10 ways I'm preparing for winter

What I've gathered over the years

Nov 23, 2024

Hi, dear friends,

The first snow of the season fell yesterday in the Hudson Valley, a welcome deluge of sleet, snow, rain during this drought. As much as I don’t care for winter, there’s something about the first dusting, the swirl of flakes in the air, the delicate branches painted white that’s lovely.

I’ve lived in New York now for 8 years. I often still feel like a Maryland-Virginia transplant, wondering where the steamy summers went and why there are no flowering trees in April. Each year, I get a little more used to this climate and a little more ready for winter. I’ve gone from bracing myself to a prep routine, which even include things I look forward to.

Each year, I pick up a few more tips. Here are a few to share with you:

10 things I am doing this year to prepare for winter.

Note: I am not a doctor, and nothing here is medical advice. Every body is different, and you know your body best! If you have questions about anything you are considering doing or taking, please ask a healthcare professional.

1} Getting my annual physical

I don’t know how I got into the pattern of having my annual physical in November or December, but it turns out it’s an ideal time to check in and get help fortifying if any levels are low.

Annual checkups often include bloodwork, which is a good opportunity to learn where iron, vitamin D, B12, and thyroid levels stand. Those can often be addressed easily and yet lead to feeling badly when they are too low (or too high). Low levels of B12, for example, can lead to weakness and fatigue, numbness or tingling in feet or hands, weight loss, and more.

2} Drinking breakfast shakes with iron

Low iron affects many of us; a new study in JAMA Network Open estimates more than 1 in 4 Americans have iron deficiency.

I’ve been anemic in the past, but my annual physical last fall, my iron level was normal! I wasn’t sure how, but then I noticed that my usual protein powder (Owyn) happens to have 50% of the recommended daily allowance for iron. I imagine that’s helping. (Note: Excess iron can be dangerous, so check with your doctor about your iron levels before adding supplements.)

Here’s my morning shake recipe, all blended up.

12-16 ounces of oat or almond milk (or other milk)
1 banana
1-2 spoonfuls of almond butter
1/3 cup or so of yogurt
2 scoops of Owyn chocolate protein powder

3} Taking vitamin D drops

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that supports the immune system, as well as heart, brain, and bone health. According to NIH, nearly 1 in 4 American adults have low vitamin D levels.

I struggled to find an vitamin D option that was not a huge pill before stumbling upon these inexpensive citrus-flavored drops. (They taste rather delicious, too.) As winter starts to show up, I add a couple of drops of vitamin D to my food every couple of days. (High levels of vitamin D are also problematic, so check your levels and talk to your doctor before you add extra vitamin D.)

4} Getting my annual flu shot

The CDC recommends the flu shot for everyone over 6 months, “with rare exception.” Flu vaccines help prevent millions of people from getting sick and thousands of deaths each year, according to the CDC. Some places have flu clinics — check your county health website!

5} Prepping winter gear

Thin layers and warm socks, gloves, and hats make a BIG difference in the winter — the difference between dreading the outdoors and feeling comfy.

I try to bring out all the winter gear early and look through it to check what needs replacing, what we’ve grown out of, what needs mending.

It’s a nice time to donate coats and boots that your family has grown out of or doesn’t need any longer, too.

7} Using a sun lamp every morning

This is probably the single daily thing that makes the biggest difference for me. Shining 20 minutes first thing in the morning, especially when it’s still so dark outside, helps me feel more alert and happy the entire day. (Here’s more about the light I use.)

8} Making plans for Winter Me

If a season or month is harder than the others, plan in advance to take extra care of your Future Self.

Summer Brianne makes plans for Winter Brianne. I bought tickets to the Nutcracker in December at the New York City Ballet, months ago, back when it was still warm and pleasant.

This could mean signing up for an activity for later, or making plans with friends for a certain day deep into winter. Plans for your Future Self doesn’t have to cost money or involve other people, but either of those factors can tip something over to actually happening, in a helpful way. It’s easy to drop plans when nothing is on the line and it’s the middle of February.

9} Participating in Winter Camp

This January through the first day of spring, I’ll host the third annual Winter Camp sessions. I’m excited for it — it livens up the early doldrums of the year. I created it for you, but honestly, I crated it for me, too.

There are two sessions, each about a month long, each its own virtual community to hang out with.

Winter ART Camp — A January artist retreat where everyone brings their own project to work on. We kick off 2025 with extra creative momentum together. Each weekly session is a mini creative workshop.

Winter Camp — A virtual retreat for gentle nudges around light, movement, connection, nourishment, outdoors, and creativity. Each weekly live session is around movement and connection, such as yoga, Dance Mandala, breathwork, and meditation.

10} Listening to music and reading

Music is magic for our bodies. It can lift a mood and warm a cold day. I’ve been listening to Jon Batiste’s new album, Beethoven Blues, which mixes classical pieces with jazz and blues and other genres in a gorgeous, soothing new arrangement. Here’s Jon’s version of Für Elise; he says he is conversation with Beethoven: