There’s something about winter evenings that hits different.

The sun disappears by 5 PM. The cold seeps through your windows no matter how high you crank the heat. Your skin feels like sandpaper. Your mood dips along with the temperature. And somehow, even though it’s dark and you’re exhausted, you end up scrolling your phone until midnight because… what else is there to do?

Here’s what I figured out last winter after spending November through February feeling like a dried-out husk of a human: winter evenings aren’t the problem. They’re actually an opportunity.

Think about it. Summer evenings pull you outward. There’s always somewhere to be, something to do, people expecting you. Winter evenings do the opposite. They push you inward. They give you permission to slow down, cocoon, and actually take care of yourself without feeling guilty about it.

But most of us waste that gift. We fight the darkness instead of leaning into it. We keep pushing at the same pace we did in July and then wonder why we’re burned out by Valentine’s Day.

What if you didn’t fight it? What if you built an evening routine specifically designed for these cold, dark months? One that works with winter instead of against it?

That’s what this is. Not some aspirational routine you’ll never actually do. A real, sustainable way to take care of yourself during the hardest season.

Let me walk you through it.

Why Winter Evenings Wreck You (And How to Fix It)

Before we get into the routine, let’s talk about why winter feels so brutal in the first place.

Your body runs on light. Specifically, your circadian rhythm (your internal 24-hour clock) depends on light exposure to regulate everything from your sleep to your mood to your energy levels.

In summer, you get light until 8 or 9 PM. Your brain knows it’s daytime for hours after you finish work. But in winter? It’s pitch black by 5. Your brain thinks it’s bedtime when you’re still supposed to be functional.

Research shows that reduced daylight in winter disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to worse sleep, lower energy, and increased rates of seasonal depression. It’s not in your head. It’s biology.

Then there’s the dry air. Indoor heating sucks every molecule of moisture out of the atmosphere. Your skin dries out. Your throat gets scratchy. You wake up feeling like you slept in a desert.

Add in shorter days, colder temperatures, and the general bleakness of winter, and yeah. No wonder your evenings feel rough.

But here’s the thing: you can’t change the season. You can change how you move through it.

An intentional winter evening routine addresses all of this. It helps your body adjust to early darkness. It combats the dryness. It gives you something to look forward to when it’s cold and bleak outside.

It turns winter from something you endure into something you might actually enjoy.

Step One: Light Matters More Than You Think

Around 6 or 7 PM, start shifting your lighting.

Turn off the overhead lights. Those bright, blue-toned LEDs are telling your brain it’s noon. Switch to lamps with warm bulbs. Yellowy, soft light that mimics sunset.

If you have dimmer switches, use them. If you don’t, just use fewer lights. One lamp in the corner instead of lighting up the whole room like an operating theater.

Candles are your friend here. Not just for ambiance (though that’s nice). The warm, flickering light from candles signals to your ancient lizard brain that it’s evening, time to wind down. Just don’t burn your house down. Use candle holders, keep them away from flammable stuff, blow them out before bed.

Why does this matter so much? Because light affects melatonin production. Melatonin is the hormone that makes you sleepy. Bright light suppresses it. Dim, warm light allows your body to start ramping up production naturally.

By adjusting your lighting in the evening, you’re working with your biology instead of fighting it. You’ll actually feel tired at bedtime instead of being weirdly wired at 11 PM.

This is especially important in winter when your circadian rhythm is already confused by the early darkness. You’re giving it clear signals: “Evening is here. Time to start winding down.”

The vibe you’re going for is cozy cave. Warm. Dim. Enclosed. Safe. If you’ve heard of hygge (that Danish concept of cozy contentment), this is it. You’re creating a space that feels like shelter from the harsh world outside.

Bonus points if you have string lights or a salt lamp or anything that gives off that soft, ambient glow. You want your space to feel fundamentally different in the evening than during the day.

Step Two: Your Skin Is Screaming for Help

Winter air is brutal. Outside it’s cold and dry. Inside it’s warm and dry. Either way, your skin is losing moisture faster than you can replace it.

This is where your evening skincare ritual comes in. And I’m using the word “ritual” intentionally. This isn’t just maintenance. It’s self-care that actually feels good.

Start with warmth

Take a warm shower or bath. Not scalding hot (that actually dries out your skin more). Just warm enough to relax your muscles and let you breathe in some steam.

If you’re feeling fancy, add a few drops of essential oil to the shower. Lavender for relaxation. Eucalyptus if you’re congested from dry air. Whatever smells good to you.

The steam temporarily adds moisture back to your skin and opens up your sinuses. It’s like a mini spa treatment that costs basically nothing.

Lock in moisture immediately

This is the secret most people miss: you need to moisturize while your skin is still damp.

According to dermatologists, you should apply moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the shower. That’s when your skin can actually absorb and hold onto the moisture.

Use something thick in winter. Not your summer lotion. Get a cream or body butter. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, or natural oils (shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba).

Don’t forget your hands, feet, and lips. These dry out fastest. Keep hand cream by the sink. Put thick socks on after moisturizing your feet. Use actual lip balm, not just licking your lips (that makes it worse).

Face gets extra attention

Your facial skin is more delicate and more exposed. It needs its own routine.

After cleansing, while your face is still damp, layer on a hydrating serum or facial oil. Then seal it in with a night cream. If you’re dealing with really dry patches, you can even add a thin layer of something occlusive (like Aquaphor or Vaseline) on top before bed.

Some nights, use a hydrating sheet mask while you’re watching TV or reading. It’s like giving your face a drink of water.

The point isn’t to have a 12-step Korean skincare routine (unless you want that). The point is to consistently give your skin what it needs during the season when it’s most stressed.

And honestly? The act of taking care of your body in this slow, intentional way is therapeutic. You’re treating yourself like you matter. Like you’re worth the five minutes it takes to put on lotion.

That matters more than you’d think.

Step Three: Do Something Slow (On Purpose)

This is where most evening routines fail. They tell you to be productive. Journal your goals. Plan tomorrow. Optimize your sleep.

Screw that. Winter evenings are for slowing down.

Pick an activity that has no purpose other than enjoyment. Something that doesn’t produce anything or make you better at anything. Just pure, pointless pleasure.

Read a book (an actual book)

Not on your phone or tablet. A physical book. Fiction is ideal because it lets you escape into a different world for a while.

There’s something about winter that makes reading feel right. Maybe it’s the long dark hours. Maybe it’s the cozy factor of being under a blanket with a book while it’s cold outside.

Read for 20 minutes. An hour. However long feels good. No guilt about “wasting time” because you’re not wasting time. You’re feeding your imagination and giving your overstimulated brain a break.

Creative hobbies with no pressure

Knitting. Coloring. Painting. Playing an instrument badly. Cooking something complicated just for fun. Working on a puzzle.

The key is no pressure. You’re not trying to get good at this. You’re not posting it on Instagram. You’re just doing something with your hands that engages your brain in a gentle, non-demanding way.

Winter evenings are perfect for these kinds of hobbies. You’re not missing out on anything by staying inside. There’s nowhere else you need to be.

Or literally do nothing

Sit on your couch. Stare out the window. Think about nothing. Let your mind wander wherever it wants.

We’re so unused to this that it feels wrong at first. Like you’re being lazy or wasting precious time. But research shows that mind-wandering and rest are crucial for creativity, problem-solving, and mental health.

Your brain needs downtime to process everything from the day. Give it that gift.

The rule here is simple: no screens if you can help it. Or at least minimize them. TV is fine occasionally. But avoid the doom-scroll trap of social media or news.

You’re creating space for your brain to actually relax instead of just switching from one stimulation source to another.

Step Four: Warmth From the Inside

There’s something primal about warm drinks on cold nights.

Around 8 or 9 PM, make yourself something warm to drink. This becomes a signal to your body: the day is ending. It’s time to wind down.

The best options:

Herbal tea is perfect. Chamomile has mild sedative properties. Peppermint helps digestion. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and slightly sweet.

Some people swear by sleepy-time blends with valerian root or passionflower. Others like lavender tea. Find what tastes good to you. If you’re interested in optimizing your sleep even further, Dr. Andrew Huberman’s sleep cocktail includes specific supplements that can enhance sleep quality.

Golden milk (turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and milk) is warming and anti-inflammatory. The ritual of making it is almost as good as drinking it.

Hot water with lemon and honey if you’re keeping it simple.

What to avoid:

Caffeine, obviously. Even if you think it doesn’t affect you, it probably does. Coffee, black tea, green tea, all off limits after dinner.

Too much sugar right before bed. That hot cocoa with whipped cream is delicious but might spike your blood sugar and disrupt your sleep.

