Books we Love - How to Winter (Kari Lebowitz)
One of the books we carry at The Rise is How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days by health psychologist Kari Leibowitz, PhD. With winter quickly approaching in the eastern US, this book is a fantastic read that grew out of Leibowitz's research in Arctic Norway.
We love it because it combines scientific evidence and cultural insights to show how a positive "wintertime mindset" can dramatically improve our well-being during the colder months. The number one takeaway is that your perspective on the season—viewing winter as an opportunity rather than something to endure—is a powerful tool for finding joy and comfort in dark, cold, or challenging times.
Tidbits
- Prioritize Purposeful Outdoor Time: Dr. Leibowitz emphasizes that actively choosing to spend time outside, regardless of the weather, is crucial. This isn't just about getting sunlight; it’s about actively engaging with the season to remind ourselves that we are resilient and capable of comfortably existing in the cold. For us, this highlights that going from a hot sauna right into a cold plunge is an act of mindful engagement that builds that same resilience. Thankfully, Cape May offers endless opportunities for this. A stroll through the South Cape May Meadows is at the top of our list.
- Embrace "Hygge" and Slowness: The research encourages us to purposefully enjoy the low-energy seasons, adopting concepts like hygge (Danish coziness) to allow for rest and restoration. This validates the feeling of deep, relaxed recovery you get after a float session or an infrared sauna—it's a critical, purposeful part of a healthy wellness cycle, not just "doing nothing."
- Mindset is a Transferable Skill: The power of cultivating a positive attitude toward winter is that it acts as training for other tough times in life. By reframing the cold and dark as an opportunity, we're building psychological tools that help us navigate non-seasonal challenges. This is the mental benefit we often discuss with Cold Plunging: the ability to face discomfort calmly and with intention.
- "Big Light Off" - This is a concept we really tried to emulate in our lighting design at The Rise. "Big light off" is something Leibowitz describes as inspired from Scandinavia where you turn off the overhead lights and let the lower, dimmer lights like candles and under lighting create the mood. We try to do it for our winter dinners at home, too.
Learn More
If you're curious to learn more about Dr. Leibowitz's work, NPR's Lifekit recently re-posted their interview and podcast with Carrie about her book and her experiences in Norway.
