Winter is a season of looking inward - a chance to reflect, reset, and refuel our bodies and minds for the months ahead.
If you're feeling like you need a seasonal MOT, here’s my winter wellbeing toolkit to help you feel ready for whatever lies ahead.
By Alinah Roberts, a London resident who loves sharing simple, seasonal ways to stay balanced in mind and body.
Nourish with roots
This is the season for hearty, grounding foods like pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and beetroot. They’re rich in vitamins and fibre and keep you feeling full, warm and balanced.
Don’t forget your Vitamin D
With less sunshine around, we all need an extra boost. Vitamin D helps keep your mood steady, supports your immune system, and is especially important if you’ve got melanin-rich skin.
Soak the stress away
Run a warm bath with magnesium salts to relax your muscles and calm your mind. No time for a bath? A quick foot soak works wonders too - a small act of care that makes a big difference.
Book your health check
Winter can be a great time for a routine visit to your GP or practice nurse. A simple blood test can show if you’re low in anything before it drags you down - prevention is always better than cure.
Walk in nature
Even a 20-minute walk outdoors - especially in green spaces or woodland - can lift your mood and reset your sleep pattern. The daylight helps keep your body clock in sync and your energy flowing.
Hug it out
Hugging for 20 seconds or more releases oxytocin - the “feel-good” hormone that eases stress, lowers blood pressure and boosts our sense of connection. It’s free medicine for the soul - share it generously!
So, as we tuck ourselves in for the colder months, let’s think of winter not as something to get through, but as a time to slow down, restore, and prepare to bloom again come spring.
