Wintering with JOY!

Wintering with Joy: Using Creativity, Comfort, and Connection to Embrace the Season

Can you find joy when the snow is already 10″ deep and the temperatures are dropping fast?  I know you can!

I’ll be honest, summer is my favorite season (with fall as a close second). So yes, I feel that little pang of mourning when the sunshine fades and the flip-flops get packed away.  But instead of spiraling into the cold-season blues, I made a choice to look at winter with optimism and treat it as a season of permission.  Permission to reset.  Permission to renew.  Permission to slow down and re-center.

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the Porching podcast for AARP, where we talked about how to make the most of winter instead of wishing it away and using  joy as a compass to make it through the winter season.  Because the truth is, joy isn’t just a mood, it’s a mindset.

It was fun to shared my go-to tips for staying creative, feeling connected, and even finding joy when the forecast says ‘freezing with a chance of blah.’

Winterizing your Mind First

It’s important to start the winter months with intention and not resistance Yes, winter is coming… it happens every year… so since you know this, prepare you mind with a joyful intention.  Instead of bracing for the cold, embrace the cold but creating rituals that help you shift gears like swapping summer candles for warm, spicy scents, pull out the warm blankets and turn your home into a cozy sanctuary that feeds your soul. It’s time to signal your brain that is this a new season, not a dead one.

Be sure to set Joy Anchors for the winter season like planning an afternoon of ice skating with your family, take a drive to see the pretty holiday lights, plan a soup swap with your neighbors. These little anchors will give you something to look forward to when things feel blah.

Finally, it’s okay to name the hard stuff, like I miss the sun, the week was tough, it’s too cold… but don’t dwell on it. Winter is here and winter will end. There is beauty in the stillness, if you are willing to look for it.

Reframe Winter from Limitation to Permission

Winter gives is a permission to slow down.  I like to called it Seasonal Wisdom.  Nature is resting so maybe we should too! Let’s not be in hustle mode all year.  We are pulled in a million different directions when the weather is nice, so winter says, you don’t have to go out.  It’s the perfect time for reflection, creativity and connection.

Instead of FOMO, it’s time to flip the script to JOMO, Joy of Missing Out. Winter is a season of grace not guilt.  So be okay with slowing down and knowing you are not lazy, you have permission to reset. It’s not about doing less, it’s about doing it with intention. Think of it as a creative cocoon where you have time to regroup, reassess, and refill the well. This is where ideas for spring are born.

Reclaim your Indoor Space as a Creative Sanctuary

There is a trend called Dopamine Decor.  It’s all about decorating to feel good, not just to match a catalog display photo. It’s adding color, objects or art that sparks a memory, love and light to your home. If it makes you smile, it belongs in your space.  Dopamine Decor keeps your spirits up when the days are cold and dark. This concept also works for your office, if you work out of the home.

Add more lighting and mirrors to reflect the light to your home, simply swap cool-white lights for warm LED lights.  Layer your senses by adding chunky knits and soft flannel and comforting scents like cinnamon and fresh baked bread.  For home decor, bring in warm, saturated colors like amber glass, rust tones, and forest greens and layer them with upcycled or vintage pieces that tell a story.

Finally, don’t be afraid to pull out the good china and use it! Wear your fancy coat to the grocery store, pour your coffee in the beautiful mug, it tells your brain that you are worth it.  In a season that can feel monotonous, using your best things breaks the pattern and add surprise and delight into the middle of a ordinary Tuesday! Don’t wait…. do it now!

Studies show that tiny acts of joy and beauty can increase dopamine and reduce stress. So, yes, that gold-rimmed teacup might just be your winter mental health hack.

Use Creativity as Medicine

Creativity is not a talent, it’s a tool for well-being.  You don’t have to create a masterpiece… creativity is about using your hands and your brain in a way that feels playful, curious, or expressive. It could be rearranging a bookshelf, doodling in a notebook, turning leftovers into a meal, trying a new skill and even dancing to your favorite song. Creativity is about connecting with yourself. If you are struggling to get started…ask yourself, what did I love to do when I was 10?  That is usually the key. Did you love to color or paint, build forts, make friendship bracelets? Reconnect with that version of yourself, he or she is still in there!

You can take this time to change the idea of “I have too much stuff” and upcycle that stuff into something new. Instead of seeing your closet as clutter, see it as raw material. All those tee shirts can become a memory quilt, those denim jeans can be transformed into kitchen apron, and that flannel shirt can be repurposed into a tote bag for your grandkid to carry to school.  Upcycling tells a story and connects the past to the present and that connection is meaningful.

I always say, if it doesn’t spark joy, don’t throw it away, turn it into something else that’s new to you!

Focus on Wellness

When the temps drop and the snow piles up, it’s tempting to reach for all the comfort foods and honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. But winter is also the perfect time to be a little more intentional in the kitchen, using what you eat to not just warm your belly, but also lift your mood and support your health.

Joy is also a nutrient! Fill your body with healthy foods and home-cooked meals. You don’t have to skip the mac & cheese just pair it with a side of roasted vegetables or a crisp, fresh salad. Try adding turmeric for an anti-inflammatory boost, or sneak in extra greens wherever you can. And remember: a good pot of soup is both comforting and joyful.  It nourishes you from the inside out and sometimes, that’s exactly what winter calls for.

Movement is key!  You’ve heard the phrase, Motion is lotion, its cheesy but it’s true! The more you move the better you feel. Just 10 minutes of stretching every morning can make a difference.  Try some simple ways to work in some gentle exercise like,  marching in place, climbing the stairs, lifting your legs while sitting in the chair, do bicep curls using cans of food, make your bed…the act of walking around the bed to tuck in the sheets is great movement!  If it’s not too icy, get outside for a brisk walk and breathe in some fresh air!  Don’t overthink it, just move.  Keeping the body in motion is not only important during the winter months but all year around.

Socialize without the stress… the cold days of winter can feel isolating so plan low stress gatherings with friends, family and neighbors.  You don’t have to set the table and make a huge meal.  Keep it simple, invite your friends over and have everyone bring a dish or beverage. Use what you have on hand for entertainment like board games, or craft night. Create low-lift high-heart gatherings, this is where the real connection lives.

Stop Waiting for the Thaw

Life doesn’t start in April.  Enjoy today. The seasons will keep changing, but we only get this week, this day, this moment once.

We wait for the right weather, the perfect schedule, the ideal energy but if we don’t interrupt that pattern, we end up waiting our lives away.  Don’t make waiting become a habit.

Remember, the temperature doesn’t decide your happiness, winter is not a detour… it’s part of the journey.  So wake up and ask yourself how can I find joy in today because there is so much joy available now and you are free to welcome JOY in ways that feels real to you!