By the end of winter, I’m longing for a little more sunshine and playfulness in my routine. Spring is tantalizingly near, but it’s still so cold. While I love getting cozy on chilly days, wind and indoor heating can wreak havoc on my skin and mood. So, to create a little of my own sunshine, I’ve created these easy winter wellness routines to combat the winter blues.

Warm Up with Exercise and Deep Breathing

Exercise is my go-to winter wellness hack. Even just a few moments of deep intentional breathing wakes up the body, clears the mind and releases tension.

My favorite way to cultivate warm glowy vibes in the winter is with a quick yoga routine – no gym required! Just roll out a mat and aim for 10-15 minutes of deep, intentional breathing and stretching, focusing on expanding your neck, shoulders, lower back and hips.

Another easy exercise is to hold downward dog for five minutes, slowly breathing into all the corners of your body. The increased blood flow will leave your body majorly energized and ready for the day.

Drink Lots of Water to Keep Skin Glowing

Staying hydrated is self-care goal number one for 2019. Indoor heating in the winter wicks away moisture, and even mild dehydration can impair your mood and mental functioning. I’ve found that when I don’t drink enough water, my anxiety levels start to spike.

To keep skin glowing and your body functioning at its best, sip on water throughout the day. I especially love hot water with a squeeze of lemon in the morning to give me that extra boost of Vitamin C during the winter months.

Make a Revitalizing Winter Tonic

Inflammation fighting, wellness promoting potions are a key part of my winter wellness routine. Whenever I’m feeling a little pale or worn down, I brew up a revitalizing tonic for a nutrient and mineral boost. Below are two of my favorites:

1. Adaptogenic Tulsi Tea with Lemon and Ginger

Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb from the basil family with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, with a slightly spicy and minty flavor. Brewed with some fresh lemon and ginger, this drink is wonderfully calming and cuts right through the winter congestion and sniffles.

I love this organic loose leaf version which you can use with a stainless steel tea steeper. Organic India also makes a tea bag version, which you can combine with a bag of ginger or mint tea.

Recipe:

• 1/2 fresh lemon
• 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced or grated
• 1 cup of just boiled water
• 1 tablespoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag
• raw honey to taste

To prepare: Add sliced ginger and boiled water into a mug to steep. Add a few slices of lemon and squeeze in some of the juice. Add tea and steep for 3-5 minutes.

2. Golden Turmeric Latte

This warming winter wellness potion is delicious and so easy to make. The ingredients include fresh turmeric and black pepper for their combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, plus hemps seeds for a dose of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids.

Recipe (makes approx. 12 oz):

• 1 inch piece of fresh turmeric, washed and sliced [or substitute 1/2 teaspoon of dried turmeric]
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (black pepper boosts absorption of the curcumin in turmeric)
• 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey or maple syrup to taste or 2-3 raw pitted dates
• 1 1/4 cup just boiled water.

Blend together in a high-speed blender until smooth, then pour into a mug and savor. The hemp seeds turn into a creamy nut milk when blended, and the pepper adds a spicy warm note. You can add cinnamon or vanilla to taste.

Practice Reflection and Meditation

The last quiet months of winter lend themselves perfectly to reflecting and preparing yourself to bloom, physically and mentally in the spring.

Try purifying your space with palo santo, and sitting by a window to bullet journal or meditate.

Meditation can help release worrisome thoughts, channel serenity and focus, and feels like a soothing massage for the brain. Whether it’s for one minute or twenty, finding a quiet space to sit quietly with eyes closed, breathe deeply and empty your mind will leave you feeling calmer and more centered.

Nourish Winter Skin

Winter skin is prone to dryness and feeling chapped, so it’s important to keep treat it gently. My top tips for nourishing dry winter skin:

• Wash your face only at night. In the mornings, either skip washing your face or just splash with cold water and follow with a moisturizer and sunscreen.
• Avoid hot showers (hard I know!), and keep showers short.
• Exfoliate gently to not disrupt the skin’s mantle. I love the organic Nonie Protein Moisturizer which has 5% AHA, plus vitamins A, B, C & E and protein peptides. It does an amazing job of gently exfoliating just the top layer of skin and I love the way my skin looks after I use it. It’s formulated for dry skin and can be used every day.
• Try a gentle acid peel, like Drunk Elephant’s TLC Sukari Babyfacial. I like to follow peels with a nourishing serum and let it soak in for 5 minutes. Then, seal in all that goodness with a layer of pure shea butter and follow with a deep night’s sleep. Your skin will be so soft and glowy the next day.
• Wear sunscreen. Even in winter, you should apply sunscreen any time you’ll be outside. UV rays are less direct in the winter months, but snow and ice can reflect up to 90% of UV rays. To prevent dry irritated winter skin incorporate at broad spectrum SPF into your winter beauty routine.

Winter Wellness Routines

I hope some of these winter wellness rituals inspired you to find a way to create a a little of your own sunshine this week. Please let me know if you have any suggestions of your own!