How to Winter

Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days

By: Kari Leibowitz PhD

Narrated by: Kari Leibowitz PhD

A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2024

A blend of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights for cultivating a positive “wintertime mindset,” to vanquish winter blues and find joy and comfort in dark times year-round.

Do you dread the end of Daylight Saving Time and grouch about the long, chilly season of gray skies and ice? Do you find yourself in a slump every January and February? What if there were a way to rethink this time of year? Psychologist and winter expert Kari Leibowitz’s galvanizing HOW TO WINTER uses mindset science to help readers embrace winter as a season to be enjoyed, not endured—and in turn, learn powerful lessons that can impact our mental wellbeing throughout the year.

Kari Leibowitz moved above the Arctic Circle – where the sun doesn’t rise for two months each winter –expecting to research the season’s negative effects on mental health, only to find that inhabitants actually looked forward to it with delight and enthusiasm. Leibowitz has since travelled to places on earth with some of the coldest, darkest, longest and most intense winters, and discovered the power of “wintertime mindset”— viewing the season as full of opportunity and wonder. Impactful strategies for cultivating this wintertime mindset can teach us not just about braving the gray, cold months of the year, but also the darker and more difficult seasons of life.

• In Tromsø, Norway, people live in rhythm with nature, adapting to the months-long Polar Night by honoring seasonal fluctuations in energy, slowing down, and resting more.
• On the Isle of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland, communal gatherings around roaring fires embrace darkness and provide connection during long nights.
• In Yamagata, Japan, families sink into steaming onsen baths, banishing the chill of winter with healthful soaks that improve sleep and reduce risk of heart attack.

Inspired by cutting-edge psychological and behavioral science research as well as cultures worldwide that find warmth and joy in winter’s extremes, HOW TO WINTER provides readers with concrete tools for making winter wonderful wherever they live and harnessing the power of small mindset changes with big impact to help readers embrace every season of life.

Transformational

This book became the background narration of my winter, with the author’s voice providing comfort, insight, and direction while I practiced what I learned. The data, research, storytelling and gentle guidance truly transformed my way of relating to winter from the inside out. Cannot recommend enough.

Not Just for Winter!

While the focus of this is how to cope with winter, it helps with any “season” of life. Well researched with great personal anecdotes. Challenges you to be better - so long as you are up for the task, you’ll love it!

Life Changing!

I am a 64-year-old woman who grew up in the mild, mostly-short-sleeve winter weather of Louisiana. When I transplanted to the northeast in my 20s, the single hardest adjustment I faced was how to get through the winters here. Living in snowy Pennsylvania, I have suffered year after year of abject misery, seasonal effective disorder, etc. Then I got this book, and for the first time in 40 years I feel a glimmer of hope about my situation. I can learn to accept winter? I can actually enjoy it, even embrace it? I would not have believed it possible, but after reading this book my entire mindset has begun to shift. I have a long way to go, but I have already begun many of the practices recommended in this book and they have made an astonishing difference. My daughter hates winter as well, so we’ve been holding each other accountable by texting one positive statement about winter to each other every day. Even that one little technique has really helped us both.

Even though it’s expensive, I have already ordered the hardcover version to share with the rest of my family (they don’t like audio.) I think it will be life-changing for all of us, and I am deeply grateful to this author for her impeccable research, entertaining presentation, and uplifting attitude about my least favorite season. I may never jump for joy at the thought of yet another northern winter, but hopefully neither will I slink into a dark corner and stay there for months on end. If you hate winter, you have got to read this book. Highly recommended!

Life-changing

This is one of the most important, impactful books I’ve ever read. I am a (now former) winter-hater. I have now begun to look for the beauty outside and inside (cozy- inducing things). My mindset has truly changed and my mood has stayed high throughout this winter. Thank you Dr. Liebowitz and all who contributed.

This book is life changing

I loved this book. The author was a great narrator, sharing intriguing insights and playful stories in an engaging, understandable way. The lessons taught will stick with me for a long time. Honestly, this book isn’t just about winter - it’s about everything. It’s a hugely helpful guide to using your mindset to change your everyday experience, whether it’s cold and dark, or warm and sunny. I can’t recommend it more highly!