Shorter days and lower temps mean winter is officially here. While the holiday season ahead might give us warm fuzzy feelings, those don’t help us too much when it comes time to literally warm up. But we’re not ones to let the cold get us down. From mindful meals to warm layers, here are the habits we’re embracing to keep warm this winter.
Cook with Warming Spices
To quote a certain iconic British girl group, it’s time to “spice up your life” this winter. Spices in your pantry like cinnamon, cayenne, ginger, and turmeric help raise our core temperature, warming us up from the inside out. Try incorporating these into your cooking and baking — or adding them to winter drinks — to combat the cold.
In addition to adding a dash of spice to your dishes, prepare naturally warming dishes, such as hearty stews and soups, and include ingredients high in healthy fats like avocados and nuts that help regulate blood temperature. Here are a few of our favourite recipes to get you started:
- Everyday Turmeric Latte Recipe
- Fresh Ginger Tea
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Moroccan Vegetable Stew
- Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Beets and Delicata Squash
Take a Bath
This ritual is one of our favourites after a stressful day at work or adventuring out in the cold. Before bedtime, fill your bathtub with warm water, add a few drops of essential oils (lavender, sandalwood, and eucalyptus are some of our favourites), light some candles, submerge and relax.
Although the rise in body temperature we experience from taking a bath is temporary, they also have the added benefit of improving our circulation and helping us sleep better. And if your space doesn’t have a bath, a shower can have the same effect. Simply add a few drops of essential oils to your shower’s wall or outer edge, and relax as the steam diffuses the scent.
Choose Warm Layers
Instead of cranking up the thermostat, keep your body toasty and your state of mind cozy by reaching for layers made from soft, sustainable fibres like recycled cotton or RWS-certified wool.
On chillier days, layers act as a natural insulator, trapping warm air between our clothing as our bodies heat up. Sustainable and ethically sourced wool is a great fabric to reach for in the winter because the fibres have natural kinks and bends that trap warm air and keep your body warm.
Here are some of our favourite pieces to layer in the winter:
Featured: Women’s Wool Utility Jacket and RWS Wool Woven Plaid Scarf
Featured: Women’s Oversized Cropped Crew and the Cotton Patch Beanie
Make Time for Mindful Movement
While we know that we naturally warm up when moving our bodies, it can feel easier to curl up under the blankets when we’re feeling chilly, especially in the morning. Try and make it a habit this season to schedule gentle movement first thing in the morning before starting your day.
Featured: Women’s InMotion 7/8 Pocket Legging paired with the InMotion Longline Active Bra
Not only will this help warm you up, but it will also help energize you for the day ahead. Whether it’s a gentle yoga flow, dog walk, workout class, or winter activity, move in a way that feels good for your body and enjoy the wave of warmth that follows.
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What We’re Reading This Winter
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