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Maintaining Wellness During the Winter Solstice
02.07.23
As the seasons shift in Australia, and the temperatures begin to dip, we find ourselves entering the time of the Winter Solstice. In the simplest terms, the Winter Solstice, happening on June 21 or 22, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. This celestial event is due to the Earth's tilt on its axis. In the Southern Hemisphere, during the Winter Solstice, the tilt of the Earth's axis is the farthest away from the sun, leading to less exposure to sunlight, shorter days and cooler temperatures.
This period, often associated with introspection and slowing down in many cultures, offers us an excellent opportunity to pay attention to our overall wellbeing. As the frosty winds of winter sweep across our sun-burnt country, it becomes even more important to maintain balance in our health, both physically and emotionally.
6 Tips to Maintaining Your Wellness During the Winter Solstice
1/ Keep Moving
It’s easy to slow down too much in winter — but movement, even in small doses, can make a big difference. Opt for gentle yoga, stretching or at-home workouts when it’s too cold to head outside. And if you can, aim to get some natural daylight while you move — a short walk in the morning or lunch break can help regulate your circadian rhythm and lift your mood.
2/ Nourish with Warming, Seasonal Foods
As the temperature drops, our bodies naturally crave hearty, grounding meals. Fill your plate with seasonal produce like root vegetables, dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, and fibre-rich whole grains. Warming spices like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon not only add flavour but also help support digestion and circulation. These foods are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, helping to support immunity, gut health and overall energy through winter.
3/ Don’t Forget to Hydrate
When it’s cold, we tend to forget how much our bodies still need water. Staying hydrated supports everything from skin health to digestion and energy levels. Start your day with warm lemon water, sip herbal teas throughout the day, or try a nourishing broth. Including water-rich fruits like oranges and pears, or adding natural electrolytes to your water, can also help you stay well-hydrated.
4/ Get Enough Sleep
With longer nights and shorter days, winter is nature’s invitation to slow down and rest. If you're feeling more tired than usual, lean into it. Prioritise early bedtimes and aim to get 7–9 hours of quality sleep. To support your natural sleep-wake cycle, reduce screen time at night, dim the lights, and create a relaxing wind-down routine — even 10 minutes of calm before bed can make a difference.
5/ Embrace Stillness and Mindfulness
Winter’s slower pace creates space for inner reflection. Take time to be still — whether that’s journaling, meditating, or simply enjoying a quiet cup of tea. Breathwork, gentle self-reflection, or setting intentions for the months ahead can help reduce stress and bring clarity. Even a few mindful minutes a day can help you feel more centred and grounded.
6/ Stay Connected
The colder, darker days can leave some of us feeling more isolated — especially those prone to low mood or seasonal blues. Make a conscious effort to stay in touch with loved ones, whether through a catch-up call, a shared meal, or even a handwritten note. Meaningful connection is a powerful mood booster, and winter is the perfect time to nurture the relationships that matter most.
Some mood boosting exercise hacks to try during winter
Morning Stretches: Start your day with a quick stretching routine. This helps to wake up the body, improve blood flow, and set a positive tone for the day.
Dance Breaks: Turn on your favorite upbeat song and dance to it. Dancing can be a fun way to break a sweat and release feel-good hormones.
Indoor Circuits: Create a mini circuit at home with exercises like jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks. This is a quick way to get your heart pumping and boost your mood.
Yoga: Yoga is not only a good exercise for flexibility but also great for reducing stress and anxiety. Try sun salutations, warrior poses, or a yoga flow video from a reputable online source.
Resistance Training: Use resistance bands or light weights to do strength training exercises. This can help maintain muscle mass and improve your mood.
Jumping Rope: If you have enough space, jumping rope can be a great cardiovascular workout and can be fun, making it an excellent mood booster.
Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing or performing specific breathing exercises such as "box breathing" or "4-7-8 breathing" can help lower stress and improve mood.
Online Fitness Classes: There are many free or inexpensive online classes available for anything from Pilates to high-intensity interval training (HIIT). They can be a great way to stay motivated.
Maintaining wellness during the winter solstice is not just a matter of surviving the darker, colder days. It's about recognising our bodies' intricate connection with nature's cycles, harnessing the power of these cycles, and creating an environment where both our physical and mental health can thrive.
Simple actions like incorporating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and exposure to natural sunlight can significantly improve our overall well-being.
In this quieter season of shorter days and longer nights, remember to take time for self-care. Winter solstice is a time of restoration and rejuvenation, a time to nourish our bodies, refresh our minds, and renew our spirits.
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