Winter Evening Self-Care Ideas for a Relaxing Holiday Season

Hello, Tripsiders!

Every season has its ups and downs, and for me, there’s always a lull when I step away from my usual routine. It often takes me a week or two to find my groove again. Lately, I’ve been focused on fixing my morning routine but realized the real issue is my evenings.

Evenings are my sanctuary. One of my favorite parts of being single is having the nights entirely to myself—sole control of the remote, a quiet house, and everything exactly as I left it. But lately, my self-control has been struggling, especially with screen time and going to bed at a decent hour. So, I’m setting boundaries in three areas that have been taking up too much of my evenings:

TV time
YouTube time
Instagram time

Here’s the cozy new evening routine I’m committing to for the rest of the holiday season.

Table of Contents

Winter Evening Self-Care Ideas for a Relaxing Holiday Season

The Ultimate Cabin Fun List // Quiet Time // Allison of On the Trip Side Blog

The Ultimate Essential Cabin Fun List // On the Trip Side Blog

Limiting Instagram Time

Instagram has been a major time suck recently—especially post-election—and it’s left me feeling more drained than inspired. My goal is to limit my time to 20 minutes daily. Since posting takes longer, I plan to draft my captions and content in advance to streamline the process.

Another hurdle is that Instagram is one of my main ways of staying connected with friends. I’m working on communicating outside of the app and being okay with that.

Capping Screen Time to One Hour

This will be tough because I’m obsessed with a Turkish novella on YouTube called Daydreamer (Erkenci Kuş) It’s so captivating that I have to give it my full attention (and read the subtitles).

On top of that, I follow so many vloggers whose weekly uploads are must-watch. But honestly, I should be spending this time learning, reading, or blogging. So, one hour of screen time after work feels like a good compromise.

Pilates Sessions

The one exception to my screen-time rule is Pilates. Most of the classes I do are under 30 minutes, so there’s really no excuse. My favorite instructor is Move with Nicole, and I’ve been following her for years.

My goal is to practice Pilates three times a week to work on flexibility, core strength, and my glutes.

Reading Before Bed

I’m thrilled to have hit my goal of 75 books this year! Right now, I’m finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin (finally) and juggling two festive reads: The Christmas You Found Me (audiobook) and A Novel Christmas (library book).

I have three more books I’d love to finish by December 25th, so dedicating an hour to reading each night will help me wind down and reach that goal.

Candles & Tea

I drink tea all day, but I’m cutting back on caffeine after my morning cup. My favorite caffeine-free blends from Harney & Sons are Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice & Organic Ginger Turmeric.

Lighting candles also transforms my space into a relaxing retreat. My all-time favorites are from Candlefish, where I even took a candle-making class during a solo road trip to Charleston!

That said, candles have been making me a little anxious lately, so I might ask Mrs. Claus for a candle warmer this year—no more worrying about leaving them burning all night.

Hosting Cozy Craft Nights

I miss hosting friends and family, and I’ve been craving more connection since moving. A low-key puzzling or knitting night with 1–2 friends sounds perfect. Not only is it fun, but it’s also a great way to build community in a new place.

I hope this little peek into my evening routine inspires you to slow down and find joy in the holiday season. How do you unwind in the evenings this time of year?