As December unfolds and winter officially begins, it's time to embrace the season's unique gifts and challenges. Today marks the beginning of winter, a time when nature slows down, shifts to darkness, and we retreat into the warmth of our homes. While this season can be filled with joy and festivities, it also calls for special attention to our health and well-being. It need not be the “cold and flu” season.
In fact, our respiratory system is one of the most compromised during winter.
In this post, I share my top holistic tips to navigate winter's crisp grip, and hopefully increase your chances that your journey through the season is both healthful and joyful. From ancient practices to simple home remedies, these Winter Wellness Tips for 2023 will be your guide to enjoy more of the winter season.
Indoor Climate Care
As the winter chill sets in, maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor climate becomes essential. The heated air from our heating systems, while cozy, can strip the moisture from our surroundings that affect our respiratory health and can irritate our sinuses and nasal passages. Here’s the first winter wellness tip for your entire household.
Home Heating Tip:
Clean or replace the filters in your home's heating/cooling systems. It’s an important and often overlooked task that can directly affect your indoor air quality.
Holistic Hydration and Home Solutions
Staying adequately hydrated is crucial, especially during the dry winter months. But hydration goes beyond just drinking water. This segment offers three steps to effective hydration, offering both internal and external solutions, including home remedy options to explore as a way to keep you well-hydrated and thriving in the colder season.
Stay Hydrated with Warm Water:
Avoid ice water during the cold, dry season. Drinking “hot sips” throughout the day not only keeps you hydrated but also ensures that your throat remains moist and less prone to irritation.
Use a Humidifier:
A humidifier can bring back the moisture your heating system steals. Consider it a gift to your respiratory tract. I especially love the Dawn Humidifier by doTERRA that is made to accommodate essential oils.
Nasaya Oil for Nasal Health:
Nasaya oil, an Ayurvedic remedy, can significantly nourish dry, irritable nostrils. Learn more about Nasaya oil here.
Classic At-Home Remedies for Sore Throat
A sore throat is a common companion of the winter season. Fortunately, there are time-tested, natural remedies that can provide relief. Find two of my favorites of the 7 natural remedies for a sore throat I wrote here.
Saltwater Gargle:
A simple, effective method for soothing a sore throat. Discover more about salt water gargling.
Honey – Nature's Balm:
Honey, especially raw and locally sourced, is excellent for easing a scratchy throat.
Plant-Based Powerhouses for Respiratory Relief
Before the marvels of modern medicine, our ancestors relied on plants as tools for healing. There are a few plants that are effective and beloved to support respiratory health, a great challenge during winter months. Here, we explore some plant-based powerhouses, from herbal teas to essential oils, that can support respiratory wellness and provide relief from common winter ailments.
Herbal Tea for Wellness:
Herbs like cumin seed, coriander seed, and fennel seed can be steeped in boiling water to create a comforting, therapeutic tea.
Essential Oils for Respiratory Health:
Inhaling the aroma of essential oils such as Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) or Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) can open airways and relieve congestion. Remember, quality matters – learn why I recommend dōTERRA oils.
Morning Moments & Mindfulness
How you start your day sets the tone for everything that follows.
If you start off on the wrong foot, doing either of these practices can help you reset…to be intentional with your time and attention.
For me, this seems especially important in winter as we enjoy fewer daylight hours.
Here we focus on our connection with the out-of-doors and explore mindfulness practices into your morning routine.
Grounding in your sense of self and setting an intention for how you want to feel and what you want to create can be a potent wellness practice during what the often hectic season.
Embrace the Outdoors:
Spend a few minutes outside each morning. Deep breaths in clean, crisp air can rejuvenate your spirit and support respiratory health.
Mindfulness Practice:
Upon waking, place one hand on your heart, breathe deeply, and set an intention for your day.
Closing
As winter sets in, remember you have several simple and effective options, some new and some old, to take good care of our bodies (and our mind) and encourage resilient health in cold and flu season.
Try just one of these habits for a few days and observe whether it makes a difference. The best habits are the ones you can sustain.
I always invite you to share your experiences or additional tips in the comments below. Thank you for reading!
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