Alcohol is tricky. A glass of wine might relax you initially, but it disrupts your sleep quality later in the night. If you’re going to drink, do it earlier in the evening and switch to herbal tea closer to bedtime.

The ritual part:

Don’t just mindlessly chug your tea while scrolling your phone. Actually sit down with it. Hold the warm mug in your hands. Smell it. Sip it slowly.

This is a mini meditation practice disguised as a beverage. You’re being present. You’re experiencing something pleasant. You’re signaling to your body that you’re safe and cared for.

Put on music if you want. Something slow and instrumental. Or sit in silence and listen to the wind outside or the radiator clanking.

By the time you finish your drink, you should feel noticeably more relaxed than when you started.

Step Five: Brain Dump Before Bed

Here’s where journaling actually becomes useful.

Not morning pages full of goals and plans. Evening brain dumps that help you let go of the day.

Around 9 or 9:30, spend 10 minutes writing. Stream of consciousness. No editing, no judgment, no making it pretty.

What to write:

Everything that’s taking up space in your head. Worries. To-dos. Things people said that bothered you. Random observations. Whatever.

The goal is to get it out of your brain and onto paper so it stops looping in your mind when you’re trying to sleep.

Some nights you’ll write half a page. Other nights three pages will pour out and you didn’t even realize you were holding all that.

Specific prompts if you need them:

• What’s bothering me right now?
• What do I need to remember for tomorrow? (Make a quick list then tell yourself you can let it go because it’s written down)
• What went well today? (Even tiny things count)
• What am I worried about? (Sometimes naming the worry reduces its power)

This practice is especially valuable in winter when seasonal depression can make negative thoughts loop more intensely. Getting them on paper breaks the cycle.

You’re not solving anything. You’re not making everything better. You’re just acknowledging what’s there and giving yourself permission to release it for the night.

Close the journal. Tell yourself: “This is tomorrow’s problem. Tonight, I rest.”

Step Six: Optimize Your Sleep Environment

Last step before bed: make your bedroom a winter sleep sanctuary.

Temperature matters

Your room should be cool. Somewhere between 60-67°F (15-19°C) is ideal for sleep. I know it’s winter and you want to be warm, but your body actually sleeps better when the ambient temperature is cool.

That’s where good bedding comes in. You want to feel cozy and warm under your blankets while the air around you is cool.

Layer your bedding. Flannel sheets in winter. A down comforter or thick duvet. Extra blankets if you need them. The goal is a temperature cocoon.

Humidity helps

Winter air is dry, which can disrupt sleep by making you uncomfortable (dry throat, stuffy nose, itchy skin).

If you can, run a humidifier in your bedroom. It adds moisture back to the air and makes breathing easier. Plus, many people report sleeping better with a humidifier running.

Clean it regularly or it becomes a bacteria farm. But if maintained properly, it’s one of the best winter sleep investments.

Darkness is crucial

Even though it’s dark outside by 5 PM, you still need your bedroom to be properly dark at night.

Streetlights, neighbor’s porch lights, the moon. All of it can seep in and disrupt sleep. Use blackout curtains or a good sleep mask.

Your body produces melatonin in response to darkness. Even small amounts of light can suppress it. For a complete guide to optimizing your sleep environment, check out Andrew Huberman’s science-based sleep protocol which covers everything from temperature to light exposure.

Sound considerations

Some people need silence. Others sleep better with white noise or nature sounds.

If your heating system is loud or your neighbors are noisy, a white noise machine or fan can mask those disruptions.

Or lean into the sounds of winter. Some people find the sound of wind or rain incredibly soothing. (There are apps for this if you don’t have actual weather sounds.)

Phone banishment

This is the hard one. But your phone does not belong in your bedroom.

The blue light messes with melatonin. The temptation to check “just one thing” turns into 45 minutes of scrolling. And having it there makes it the first thing you reach for in the morning.

Charge it in another room. Use an actual alarm clock. If you need your phone for safety reasons, at least put it across the room face-down in do-not-disturb mode.

Your bedroom is for sleep and rest. Not for work, stress, or doomscrolling.

The Full Routine: How It Actually Flows

Let me show you what this looks like in practice.

6:30 PM – Finish dinner. Start dimming lights around the house. Light a few candles in the living room.

7:00 PM – Slow activity time. Read, work on a puzzle, knit, whatever feels good. No screens if possible. Maybe some soft music in the background.

8:00 PM – Start your shower or bath ritual. Take your time. Enjoy the warmth and steam.

8:20 PM – Moisturize everything while your skin is still damp. Layer on that thick body butter. Do your face routine. Put on cozy pajamas and fuzzy socks.

8:30 PM – Make your warm drink. Herbal tea or golden milk. Sit with it. Actually taste it.

9:00 PM – Brain dump in your journal. Get everything out of your head. Make tomorrow’s quick to-do list so you can stop thinking about it.

9:15 PM – Start winding down for bed. Check that your bedroom is cool and dark. Turn on your humidifier. Maybe do some gentle stretches or a few minutes of light reading.

9:30-10:00 PM – Lights out. Phone in another room. Body moisturized, mind clear, space optimized for sleep.

That’s it. Nothing complicated. Nothing requiring special equipment or secret knowledge.

Just a structured way to move through your winter evening that honors what your body and mind actually need during this season.

What Changes After a Week

I’m not going to promise this fixes everything. Winter is still winter.

But here’s what you might notice:

You’ll actually feel tired at bedtime instead of being weirdly wired. The dim lighting and screen reduction help your body produce melatonin naturally.

Your skin will stop feeling like a lizard’s. Consistent moisturizing, especially right after showering, makes a huge difference.

You’ll sleep better. The combination of good sleep hygiene, reduced stimulation, and a consistent routine improves sleep quality.

Your mood might lift a bit. Not dramatically, but enough that winter feels slightly less oppressive. Creating something cozy and pleasurable to look forward to each evening helps.

You’ll feel more rested. Because you’re actually getting better sleep in a properly optimized environment.

The biggest shift is internal. Instead of feeling like you’re just surviving until spring, you’re actively taking care of yourself. That sense of agency matters more than any single practice.

When It Doesn’t Go Perfectly

Some nights, this routine won’t happen.

You’ll have plans. You’ll work late. You’ll fall down a Netflix rabbit hole. Life will interfere.

That’s fine. This isn’t about perfection.

The routine exists to serve you, not the other way around. If you only hit three out of six elements on a given night, that still counts. If you skip it entirely on Friday because you’re out with friends, good. You’re living your life.

The goal is to have a default pattern that you return to most nights. Something that creates structure and self-care without feeling like another obligation.

Some elements might not work for you. Maybe you hate journaling. Fine, skip it. Maybe warm drinks make you need to pee all night. Okay, have yours earlier or skip it.

Customize this to fit your life, your body, your preferences. There’s no award for following someone else’s routine perfectly if it makes you miserable.

The only rule is this: winter evenings should feel like refuge, not punishment. If something in your routine doesn’t serve that purpose, change it.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

We spend roughly half the year dealing with winter (more if you live somewhere really cold). That’s a huge chunk of your life.

If you hate that entire season, if you just white-knuckle your way through it every year, that’s exhausting. And unnecessary.

You can’t change the weather. You can’t add more daylight. You can’t make it warm when it’s cold.

But you can change how you experience winter. You can create practices that make the dark months feel less punishing and more like an opportunity for a different kind of living.

Slower. Quieter. More inward-focused. More intentional about rest and comfort.

That evening routine you build? It becomes something you look forward to. On hard days, you know that at 8 PM you get to light your candles, take your warm shower, curl up with a book, and let everything else go for a while.

That’s not just practical. It’s essential.

You deserve to feel good in your own home, in your own skin, during the hardest season of the year.

This routine is how you make that happen.

Start Tonight

You don’t need to wait until you have the perfect setup or all the right supplies.

Tonight, just pick two elements from this routine and try them. Maybe it’s dimming your lights and having herbal tea. Maybe it’s moisturizing after your shower and doing a five-minute brain dump.

See how it feels. See if you sleep better. See if you wake up feeling slightly more human.

Then tomorrow night, maybe add another element. Build it gradually until you have a full evening routine that actually works for your life.

Winter’s hard enough. You don’t need to make it harder by neglecting yourself.

Take care of your skin. Take care of your sleep. Take care of your mind. Create rituals that feel good instead of just surviving until spring.

The season’s going to happen whether you have a routine or not. Might as well make it bearable. Might as well make it cozy.

Start tonight. Light a candle. Dim the lights. Make some tea. Let yourself slow down.

Winter’s waiting. But this time, you’re ready for it.

And if you find that evening routines help but you’re struggling with mornings too, this guide to morning routines can help you bookend your day with intention on both sides.