Your winter survival guide (no overhaul required)

Winter is around the corner, and we all know how it can feel (hello, winter blues). There are fewer daylight hours, greyer skies, and everything just feels like a little more effort. So we wanted to share our favourite ways to make this season a little easier.

No wellness routine required. Just a few small things that actually fit inside a real day. Here's what we're doing this winter to feel a little better day to day:

Write down one small thing. Winter has a way of making the good stuff harder to notice. It doesn't have to be significant. The sun came out for a few minutes. The first sip of your morning drink. Your favourite socks. Keep a note on your phone or a notebook on your bedside table to jot these little moments down.

Text the friend you've been meaning to text. Not to make plans, just to say you were thinking of them. Winter has a way of making people feel a bit isolated without quite knowing why. A two-line message or a voice memo does more than you'd think, for them and for you.

Eat with the season. There is something about a proper hearty meal in winter. A soup that's been simmering, a tray of roasted vegetables, a stew that makes the whole house smell good. Eating what's actually in season is also one of the simplest things you can do to support your immune system through the colder months. It doesn't need to be fancy.

Go to bed ten minutes earlier than you think you need to. Not to sleep necessarily, just to stop. Phone down, day finished. Winter evenings are made for this, but most of us push through until we're too exhausted to properly wind down. Just ten minutes earlier can make all the difference to how well you sleep.

None of these are big. That's the point. You don't need more things to do. You just need a few small habits that make the season feel warmer, more manageable, and a bit more like you're in it rather than just getting through it.

With love, Kate and the Retreat Yourself team.