Winter Recreation + Nervous System Care: Staying Connected When the Weather Isn’t Gentle

Winter can be hard on the nervous system.

Shorter days, colder temperatures, disrupted routines, and increased fatigue can all impact mood, stress levels, and physical comfort — especially for people living with chronic pain, sensory sensitivity, or burnout.

In this episode, Katherine Winkles, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, explores how recreation therapy offers gentle, adaptive ways to stay connected and regulated during the winter season — without pressure to push through or perform.

You’ll learn:
 ❄️ Why winter affects the nervous system and stress response
 ❄️ How to redefine recreation for colder, darker seasons
 ❄️ Accessible ways to connect with nature when going outside is hard
 ❄️ Indoor and outdoor winter recreation ideas that support regulation
 ❄️ How to release guilt around rest, slower pacing, and changing capacity

This episode includes a guided winter check-in and practical coping strategies designed to help you feel supported, not overwhelmed, as the seasons shift.

Whether winter feels heavy, isolating, or simply different, this conversation offers permission to slow down and stay connected in ways that fit your body and life.

Chapters

• 1:50 Why Winter Feels Hard On The Nervous System
• 2:48 Redefining Recreation For The Winter Season
• 3:34 Nature Connection When Going Outside Is Hard
• 4:27 Outdoor Winter Recreation
• 5:33 Indoor Winter Recreation That Regulates
• 6:46 Addressing Winter Expectations + Guilt
• 7:42 5 Accessible Winter Coping Skills
• 9:24 Guided Winter Check-In
• 11:44 Closing + Seasonal Transition