Wintering for mothers
can we really do it?
Wintering: a gentle embrace of rest
The natural order of things, as shown by nature, requires seasons of rest. Spring comes after Winter. The earth itself teaches us that life is cyclical, not linear, and that rest is not only necessary, but sacred.
Sadly, this is not the normality in this day and age, as striving, productivity, and success are put on a pedestal. And as a mother, there are societal pressures to always be doing more.
Motherhood feels like it can take every ounce of energy out of you at times. However, rest is essential, and it reminds us that we're not machines, but human beings with limits — just like everything else in the natural world.
The challenge of stopping
As a mother myself, I love the idea of taking time to rest, but do often wonder how I can weave this into our busy days when it can feel so all-consuming.
I know it depends on a woman’s personality, but it is difficult for some people (me included) to stop. It can be so easy to fill our days with the endless tasks and not allow ourselves to rest.
“Just one more thing... then I will take a break.”
This was my mantra until I realised one day that I was depriving myself even a drink of water while I was in one of my busy spells of cleaning and sorting the house. I internally said to myself that I would grab a glass of water once I had finished the task at hand.
It dawned on me the way I had been treating my body... as a machine that needed to keep going with no regard for my wellbeing.
Rest is not weakness. It is wisdom.
Discovering wintering
I happened upon the term “wintering” a few years ago. It really spoke to me as a way to slow down and be more in tune with the seasonal rhythms.
As a family, we take a weekly sabbath (day of rest), where for a full 24 hours, we rest, do what brings us joy, and spend time together as a family with no other distractions like work. It has been one of the best rituals we have included in our family life, and we hope it has taught our children the importance of rest and choosing joy over striving.
What is wintering?
Wintering is such a rich, tender concept. At its heart, it means intentionally embracing a season of life where things feel slower, quieter, or even barren — and allowing that to be okay.
It comes from the natural rhythm of winter: the cold, dark months when the earth rests, regenerates, and prepares beneath the surface for what's to come.
For people, wintering can look like:
Pulling back from busyness or productivity
Resting from emotional exhaustion or burnout
Creating space for grief, healing, or reflection
Letting go of what no longer fits
Trusting that even in stillness, growth is happening
There is no right way to winter. But everyone can take something from this concept and apply it to their own life experience.
Personal seasons of wintering
It could be a time of a couple weeks where you strip your schedule bare and have an intentional time of rest and recuperation. Or it could be after the death of a loved one, or the birth of a baby, when you place yourself into a cocoon to protect and savour the season you are in.
We all need downtime.
There is also the thought of letting go of what no longer fits — maybe work that no longer aligns, the place you live, or relationships that no longer feel nourishing.
Deciding to take a leap and change up your life is hard (I have been there many times), but the fruit of it pays off once you realise how much more aligned your life feels after going through the messy process of change.
How I winter
As the months start to cool, we hibernate more as a family. We spend more time indoors playing games, sipping tea, baking, and plenty of imaginary play.
I also love a winter beach walk — rugged up in woolens, watching the kids play and collect treasures. We often bring along our camp cooker and make hot chocolates in the sand dunes.
My little wintering rituals
At the start of the season, I buy new winter pajamas or loungewear, pull out the wooly socks, and try a few new teas — a ritual that helps me shift into a slower rhythm.
Once the kids are in bed, I’ll boil the kettle, cozy up and settle in. I might read, flip through coffee table books, embroider, or make dough — whatever brings calm in that moment.
Oh, and of course, with the addition of a playlist. Because life needs a soundtrack.
I’m not in a season where I have much time alone (breastfeeding baby, homeschooling, etc.), but I remind myself: one day, I’ll have all the time in the world to spend hours doing whatever I wish.
Seasonal shifts in our home
We slow our schedule.
We batch cook warming meals.
We add immune-supporting supplements when needed.
We stock up on art and craft supplies to encourage creativity.
We designate quiet hours — so even the kids can rest.
For the new mother
Maybe you’re a new mother and still finding your rhythm. If you were previously working full-time or had a busy lifestyle, adapting to this new season can feel like a shock to the system.
Even in the sleep-deprived haze, there are small ways to incorporate wintering into your days.
Try this:
Make a “wintering basket” — fill it with a journal, cozy socks, a book, herbal tea, and essential oils. Let it become your invitation to pause.
Allow yourself even just 15 minutes during the day to retreat to a cozy corner.
I know that while life with a baby may bring more time at home, it rarely feels like your own. The rhythm of newborn days can be tender and overwhelming all at once. But giving yourself even 20 minutes here and there can be a small, gentle act of care that fills you back up.
A gentle invitation to rest
Wintering invites us to honour our limits, listen to our bodies, and find beauty in slowing down.
Whether you're in the thick of motherhood, navigating a transition, or simply needing a pause—may you find small, nourishing ways to rest and reconnect.
To help you begin, I’ve created a simple journal prompt you can download below.
It’s a gentle companion for quiet moments, whenever you need them.
A note to the reader: I have started to make my posts more readable, so I hope you enjoy this new layout!