In the south of Australia, winter is a time for stillness: for pausing, retreating and settling down as the cold weather sets in. 

It can also be a season of profound renewal and restoration; an opportunity to prioritise our ‘rest and digest’ state. 

‘Rest and digest’ is the state we are in when we are relaxed – when our parasympathetic nervous system is dominant rather than our sympathetic (‘fight, flight, freeze’) nervous system. A healthy nervous system is one that can shift between the two states as needed. 

While it often seems like we need to wait until the weekend to schedule our downtime, there is something deliciously refreshing about carving out time for quietude on a weekday. 

In the spirit of winter, here are some of our favourite ways to slow down and spend time in our rest and digest mode. 

1. look to nature

When autumn leaves land on the ground, they stay there, slowly breaking down and enriching the soil so that it becomes fertile for new growth in spring. Australian animals such as short-beaked echidnas, microbats and feathertail gliders hibernate during winter, while reptiles hide underground and rest until the warmer months.

Looking to nature in the wintertime reminds us that stillness is not only enjoyable, but a necessary change in the texture and rhythm of our year.

And though it can be tempting to focus on the comfort of life indoors when it’s cold outside, there are ways in which we can maintain our connection to nature and let it guide our behaviour.

You might take an awe walk, for example, which involves going outdoors with the intention of allowing yourself to experience awe in response to naturally occurring stimuli such as clouds, raindrops on leaves, sacred geometry, bird calls or myriad other displays of the quiet magic of nature.

Or perhaps you sit at your window with a warming cup of tea, bone broth or miso soup, simply observing the outside world. Other ideas include spending a few minutes outside each morning upon waking (this will help regulate your circadian rhythm), and rugging up to meditate outdoors while immersed in the elements.

2. lean into restorative rituals

The goal during winter is to choose activities that restore you rather than deplete you.

Incorporating more restorative rituals doesn’t have to be complicated: it can be as simple as lying down on the floor, placing an eye pillow over your eyes, and perhaps a heat pack over your belly for warmth and a comforting sense of being gently weighed down.

You might also practise some Restorative or Yin yoga (yoga styles focused on stillness), or even just five minutes of intuitive stretching upon waking or before bed.

Taking a bath is another beautiful way to slow down, whether you read a book while having a soak or simply enjoy the sensory experience. Of course, there are plenty of ways to bathe and immerse yourself at Peninsula Hot Springs.

3. get serious about sleep hygiene

Deep rest is facilitated by simple habits that help us wind down. Many of the habits that make good sleep hygiene are intuitive, yet often forgotten in the busyness of life.

To prepare for a good night’s sleep, it’s best to turn off technological devices at least an hour before bedtime, dim the lights in tandem with the setting sun (lamps and lights with warm tones are more conducive to sleep than bright, overhead lighting) and aim for your bedroom to be dark and cool (around 18 degrees).

However, sleep hygiene doesn’t have to feel spartan: infusing your wind-down routine with rituals that feel uniquely sumptuous and pleasurable to you will mean you approach bedtime with anticipation rather than procrastination. Your own personal list of bedtime rituals could include anything from preparing your favourite hot drink to breathwork, applying essential oils, reading, journalling, pulling oracle cards – or bathing.

Taking a bath or shower before bed is both deeply enjoyable and scientifically proven to help induce sleep. The warmth of bathing helps draw heat away from our core and towards our extremities, which lowers our core temperature and acts as a sleep cue for the mind and body – specifically, around an hour or two after bathing.

Our Bath House is open until 11pm every night, meaning those who enjoy bathing under a starlit sky can do so after work and before bed.

To fully immerse yourself in sleep, our Eco Lodges accommodation is designed to encourage deep rest. Each lodge features a supremely comfortable king-size bed, sleep-inducing herbal teas, in-room sleep guide, sleep amenities pack, block-out blinds, dimmable lighting, heated floors powered by geothermal water, immersive sound, minimal blue light and a private mineral bath or pool so you can bathe in tranquillity before bed.

4. unplug from technology

It’s no secret that our constant use of technological devices contributes to feelings of stress and overwhelm. And while most of us can’t abandon our devices entirely, there are small ways in which we can unplug in order to slow down.

The concept of a ‘tech detox’ has been growing in popularity in the last decade. Some people go without their smartphones from sunrise to sunset every Sunday, for example, while others do so for an entire week.

The key to reducing technology use is to start where you are and with whatever you can manage. That might look like going for a walk each day or each week without your phone, or refraining from turning your phone on until a certain time each day – say, 10am. It could also look like placing your phone in another room while you complete other tasks, implementing phone-free dinners in your household, or experimenting with resisting the urge to search for answers online.

As with improving sleep hygiene, this does not need to be a spartan endeavour. You can fill the time you might otherwise spend scrolling through apps or Netflix with activities that genuinely nourish and restore you, such as cooking, sharing an uninterrupted cup of tea with a friend, or practising self-care.

You could also visit Peninsula Hot Springs for a range of rejuvenating experiences: from spa treatments that help you melt away, to wellness activities and a vast array of nature-based bathing rituals. If you’re craving time out from your daily habits and routine, our wellbeing oasis is the ideal place to unwind – especially on a weekday, when time seems to expand and slow down.

Looking for more inspiration on slowing down with us this winter? Contact our Reservations team.