My Favourite Ways To Make My Self-Care a Priority In Winter

That aren’t all bubble baths and getting your nails done

We all know that looking after ourselves and putting our own needs first, means we can bring the energy and creativity we want to bring to our businesses. But knowing that doesn’t always make it easy - especially in the winter months when all you want to do is hide under the duvet.

I’ve had to work through feelings of guilt when ‘indulging’ in self-care, especially when there are things that need doing in my business (because aren’t there always things to be doing in business)? I’ve also noticed it put my people-pleasing tendencies to the test, and challenge the pull to put others first.

And in winter, when I just want to work from bed and hide under the duvet, it’s even harder to make space for my self-care, it feels like an extra effort.

But what I’ve learned is that when I’m making time for my self-care, I’m a better person to be around, I have more energy for other people and I do my best work. That alone is motivation to make my self-care a priority.

But working through all those reasons (and excuses) as to why I don’t need to make time for my self-care today is a practice of discipline.

That’s right - in order to make time for my self-care - AKA the things that I love doing, I have to be disciplined!

Mad isn’t it? We know it’s good for us, we know we’ll enjoy it (or at least if it’s a run we know we’ll feel good afterwards), but it’s still a challenge to make time for our self-care.

As with any kind of habit change, the best way to consistently make more time for our self-care is to flex the muscle. This means intentionally showing up every day to make time for our self-care, even if it’s just 10-minutes.

After a few weeks of intentionally making space for my self-care - putting reminders in my diary, setting alarms, joining a live class (for accountability), I noticed it start to get easier. I noticed it start to happen on auto-pilot, without me having to negotiate with myself for several hours first.

The other thing that helped me make more time for my self-care was to write a list of lovely things I could do to make that self-care feel good and even more tempting, especially on a cold winter evening.

Here are some of my favourite self-care habits to nurture in winter

Bring in signs of spring

Spring is slowly awakening and you can bring these exciting signs of spring into your home with cut daffodils or some hyacinth bulbs planted up in one of your favourite pots or even in glass vases with a little water in the bottom (make sure the water doesn’t cover the bulb thought because it starts to go a bit gross).

Give in and embrace the dark evenings

The long nights can feel like a real drag but if you embrace them they can become something magical to enjoy, use them as a reason to read more, journal, pick up that creative pastime you never went back to again after lockdown, or take early nights. Light candles and put up fairy lights to add some magic.

Find a gentle way to do marketing in your business

In mid-winter the last thing I want to do is film energetic videos for social media or run launches where I have to be visible every day. I’d much rather be doing my marketing whilst curled up in a blanket by my the fire. That’s just one of the reasons why I’ve embraced evergreen marketing - AKA the most introvert-friendly marketing there is.

Make plans for the year ahead

A big part of winter for me is reflecting and making plans for my business, and holiday plans to look forward to. You don’t have to wait for summer, I always go away for my birthday weekend in February, which doesn’t feel long to wait, or book a summer get away so you can dream of the feeling of the sun on your face. Plot out where you want to go this year, and when and start doing booking some things to look forward to.

Plan your garden

This is the perfect time of year to start getting excited about your garden again. If it's not too bitterly cold you could clear any weeds or leaves from the flower beds, or stay warm inside and plan out  what flowers and veg you're going to grow this year.

Get outdoors and look for signs of spring

Get outdoors. The crisp winter air is perfect for blowing the cobwebs away and as long as you pile on the layers you’ll keep warm and toasty. Look out for snowdrops and other signs of pring as little signposts of hope for warmer, lighter days head. If you wanted to track nature through the seasons you could even start a nature journal .

Cosy-up your home

Just because Christmas has been and gone doesn’t mean that it’s time to put away the cosy blankets. Sometimes when the decorations come down your home can suddenly feel quite stark so stick up on cosy blankets, big squash cushions or even rearrange your furniture so that you can create more of a cosy space.

If you have to work, make it cosy

If the idea of working from bed or your sofa feels like a no-no to you - I'd love you to try it. Perhaps think of it as entrepreneurial self-care. After all, why have we got our own businesses anyway? For me it’s certainly not so I can emulate having a 9-5 in my own home.

Level up your lighting

The perpetual darkness can really bring you down if you let it, and the lighting in your home make SO much difference to how you feel. Perhaps you need a bright led work light or some cosy lamps to make your living area feel warm and cosy. Leave your fairy lights up after the festive season - great for bringing some sparkle to a dull winter evening.

Embrace journaling and perhaps tarot too

Putting pen to paper and journaling things out is a brilliant way to dig into your thoughts and find solutions to things that are worrying you. Something I love to do with my journaling is tarot, I often do it while having a long hot bath and combined with journaling I find it a great way to tap into my intuition - and winter is a great time to re-connect with yourself.

Wanna back-pocket this post for the next time you need some entrepreneurial self-care? Pin it for later: