How to Survive the Last of Winter (and Maybe Even Enjoy It)
By the end of January, I usually find myself scanning the horizon for signs of spring. A little more daylight. A softer breeze. Something that whispers, we’re almost there.
But what if we stopped rushing it?
Winter has a purpose. It always has. It invites stillness in a way no other season does. It asks us to reflect, not to dwell, but to learn. Reflection sharpens us. It prepares us quietly for whatever comes next.
We tend to look backward or forward, rarely sitting fully where we are. Winter reminds us to be present.
Surviving winter doesn’t require an escape plan. It might look like smaller rituals instead. Coffee that feels stronger in the cold. Tea that lasts all afternoon. Hot chocolate on a Sunday evening. Lighting a candle earlier than usual because the sun sets too soon. Investing in a good hand cream because dry winter skin deserves better.
There’s something comforting about spending more time indoors and not feeling guilty about “wasting” a sunny day. Winter permits us to rest. To gather a stack of books. To bake something from scratch just because we have the time. To sit under a blanket and let ourselves pause.
And yet, we shouldn’t ignore the outdoors just because it looks bare.
Time in nature supports mental health year-round. A Stanford University study found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural setting showed decreased activity in the part of the brain associated with depression. That holds true even in colder weather (Connecticut Land Conservation Council, n.d.).
But here’s something even more interesting.
A 2023 peer-reviewed study published in Healthcare examined adult men who engaged in outdoor physical activity during the winter season compared to those who remained sedentary. The results were clear. Men who exercised outdoors three to five times per week from December to April saw measurable improvements in body composition and physical performance.
They reduced body fat mass and waist circumference, increased skeletal muscle mass, and improved flexibility, grip strength, torso strength, and cardiovascular endurance. Meanwhile, the inactive group showed increased abdominal fat and declines in motor performance (Stanaszek et al., 2023).
In simple terms: winter movement matters.
Cold-weather exercise may actually require the body to burn more energy to maintain temperature. It has also been associated with improved endurance and positive metabolic changes. Winter should not be the season we abandon physical activity. In fact, it may be the season that strengthens us the most.
So bundle up. Walk the trails without the buzz of mosquitoes. Watch the birds at the feeder with a warm mug in hand. Notice the stillness. Winter landscapes are not lifeless, they are resting.
Winter is the stage before renewal. Before the shift. Before the bloom.
And yes, spring is coming. On March 20th, we’ll celebrate with our Spring Fling Triple Trunk Show featuring Mizuki, Simon G., and Be Happy. Fresh designs. New energy. A little reminder that light returns.
But until then, let winter finish what it started.
Embrace the stillness. Take the walk. Light the candle. Bake the bread. Wear something that makes you smile. After all, we happen to know the only place you can get an 18k smile. And sometimes that small brightness carries you through the last of winter.
Sources
Connecticut Land Conservation Council. (n.d.). Winter walks and their benefits. https://ctland.org/5651-2/
Stanaszek, M., Fugiel, J., Kozieł, S., Sebastjan, A., Suder, A., & Ignasiak, Z. (2023). Effect of winter outdoor physical activity on body composition and motor performance of Polish adult men. Healthcare, 11(16), 2348. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162348
