During the cold South African winter, the call to retreat and rest becomes harder to ignore. This is the season for moving slower, layering up, and finding softness in the everyday, not just in what we wear, but in how we live. Here’s how to lean into the art of wintering, with a few favourite creature comforts by your side.
1. Start with warmth – before the world wakes up
There’s something magical about the quiet hush of early morning. Set the kettle on before checking your phone, and wrap yourself in a throw. A cup of spiced rooibos - we love the LMC Chai - or warm lemon water is all you need while the sun takes its time.
2. Choose comfort over clutter
Clear one space; a corner of the living room, your favourite chair, even a spot on the floor, and claim it as your winter nook. Layer cushions, dim the lighting, and keep a tactile ritual nearby: a book, a journal, or that half-finished puzzle. We’re loving "The Book of Hygge" by Louisa Thomsen Brits for easy, comforting reading between sips of LMC’s Pear & Elderflower.
3. Swap scrolling for listening
Take a walk around the block, fold laundry, or simply lie on the couch with a podcast playing softly in the background. A few favourites for the season:
- Super Soul with Oprah – nourishing interviews with spiritual and thought leaders.
- Second Life – real stories of career reinvention and new beginnings.
- Unlocking Us with Brené Brown – insightful, encouraging conversations that feel like therapy, but friendlier.
4. Dress your space like you dress for winter
Layering doesn’t end with knitwear. Think woollen textures underfoot, deep-toned ceramics for your mugs, and cosy throws draped over armrests. Why not opt for a faux-fur blanket as a winter staple? It’s perfect for movie nights or slow Sunday afternoons.
5. Indulge in small afternoon rituals
There’s nothing ordinary about making tea if you let it become something special. Steep LMC Rose and Vanilla in a glass pot. Serve with rusks, shortbread, or just a moment of silence. Better yet, invite someone to join you - even if it’s over a voice note.
6. Light the slow way into evening
As day turns to night, resist the urge to speed up. Switch off harsh overhead lights, let the scent of supper fill the kitchen, and keep the TV off a little longer. Soft candlelight, a heated wheat bag, and a return to your nook with a new book (we recommend "Wintering" by Katherine May) can ease the day to a close, gently.
7. Let stillness be the luxury
Not everything needs to be productive. Sometimes winter is the permission to do nothing, to lie under a blanket and simply be. No apps, no output, no plan. Just you, the kettle, and the rhythm of your own breath.
