Winter has a quieter rhythm. Days grow shorter, the air turns dry and cold, and much of life moves indoors. In December, we asked our community what winter wellness challenges they notice most during this season, and the responses painted a thoughtful, familiar picture: dry skin, immune support, staying energized, seasonal mood shifts, and finding time to truly unwind.
This guide is shaped by those answers. Rather than offering a checklist or a set of rules, it’s an invitation to approach winter wellness with intention, through small, seasonal routines that fit naturally into everyday life.
Winter Wellness Begins with Paying Attention
Winter doesn’t ask us to do more; it often asks us to slow down and listen. For some, winter shows up first in tight, uncomfortable skin. For others, it’s a dip in energy, more frequent colds, or a sense that rest doesn’t come as easily. There’s no single “right” way to care for yourself during winter, only the quiet process of noticing what feels supportive and responding thoughtfully.
Supporting Dry Skin in Cold Weather
Dry skin was the most common winter challenge shared, and it’s one many people recognize quickly. Cold outdoor air, indoor heat, and frequent hand washing work together to pull moisture from the skin, often leaving it feeling tight or irritated by midwinter. Even those who don’t usually struggle with dryness may notice their hands, lips, and legs needing extra care.
Winter skincare doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. Simple habits, practiced consistently, can make a meaningful difference. Applying nourishing products while skin is still slightly damp helps lock in moisture, and choosing gentle formulations supports the skin’s natural barrier rather than stripping it away.
Our Lavender Body Oil is a favorite for this time of year, offering lightweight hydration with a calming aroma that fits easily into a daily routine. For lips exposed to cold wind and dry air, the Elderberry Lavender Lip Balm provides targeted care and a soothing touch you can keep close throughout the day.
Immune Support as a Seasonal Practice
Immune support ranked high among winter concerns, and many people shared that herbal teas and syrups are the first tools they reach for when colder weather arrives. Winter invites a steady, preventative approach to immune care rather than a reactive one, centered on consistency and daily habits that nourish the body over time.
Warm drinks, wholesome foods, and adequate rest all work together during this season. Evening routines, in particular, can be a meaningful time to support the body, as rest is when many natural repair processes take place. I’ve personally found that taking elderberry syrup at night works best for me, pairing immune support with the body’s natural rhythm of slowing down and restoring itself during sleep.
Our Elderberry Teas offer an easy way to incorporate this practice into everyday life, while Elderberry Syrup Kits allow you to prepare fresh syrup at home using just water and honey. Making syrup becomes not just a wellness habit, but a seasonal ritual — one that fits naturally into an evening routine and connects nourishment with care.
Staying Energized as the Days Grow Shorter
As daylight fades earlier each afternoon, many people notice subtle shifts in their energy and focus. Shorter days can disrupt natural rhythms, making it harder to feel alert during the day and settled in the evening. Supporting energy in winter often comes not from pushing through or relying on stimulation, but from aligning daily routines with the season — seeking out natural light when it’s available, allowing the body to move at a slower pace, and incorporating gentle movement to help wake the body and mind.
Warm, satisfying meals play an important role as well. Foods that are grounding and nourishing help sustain energy without feeling heavy, offering steady support through long afternoons and early evenings. Stepping outside during daylight hours, even briefly, or taking a short walk, stretch, or moment of movement can help reset focus and mood, providing a simple way to maintain balance throughout the day.
The Woodland Shiitake Soup Mix was created with this season in mind. Simple to prepare and deeply nourishing, it’s well suited for winter lunches or quiet evening meals when you want something warming and sustaining without a lot of effort.
Seasonal Mood Shifts and the Comfort of Ritual
Seasonal mood changes often arrive quietly, showing up as lower motivation, a desire to withdraw, or a stronger pull toward familiarity and ease. Many people shared that personal rituals and sensory experiences help them feel more balanced during winter.
Creating moments of warmth and calm can be as simple as a hot bath, a familiar evening routine, or a scent that signals it’s time to rest. These cues can help the body and mind settle, especially at the end of long days.
A few sprays of Lavender Hydrosol on linens or in the air can gently shift the atmosphere of a room, while Elderberry Lavender Bath Salts offer a restorative way to warm up, relax muscles, and mark the transition from day to night. For those who carry tension in their shoulders, legs, or feet, a light mist of Lavender Magnesium Spray can be a welcome addition to evening routines, helping the body release and unwind.
Stress, Sleep, and Winding Down Naturally
Even as winter encourages slower rhythms, stress doesn’t always follow suit. Full schedules, responsibilities, and disrupted routines can make it harder to truly unwind. Creating a clear boundary between day and evening can help signal the body that it’s time to rest.
Lowering lights after dinner, reducing late-night stimulation, and returning to the same evening routine can support better sleep over time. Lavender, long valued for its calming properties, often becomes a trusted part of nighttime rituals, whether through body care, bath practices, or a gentle mist before bed.
Simple Tools That Fit Into Real Life
When asked what they reach for first during winter, most people pointed to herbal teas, skincare and body care products, aromatherapy, and comfort-based rituals. These responses highlight something important: winter wellness doesn’t need to be elaborate or perfectly planned. The most effective practices are often the ones that slip easily into everyday life, offering familiarity, ease, and a sense of care without adding another task to the day. A cup of tea prepared out of habit, a favorite product kept within reach, or a familiar scent at the end of the evening becomes part of the season’s rhythm — small, steady moments that carry us through the colder months.
A Gentle Way Forward
Winter wellness isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about choosing one or two supportive habits and allowing them to become part of your seasonal rhythm. A warm cup of tea, a nourishing meal, a calming evening ritual — these small acts of care add up.
As winter continues, we’ll be sharing more seasonal ideas, recipes, and thoughtful guidance rooted in the rhythms of the farm. Until then, stay warm, move slowly, and take good care.
