If you’re anything like me, the second the days start getting shorter, something in me starts bracing for it. That heavier, foggier feeling that creeps in around November and doesn’t really let go until spring. Less sunlight, less time outdoors, shorter days, and — if you’ve got little ones — a lot more hours stuck inside trying to keep everyone (including yourself) sane.
I used to just white-knuckle through it every year. Now I actually prepare for it, the same way I’d prep for a busy season at work or get the house ready before a trip. Winter is coming whether I plan for it or not, so I’d rather walk in with some habits already in place than try to build them from scratch in the middle of a gray, 4:30pm-sunset January.
Here’s what that prep actually looks like for our family this year — the small, doable things I’m starting now, before the heaviness hits, so my body and mind are already a little more resilient when it does.
Why Winter Hits Different
It’s not just in your head (though it is in your brain chemistry, literally). Less daylight means less natural light hitting your eyes, which throws off your circadian rhythm and can tank serotonin and vitamin D production. Add in colder temps making it harder to get outside, kids needing more entertaining indoors, and shorter days that make the whole afternoon feel like it’s already over — and it’s no wonder so many of us feel it every single year. Naming it for what it is has honestly helped me take it more seriously instead of just pushing through.
Let the Light In, On Purpose
Since we can’t control how much daylight we’re getting, I try to be intentional about the light I can get. Getting outside in the first hour or two after waking up, even for ten minutes with a coffee on the porch, makes a noticeable difference for me. On the days that’s just not realistic (hi, toddlers), I lean on vitamin D — since we’re getting so much less of it naturally from the sun, supplementing it has been one of the simplest, most noticeable changes for both energy and mood in our house.
Move Your Body, Even When It’s the Last Thing You Want to Do
This one is so underrated. Movement is medicine, and it matters more in winter, not less — it keeps blood flowing, helps you sleep better, and is honestly one of the fastest mood boosters I have access to on a hard day. The problem is winter makes it so much easier to skip. So I keep it simple and keep it home. A set of resistance bands takes up zero space and means I have no excuse on the days it’s 20 degrees out. On the days I want something a little more, I’ll grab the dumbbells and do a quick 15-minute strength circuit in the living room while the kids are underfoot. It doesn’t have to be a full workout to count — it just has to happen.
Warm You From the Inside Out
There’s something about a warm drink on a gray, gloomy day that just feels like a hug. A couple of things I lean on hard once the temperature drops:
Wild Wholistic’s Inner Peace Nervous System Tonic — a saffron-based herbal blend I add to water in the evenings when I can feel myself getting wound up or low. And during the day, Organifi’s Happy Drops (also saffron-based) are something both my husband and I take consistently through the winter months — we’ve both noticed a real difference in mood and energy since adding them in.
My other go-to is Ballerina Farm’s Bone Broth Hot Cocoa — 25g of protein in a rich, cozy hot chocolate that still feels like a treat. It’s an easy way to sneak in something that supports your immune system during cold and flu season, on top of just being genuinely comforting on the gloomiest days.
The Practice That Grounds Me: Gratitude Journaling
Out of everything on this list, this might be the simplest and the one I’d fight hardest to keep. A few minutes each evening with my leather journal, writing down even three small things I’m grateful for, has been one of the most grounding habits I’ve built. It doesn’t need to be profound — some nights it’s “the kids napped at the same time” or “that first sip of coffee.” Daily gratitude has this quiet way of boosting mental clarity and overall happiness that’s hard to explain until you’ve done it consistently for a few weeks. It’s become the thing that helps me feel like myself even on the heaviest days.
Where I Stock Up for the Season
Honestly, half the battle with all of this is just having the stuff on hand before you need it — supplements, healthy pantry staples, non-toxic home essentials, all of it. My go-to for that is Grove — use code KELSEYD25 at checkout for 25% off your first order. It’s become our one-stop shop for restocking the healthy, non-toxic basics that make winter easier on the whole house, without having to hunt across ten different sites.
Dress So Winter Doesn’t Win
This sounds small, but it matters more than people think. If being outside feels miserable, you simply won’t do it — and avoiding the outdoors altogether is one of the fastest ways to feel worse. I invested in a genuinely warm, well-made winter coat this year specifically so that when we do bundle up and get outside, it’s actually enjoyable instead of something to endure. Being warm enough to actually enjoy a walk changes whether you’ll go on it again tomorrow.
A Note for the Moms in the Thick of It
If you’ve got little ones, winter hits different in a whole other way. The days already feel long, and now you’re also playing entertainment director from sunup to sundown with nowhere to send everyone to burn off energy. Be gentle with yourself here. Some days “getting through it” is the win. Lean on indoor movement, get outside in whatever window of daylight you have even if it’s just bundling everyone up for fifteen minutes, and don’t underestimate what a warm drink and ten quiet minutes of journaling can do for your own nervous system once they’re down for the night. You can’t pour into everyone else from empty, especially not in the season that asks the most of you.
Starting Now, Not in January
None of this is about overhauling your life. It’s a handful of small, doable habits — getting sunlight or vitamin D early, moving your body even briefly, warming up with something nourishing, writing down a few things you’re grateful for, and dressing so you actually want to go outside. Stacked together and started before the heaviness hits, they’ve made a real difference for our family, and I hope they do for yours too.
What are you doing to get ahead of winter this year? I’d love to hear.
— Kelsey
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