How to Use Your 5-9 in Winter: Cosy Rituals and Evenings of Self-Care

As the days grow shorter and nights darker, it’s easy to rush through the precious hours between finishing work and heading to bed. But winter offers a unique chance to slow down, reflect, and embrace moments of self-care. One of the inspirations behind Bundle & Beau was my curiosity about seasonal living—particularly creating winter rituals that allow us to reconnect with ourselves during the colder, quieter months.

Why It’s Important to Adapt Your Evening Routine for Winter

Winter calls for a shift in how we approach our nighttime routine. The darker evenings naturally encourage us to wind down earlier, making it the perfect opportunity to embrace slow living—a more intentional and mindful way of being.

Unlike the lively pace of summer, winter demands a different rhythm. Carrying on with the same habits and routines from the warmer months can leave us feeling out of sync with the season. In fact, studies suggest that people need around 40-50 minutes more sleep in winter, as our bodies adjust to the darker days. Winter offers us the space to rest more deeply, and it’s important to listen to those signals.

Research also shows that during winter, our circadian rhythms are disrupted due to the lack of daylight, often leading to feelings of sluggishness or low energy. The NHS estimates that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around two million people in the UK. By creating mindful evening rituals, we can naturally combat these feelings and embrace winter's slower pace with grace.

For me, winter evenings are all about transforming the hours after work into sacred, intentional time for self-care. Simple actions like lighting an aromatherapy candle or brewing a warm cup of spiced chai can help reclaim the evenings as a time for wellness.

Creating a Cosy Winter Atmosphere: Self-Care Rituals

When I think of winter evenings, I immediately think of a cosy setting—soft lighting, a comforting drink, thick socks, blankets, a pile of books, and flickering candles. Creating this atmosphere is the first step in crafting a winter nighttime routine that promotes relaxation.

Winter is a time for winding down, and I love to use it as an opportunity to reset my home. I’ve recently started using a smudge kit to cleanse my space between seasons, especially after giving my home a proper clean and organise. Preparing your environment for a new season helps set the tone for slowing down and relaxing.

After I shut my laptop for the day, I make sure anything associated with work is put away. I start my evening with a cup of Dozy Girl tea from our Sleep Well Gift Box, or Sticky Chai from our upcoming Grounding Gift Bundle. A soothing hot drink signals to your body that it's time to slow down. I also light an aromatherapy candle, like Octo’s Midnight Breeze with rose and geranium or their Cedarwood & Juniper blend. Both are perfect for creating a calm, restful home, and the essential oils fill your space with peaceful aromas.

A favourite winter ritual of mine is a warm bath with essential oils and Winter Glow bath salts from our bath and body gifts. Research shows that a warm bath before bed not only reduces stress but also promotes better sleep. Just be sure to enjoy your bath a couple of hours before bed to avoid raising your body temperature too close to bedtime. For me, a nightly bath is essential for relieving sore muscles from CrossFit and long hours at a desk. It’s my body's signal that it’s time to relax.

Hobbies to Start in Winter: Make Your 5-9 Time Creative

Winter evenings are ideal for picking up a new hobby—especially one that aligns with slow living. For me, I find creative, mindful activities during this quieter season are so therapeutic.

I’ve recently taken up calligraphy, and it’s become a wonderful way to learn a new skill. You could also try letter writing. In a world dominated by digital communication, sending and receiving handwritten letters feels intentional and personal. For inspiration, check out our interview with London Letters.

Another winter hobby I love is baking. I often make homemade granola, blackberry compote and apple crumble. These slow, grounding activities remind me to be present and ground in the moment.

Winter is also a great time to reconnect with reading and track the phases of the moon. With the darker nights, the moon becomes more prominent, making it the perfect opportunity to learn about its phases and how they might influence our energy and mood. Make sure to check out our Guide to Moon Rituals.

Integrating Bundle & Beau Products into Your Winter Routine

At Bundle & Beau, we curate artisan wellness bundles designed to help you develop meaningful self-care rituals. Our wellness gift boxes are perfect for enhancing your evening routine during the winter months, making it easier to transition into a mindset of restorative winter wellness.

Our upcoming Grounding Gift Bundle is ideal for this. It includes soothing sticky chai, a meditation smudge kit, a grounding pulse point roll-on, and an aromatherapy candle—all perfect for rituals that align with the slower pace of winter. For those looking to upgrade, we also offer affirmation cards and cosy alpaca wool socks to complete your winter wellness experience.

I’ve carefully selected each product for its grounding qualities, helping you create moments of calm and connection—whether you’re meditating, journaling, or practising yoga.

Final Thoughts: Harness the Power of Winter and Prioritise Self-Care

The key to making the most of winter is embracing its slower pace. Rather than resisting the cold evenings and early sunsets, we can create wellness-focused routines that leave us feeling rested and rejuvenated by spring. Whether it’s picking up a creative hobby like calligraphy, spending time in the kitchen baking homemade treats, or simply curling up with a cup of chai, these small, mindful rituals can transform your winter evenings.

So, as you wind down tonight, ask yourself: how can you make your 5-9 hours more meaningful this winter? Whether through aromatherapy, creative hobbies, or intentional slow living, take this time to reconnect with yourself and harness the restorative power of winter.