How To Reset Your Self-Care Routine for Each Season
By Thalia-Maria Tourikis
Your self-care routine is not meant to be the same all year round. As the seasons change and the weather adapts, so do our needs.
And because of this, I believe each season of self-care looks different.
Winter is for engaging in feel-good activities that bring comfort and joy during the coldest season of the year.
Spring is for letting go of those cosy hygge vibes and transitioning into activities that allow us to connect with the outdoors and refresh our lives from the inside out.
Summer is reserved for social self-care and slowing down at work to appreciate the smaller joys of life.
Autumn is for winding down after a busy summer and embracing quieter, more grounding moments.
So don’t force yourself to stick to a self-care routine that works well for you in spring and summer but not in autumn and winter.
For example, it is notoriously darker in the winter months than it is in summer, so why not choose to engage in indoor self-care activities like doing a jigsaw puzzle or watching Gilmore Girls rather than pushing yourself to go on a nature walk in the pouring rain?
Don’t be scared of switching things up and testing out new ways of taking care of your well-being.
Here’s everything you need to about resetting your self-care routine for each season.
Benefits of a self-care routine
Before I dive into the ways you can reset your self-care routine for each season, let me first cover the many benefits of having a self-care routine.
Just like with any routine, a self-care routine brings structure and accountability to your wellness journey.
By having a routine in place for your self-care, you know exactly what you need to do that day, week or month (depending on how often you engage in self-care).
And despite popular belief, your self-care routine doesn’t need to be overly long or complicated.
It can be as short as a 5-10 minute practice — just as long as you’re engaging in activities that make you feel good long after the initial dopamine hit has worn off.
You’ll also find that by having a self-care routine, you’re more likely to stick to it, and actually look forward to it.
Other benefits of a self-care routine include:
- Improves physical, mental and emotional health
- Boosts productivity, creativity and resilience
- Reduces the risk of burnout and exhaustion
- Nurtures better relationships with others
- Teaches you to appreciate your own company
- Encourages personal growth and self-awareness
- Increases overall happiness and life satisfaction
How to reset your self-care routine for each season
1 | Realign with your seasonal needs and goals
At the start of a new season, I encourage you to check in with yourself.
How are you feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally? Are there any specific challenges or goals you have for the upcoming season?
For example, in winter your main focus might be on staying warm and boosting your immune system. While in summer, you might prioritize staying hydrated and being active outdoors.
Take the time to realign with your specific needs and self-care goals based on the season you find yourself in.
2 | Assess your current practices
Now that you’ve gained clarity on your seasonal needs and goals, it’s important to create the right environment that supports these.
I suggest reconnecting with your current self-care practices to see if they still align with your wellness goals.
For example, if your goal is to feel less overwhelmed when you wake up, then you’ll need to take the relevant steps to start your day off with a morning self-care routine, rather than jumping straight out of bed and cracking on with work.
To do this, start by going through your current self-care routine and habits to see what is still working and what is not.
Grab your journal and have a go at answering these prompts:
- What self-care activities do I do already?
- Which ones still feel good?
- Which ones no longer serve me?
Once you’ve established the rituals that no longer feel good, it’s time to ditch them!
Remember, self-care is any activity you do to help take better care of your mental health and well-being. So if your current self-care habits are failing to serve you in this way, then it might be time to let them go.
And as for the rituals that do still feel good… bring them with you!
Just because you’re resetting your self-care routine for a new season doesn’t mean you have to completely do away with the things that are already working and making you feel good.
Use these “OG rituals” to form the basis of your new self-care routine. And adapt them where needed so they can fit into the changing season.
For example, if you enjoy reading in bed every morning with a cup of tea, consider moving your reading ritual outside for those warmer, summer months.
3 | Write a seasonal self-care list
To get the most out of your self-care routine, it’s important to choose activities that resonate with each season.
This might look like switching from indoor yoga in winter to outdoor hikes in spring.
Get prepared by writing 4 master lists of seasonal self-care activities.
One for:
- Autumn
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
While you write these lists, think about the seasonal changes that might impact your lifestyle e.g. the weather, workload, social events, daylight hours, time of year etc.
What things can you do differently? For example, eating dinner alfresco in the summer months or by indoor candlelight in the winter.
Also, consider other activities that you enjoy but never have time for. How can you start including them in your self-care routine?
By having a master list of seasonal self-care activities, you can keep referring back to it whenever you need to based on the season you’re in.
4 | Schedule in your self-care
As you adapt your self-care activities to the season, begin to create your new routine.
Start by thinking about when you will practice self-care. What days are you most available? How much time will you dedicate to your practice?
And like I said earlier, your self-care routine doesn’t need to be 5-hours long. Try not to overcomplicate it by giving yourself 101 things to do in one week, day or month.
Commit to just 10 minutes a day if that’s all you have time for.
The key is to ensure that your routine is realistic and fits into your daily life.
I personally recommend taking 2-3 things from your seasonal self-care list and adding them to your day or week depending on what you need in that moment.
And schedule it in!
Open up your calendar and pinpoint a time when you will engage in these activities.
5 | Hold yourself accountable
Just because you’ve written down what self-care activities you’re going to do and when, doesn’t mean you’re actually going to do them.
Writing them down is only half of the battle. You need to commit from the inside and hold yourself accountable.
So how can you do this?
Create personalized cues or prompts to remind you about taking your self-care break. For example, set an alarm at the time you’re most available during the day and say to yourself, “Ok, it’s time for a self-care break!.”
You can also consider finding an accountability partner to do it with you. Start a self-care movement within your own friendship group!
Final thoughts
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care.
And for that reason, it is unique to you and can look different each day.
It doesn’t always have to be external like indulging in bubble baths, watching Netflix or meditating. Self-care can be entirely internal where you set boundaries, practise self-love and find a deeper respect for yourself.
Or it can simply be getting outside in nature for a walk with zero distractions.
Don’t just do whatever seems most popular on TikTok or Instagram and wonder why it’s not working.
Focus on your needs first and choose an activity that directly addresses those needs rather than indulging in a random activity you won’t benefit from.
Keep it short and sweet so it can easily fit into your lifestyle and stick to rituals that you actually enjoy or make you feel so deeply good.
Self-care should never feel like a chore, because otherwise what’s the point?
Prioritize you and your needs, always.
Author bio
Hey, it’s Thalia! I’m not like the other wellness girls you see online.
I don’t drink coffee or matcha lattes and I’m not a huge fan of green smoothies. Give me a medium-rare steak with a glass of red wine any day and I’ll be a very happy girl.
I’m also famous for my slow mornings. You won’t see me waking up at 5 am and following an unsustainable “That Girl” routine but instead ignoring my alarm and choosing to read a fiction book over going to the gym.
For the past 3 years, I’ve been empowering women to stop copying what everyone else is doing and do what works for them.
So if you’re craving a more realistic approach to wellness, find me on Instagram and Pinterest under @notesbythalia or head over to my blog notesbythalia.com for deeper “how to” posts that empower you to do things on your own terms.
