect and regain focus on what is important, one’s goals can gain direction and thoughtfulness.
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Psychologist Dr. David B. Feldman “journaling about life's challenges, especially when focused on processing rather than just 'spilling,' helps build resilience and find a sense of meaning.” ——————
5. Take On a New Indoor Hobby
From crocheting, knitting, sewing, pottery, painting, cross-stitching, embroidery, etcetera, there are so many things to try and learn during the winter months that can create lifelong hobbies.
6. Lastly, Get Moving Especially Outside
I know you might think I am crazy for thinking about going outside during the cold days of winter, but going back to the Norwegian word “Friluftsliv,” Scandinavian peoples believe in being outside in the cold whenever they can be.
Many suggest bundling up and partaking in the 1,000 hours outside challenge, where one is challenged to be outside at least one hour a day every day for a full year. Yes, even in winter. In Scandinavian culture, the idea of being outside every day even in the winter enabled the body to better acclimate to the harsh cold conditions and allowed the mind to experience the change of the seasons in a deeper way.
Conclusion
While winter can bring about harsh weather conditions, sickness, and stresses, The Unscripted Femme, a slow living blogger, writes, “When winter feels overwhelming, I try to come back to these five things: warmth, less, gentle rhythms, looking inward, and rest without earning it.” By keeping these things in mind during the winter months, maybe we can slow down and enjoy the season more intentionally.
What season do you find it easiest to live intentionally-winter, or another season during the year? How does intentional living look for you in that season? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share below, and your reflections may inspire a future seasonal post.