This Winter Asked More of Me Than Any Other

Wintering sounds gentle and romantic in theory. Slower days, more rest, fewer demands. But in real life, it often looks very different.

I created my Wintering blend years ago as a reminder to soften in the colder months – to ease up, say no more often, and stop pushing through just because that’s what we’re used to doing.

If I’m honest though, in past winters I admired the idea of wintering more than I actually practised it.

With three kids, two dogs, a business to run and the constant chaos of family life, winter didn’t really get a say. Clubs carried on, meals needed planning and cooking, emails kept coming. Life didn’t slow down just because the season did.

But this year, winter felt different

This winter has asked more of me than any other. And for the first time, I listened.

The kids don’t do as many clubs now, and without really planning it, our weeks became quieter. Fewer evenings rushing out of the door. More time at home. More space between things (I am embracing it because next winter could look different).

I’ve also said no to so much this winter. No to plans. No to overfilling my diary. No to doing things out of habit rather than desire. And instead of feeling like I was missing out, I’ve genuinely enjoyed staying indoors. The calm. The stillness. The slower pace.

A year on, the kids are a little bit older and slowly becoming more self-sufficient, which has created tiny pockets of breathing room I didn’t have before. Small moments that make a big difference.

An unexpected pause

On top of that, my car being stuck in the garage meant I physically couldn’t get to the studio for a while. At first, it felt frustrating and inconvenient. But unexpectedly, it became a gift.

Working from home has been really lovely. Quieter. Softer. More aligned.

Without meaning to, I stopped fighting the season and started moving with it.

Wintering as alignment, not escape

This winter, I’ve rested more deeply than I ever have before. Not as a reward. Not as something to earn. But because I needed to.

I’ve looked after myself properly. I’ve protected my energy. I’ve let things be simpler. And in doing that, I’ve realised how closely this season mirrors the new path I’m on with Holistic Kitchen too.

Less forcing.
Less rushing.
More intention.
More alignment.

Wintering, for me, isn’t about retreating from real life. It’s about choosing how I show up within it. Making space where I can. Creating small daily rituals that support my nervous system and remind me to slow down, even when life is still full.

A more realistic way to winter

If wintering has ever sounded beautiful but unrealistic, I get it. I’ve lived that tension for years.

For me, wintering now looks like:

• Fewer commitments in the diary

• Saying no without over-explaining

• Enjoying being at home rather than apologising for it

• Using scent as a daily anchor for rest and grounding

• Letting winter be quieter, simpler and slower

It’s not perfect. Life still happens. But it feels kinder. And that, I think, is the point.

Winter doesn’t ask us to disappear.
It asks us to listen.

And this year, I finally have.

Sallyanne x