[Read all of the articles in our Love/Sex issue HERE! Looking for a print copy? Look at this handy-dandy map!—eds.]

It’s winter in the Pacific Northwest, which, let’s face it, is a rough time for many of us. The glitz of the holidays has faded into the annals of yesteryear. This time of year, many of us wallow in the depths of seasonal affective disorder and since January 20, we’ve had the added delight of Cheeto-in-Chief 2.0. In the interest of maintaining mental health (yours and mine), I’ve outlined some self-care hot tips for a cold winter. As simplistic as these suggestions may seem, I find that when it comes to being kind to ourselves, it’s often easier to accept advice given by others, even if they’re things we already know to be true. 

Pause and take five deep, measured breaths—in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat when you feel stress coming on.

Move your body. I’m wildly inconsistent with my working-out cadence, but it’s indisputable that getting some exercise releases those precious endorphins. Going to the gym in winter seems thoroughly unappealing, so get in some exercise in the comfort of your living room: pull up a YouTube workout of your choice; yoga, dance-based workouts, HIIT, whatever! If you’re not up to working up a sweat, go for something more low-lift. Take a walk around the block, or simply stretch for 10 minutes.

Grab yourself a little treat. Lauretta Jean’s is a destination for its pies, but I’ve worked my way through their menu over the years. I love getting one of their cream puffs, since it’s a pastry that’s harder to find in Portland. Get the pistachio one if they have it. The cream puffs are decadent and big enough to share with someone, if you want. I also love the silky frozen custard at Cornet Custard—the shop sources its fancy cones from Rome, and you can grab pints to go. 

Call a family member or friend. Human beings need connection, and catching up with someone beyond staring at words on a screen can result in deeper conversations. Plus, you’ll hear a friendly voice and it’ll make someone else’s day to know that you’re thinking of them. 

Watch TV. Winter is the perfect time to catch up on all those shows you missed while you were out and about doing things in the summer sunshine or crisp fall weather. A few shows I watched and loved last year: Shōgun, The Gentlemen, and Nobody Wants This. Also, I love a miniseries, since they feel contained and can be watched in one or two sessions. Though none of the aforementioned shows fall into that category, each has a single season so far, so they’re just as easy to digest.

Eat something nourishing. As far as I’m concerned, if it’s cold, it’s soup season. Two of the most comforting things I like to make in a stockpot are chicken noodle soup and chili. I don’t have recipes for you since I make these by eye and instinct, but good recipes for both are super easy to find online. Making soup is also a great way to do a fridge cleanout for any proteins and veggies you need to use up. If you’d rather skip cooking and get straight to eating, head to Guero’s new-ish soup cart Lucky Soup for restorative broths and good soup.

Invest in rest. Winter is a time to slow down, with nature’s rhythms shifting into shorter days—after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s pertinent to remind ourselves of this. Take naps, meditate, sink into a hot bath, and/or drop something non-essential from your schedule! Take a leaf out of the Danish people’s (champion winterers!) book and cultivate hygge, a feeling of coziness. 

Plan something fun. Maybe it’s a trip, small or large, that you’ve been wanting to take. Maybe you can throw a big bash for your partner or bestie who has a big milestone this year. Hell, start planning your Halloween costume—it can be virtually anything that gives you something to look forward to.

Happy wintering! We can do this!