If you’re looking to step away from the hustle and stress of everyday life, winter is the perfect time to begin.

You don’t have to wait for warm weather to start living more simply. It’s not about having a big garden or buying all the fresh produce. It’s about learning to take a step back from the rush we’ve been taught to embrace—buying more, working harder, and thinking that more stuff equals happiness.

Winter is the Season to Slow Down

Shifting away from that mindset takes time. Honestly, it’s a process of learning and unlearning that never really ends. But here’s a good place to start: follow nature’s lead. In winter, plants go dormant, animals slow down or hibernate, and everything rests, saving energy for the next season. But we humans often ignore these natural rhythms, and we just keep pushing ourselves. It’s no wonder we feel so stressed.

This winter, take the opportunity to slow down and transition into a simpler life. Start by picking up hobbies that bring peace and don’t require you to chase trends or work yourself into exhaustion. Learn skills that benefit you and your family, and that make you feel more connected and calm.

1. Baking Bread From Scratch

Baking homemade bread is a great way to slow down and embrace a simple life, especially in winter. Here’s why:

  • Sourdough: The process of making sourdough bread teaches patience. Caring for the starter and letting the dough rise naturally aligns perfectly with a slower, mindful lifestyle.
  • Sourdough Discard: Instead of wasting the discard, you can use it to make pancakes, biscuits, or savory loaves—turning something leftover into something delicious.
  • Flavored Breads: Baking zucchini or apple bread with seasonal ingredients adds variety and comfort to your kitchen. These breads are easy to make and perfect for sharing.
  • Less Grocery Shopping: Once you learn to bake your own bread, that’s one less thing to buy from the store. It’s a step toward a life where you don’t need to spend as much, moving away from the idea that we always need more money.

Baking isn’t just about the final loaf, it’s about the joy in the process and the satisfaction of creating something simple and homemade.

2. Knitting and Crocheting

Knitting or crocheting is a perfect way to embrace a simple, slow life. Here’s why:

  • Calming and Rhythmic: The repetitive motions of knitting or crocheting are soothing and help ease stress, making it a great mindful activity.
  • Handmade With Love: There’s a special satisfaction in making something with your own hands, whether it’s a cozy scarf, blanket, or pair of socks.
  • Start Small: If you’re new to it, begin with simple patterns or beginner kits. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can create something beautiful and useful.
  • Cost-Effective: Learning to knit or crochet also means you can make your own items, reducing the need to buy expensive store-bought goods, and contributing to a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Knitting or crocheting allows you to slow down, focus, and create something meaningful with just a bit of yarn and time.

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3. Learn to Preserve Food

Learning to preserve food is a great way to embrace a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle, especially during the winter. Here’s why:

  • Winter Practice: Use this time to learn canning, fermenting, dehydrating, or freezing with items you find on sale or clearance at the grocery store. It’s a perfect way to practice before harvest season and boost your confidence.
  • Prepare for Spring: By experimenting with preservation now, you’ll have a better understanding of what to plant in your garden. You’ll know exactly what you want to grow and preserve for later use.
  • Start Slow: Try easy recipes like pickles, applesauce, freezing homemade broths, lemonade concentrate, cranberry juice, or freezing veggies like carrots and celery. Starting simple will help you build skills without feeling overwhelmed.
  • Reduce Waste and Eat Seasonally: Preserving food allows you to stock your pantry with homemade goods for the colder months, cutting down on waste and allowing you to eat seasonal, homegrown produce all year long.

Learning to preserve food helps you become more self-sufficient, save money, and plan ahead for the seasons to come.

4. Candle Making

Candle making is a wonderful way to bring warmth and coziness into your home during the winter season. Here’s why:

  • Simple and Fun Craft: Making your own candles is easy and enjoyable. It’s a relaxing activity that adds a personal touch to your space, making those long winter nights feel even cozier.
  • Natural Ingredients: Using natural materials like beeswax or soy wax ensures your candles are free from harmful chemicals. These ingredients burn cleaner, which is healthier for your home and better for the environment.
  • Aligns with Slow Living: Homemade candles fit perfectly into a slower, more intentional lifestyle. You can customize the scents, use simple, non-toxic ingredients, and reduce reliance on store-bought products filled with artificial fragrances.

Crafting your own candles allows you to slow down, enjoy the process, and create something beautiful that adds both warmth and peace to your home.

5. Journaling and Set Intentions

Writing letters or keeping a journal is a mindful way to reflect on your simple living goals and intentions for the winter. Here’s why it fits into a slower lifestyle:

  • Mindful Reflection: Journaling allows you to write down your intentions, track progress, and stay focused on simplifying your life. It’s a great way to think through your goals and plan for the days ahead.
  • Setting Simple Living Goals: By writing out your goals, like decluttering, simplifying your routine, or being more intentional with your time, you create a clear path toward a slower, more meaningful life.
  • Stay on Track with Support: If you’re looking for extra guidance, you can join my free Simple Living Challenge. It’s a helpful way to stay focused on your goals throughout the winter season and make progress toward a simpler, more intentional life.

Taking time to journal or write down your intentions helps you stay grounded and keeps your simple living journey on track.

6. Gardening Indoors or Planning a Spring Garden

Winter might not be the best time for outdoor gardening, but it’s perfect for focusing on indoor plants or planning ahead for your spring garden. Here’s why:

  • Indoor Gardening: Growing herbs or small plants inside gives you something to nurture during the colder months. Fresh herbs at your fingertips is always a plus, and it helps keep the gardening spirit alive when everything outside is resting.
  • Spring Garden Planning: Winter is a great time to slow down and think about your spring garden. You can start researching seeds, drawing out your garden layout, and deciding what you want to grow. This gives you a head start, so when spring comes, you’ll be ready and excited to plant.
  • Helpful Resources: I have some posts that can help you get started;

Winter is the perfect time to relax and focus on your gardening goals, whether you’re caring for indoor plants or getting ready for the spring ahead!

7. Learn Simple Sewing or Mending Techniques

Learning simple sewing or mending is a perfect way to embrace a slower, more intentional lifestyle. Here’s why:

  • Sewing and Mending Fit the Simple Living Mindset: Instead of rushing to buy new clothes or household items, sewing and mending allow you to repair what you already have. There’s something deeply satisfying about fixing a well-loved piece rather than replacing it.
  • Sustainability: By mending clothes or making simple items, like cloth napkins, you’re reducing waste and cutting back on unnecessary consumption. It’s a great way to live more sustainably and thoughtfully.
  • Start Small: If you’re new to sewing, start with simple projects like mending small holes, hemming pants, or creating basic cloth napkins. These beginner-friendly tasks build your confidence and help you see how easy and rewarding it can be.

Sewing and mending are not only practical, but they also allow you to slow down, work with your hands, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating and repairing in a meaningful way.

8. Slow Cooking and Batch Cooking

Slow cooking and batch cooking are wonderful ways to embrace a simple, intentional life, especially during the winter. Here’s why:

  • Create Your Own “Fast Food”: By preparing meals in bulk, you’ll have your own homemade “fast food” ready whenever you need it. It saves time, money, and is so much healthier than takeout. Once you start making meals with what you have, it trains your mind to check the pantry instead of turning to your food delivery app.
  • Save Time and Money: Batch cooking simplifies meal prep for the week ahead. You’ll spend less time in the kitchen each day and avoid last-minute takeout expenses.
  • Healthier and More Mindful: Homemade meals like beef barley soup, chicken stew, or even a cozy cast iron meatloaf are nourishing and wholesome. They let you control what goes into your food, making it a much healthier option for your family.
  • Prepare for Future Bounty: When you eventually have a pantry full of preserved produce, batch cooking will feel even more rewarding. You’ll be able to use the fruits of your labor in hearty, homemade meals.

9. Make Natural Products

Learning to make your own natural products is a simple, sustainable way to live more intentionally, especially during the winter months. Here’s why:

  • Natural Cleaning Products: Creating your own cleaning solutions using basic ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils not only reduces harmful chemicals in your home but also cuts down on waste from store-bought cleaners. It’s practical, healthier, and better for the environment.
  • Herbal Remedies: Winter is also a great time to dive into natural remedies, like making an echinacea tincture to support your immune system. These remedies allow you to care for your health in a more holistic, intentional way, using herbs and natural ingredients.
  • Homemade Simmer Pots: Adding natural fragrance to your home with simmer pots made from ingredients like citrus, cinnamon sticks, and herbs is a great way to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. It’s a chemical-free alternative to store-bought air fresheners, bringing warmth and freshness into your space.
  • Simplicity at its Best: By making your own products, you’re embracing a slower, simpler lifestyle. You’re choosing what’s best for your family and reducing your reliance on store-bought, chemical-filled items.

Embracing these simple, mindful skills during the winter helps create a more intentional and peaceful life. From making your own products to enjoying slow cooking, these small steps lead to a healthier home and a calmer mindset.

Don’t forget to sign up for my Simple Living Challenge for extra support and inspiration as you take this journey towards a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle!

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