When the days get shorter and the air gets cold, it is easy to go into a kind of hibernation and not the good kind. Dr. Ruth Machin has a better idea. She calls it her recipe for seasonal wellness, and she shared her eight habits with 10Almonds that are simpler than you might expect.
Here is a look at all eight, and a chance to ask yourself: how many of these could work for you?
Make Your Home Feel Like a Retreat
The first habit is called hygge: a Scandinavian idea about embracing warmth and coziness instead of dreading the cold months. The goal is to create a living space that feels inviting and to schedule real downtime. No emails, no to-do lists, no scrolling through bad news.
Keep a Ta-Da List
You have heard of a to-do list. A ta-da list flips the idea around. Instead of tracking what you have not done yet, you write down what you have done. Dr. Machin says this counters the brain’s natural tendency to dwell on unfinished tasks and helps you build a genuine sense of progress and satisfaction each day or week.
Build a Minimal Routine
On the days when you are tired, sick, or just busy, a full routine can fall apart. Dr. Machin recommends choosing two or three small daily habits you can stick to no matter what. Her examples: drinking enough water, getting 30 grams of protein at breakfast, or doing gentle yoga. Once your energy returns, you can pick the rest back up.
Stay Hydrated Even in Cool Weather
Thirst is easy to ignore when it is not hot outside, but your body still needs water. If plain cold water does not appeal to you, try herbal teas or water infused with apple or citrus. Keeping a large cup or bottle in sight helps you remember to drink. And for the dryness that cooler air brings, Dr. Machin suggests hand cream, body lotion, and lip balm as part of your daily routine.
Eat What Is in Season
Fall produce makes for some of the most comforting cooking of the year. Dr. Machin’s list of seasonal favorites includes pumpkins, squash, leeks, carrots, celeriac, beetroot, kale, and cabbage, all excellent in soups and stews. For something sweeter, apples, pears, plums, and blackberries are all at their best right now.
Snack With Intention
Before you reach for something to eat, Dr. Machin suggests pausing to ask a simple question: are you actually hungry, or are you looking for comfort, habit, or relief from boredom? If it is not real hunger, a warm drink might be all you need. When you do snack, serving it in a bowl or on a plate (instead of eating straight from the bag) helps you notice when you are full. Her suggested options include dark chocolate with fruit or nuts, roasted chickpeas, or crispy kale.
Walk Indoors When the Weather Is Miserable
Cold, wet, and dark days should not mean giving up on movement. Dr. Machin recommends a walking pad, a rebounder walking routine, or an indoor walking workout as ways to keep active when going outside is not appealing. For those who want to take it further, she mentions using a standing desk alongside a walking pad.
Catch Morning Light When You Can
Getting outside for a morning walk does more than just clear your head. Light reaching your eyes in the morning helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle by reducing melatonin production, according to Dr. Machin. If darker months tend to affect your mood, she also suggests considering light therapy with a SAD lamp.
Not every habit on this list will be the right fit for you. But even picking two or three could make the colder months feel a little warmer. That is the whole idea.
