Herbal Reflection and Winter Reset: Planning Your Herbal Year in Ontario
December can be strange terrain for the body and the nervous system. There is pressure to squeeze in one more push at work, one more gathering, one more “upgrade” before the new year. At the same time, the land is asking for slowness, quiet, and deeper rest.
If you feel tired, scattered, or unsure where herbs fit into all of this, you are not alone.
I’m a herbalist based in Ontario, Canada, and this is the simple herbal reflection and winter reset process I use with clients and in my own life. It is designed to help you:
Look back on your year with curiosity, not judgment
Offer your body a few grounded winter supports
Gently plan your herbal focus for the months ahead
No drastic cleanses. No “new you.” Just a bit more support for the you that already exists.
Step 1 – Look back: What actually helped your body this year?
Before adding anything new, take a moment to see what was already working.
Grab a notebook, your planner, or the notes app on your phone, and ask yourself:
When did I feel most supported in my body this year?
What was happening around those times? (Sleep, stress, movement, food, herbs, relationships.)
When did I feel most depleted or ungrounded?
Were there any herbal allies, practices, or routines that consistently helped, even a little?
You might notice patterns like:
A chamomile or lemon balm tea in the evening actually did help you wind down
A weekly walk in a nearby park softened the edges of your nervous system
You always felt worse when skipping meals or pushing through exhaustion
A small herbal ritual—like putting on a salve, opening a bottle of tincture, or smelling a favorite plant—shifted how you moved through hard days
The goal here is not to critique yourself for what you “didn’t do.” It’s to gather information about what your body is quietly asking for more of.
If you like, make two short lists:
Keep: the herbs and practices that worked this year
Release: things that felt like “shoulds” and never really fit
Step 2 – Choose one focus for your winter season
Next, resist the urge to make a big, complicated herbal plan for everything. Instead, choose one main focus for the winter months in Ontario.
Example focus items:
Gently supporting your nervous system through the holidays
Tending to digestion during heavier or irregular meals
Making your sleep a little deeper and more restorative
Preparing your body for a shift from winter into early spring
Ask: “If one part of my health felt 20–30% more supported this winter, what would change my daily life the most?”
Write down your winter focus. This becomes your filter:
Does this herb, recipe, or suggestion support my current focus?
If not, it can be bookmarked for later instead of piled on top.
Step 3 – Meet a few winter‑friendly herbal allies
Ontario winters can be long, cold, and dry. Even if you are mostly indoors, your nervous system, skin, and digestion notice the shift.
Here are a few winter‑friendly herbs that people often explore at this time of year. Always adjust to your own body, medications, and needs, and speak with a practitioner if you are unsure.
Chamomile
Often used to support digestion and help the body settle in the evening
Gentle and familiar as a tea
Simple preparation:
1 teaspoon dried flowers per cup of hot water
Steep 5–10 minutes, strain, and sip slowly before bed
Lemon Balm
Often worked with as a gentle ally for mood and nervous system support
Lovely as a solo tea or combined with other herbs
Simple preparation:
1–2 teaspoons dried leaf in hot water
Steep 10 minutes, strain, and enjoy warm or cooled
Milky Oat Tops*
Use if you tolerate them and do not have a known oat allergy.
Traditionally used as a slow, nourishing nervous system support
Often taken as a tincture over time
Check with a practitioner if you have celiac disease or strong oat sensitivities
Hawthorn Berry
Commonly used as a cardiovascular and emotional heart ally
Often prepared as a long‑steeped tea, syrup, or tincture
Not for everyone; if you take heart medications or have diagnosed heart conditions, get tailored guidance before adding hawthorn
You do not need all of these. Choose one or two that align with your winter focus and your body. The depth of the relationship is more helpful than a long shopping list.
Step 4 – Create one herbal ritual that fits your real life
A herbal winter reset does not require an entirely new routine. It works best when it tucks into what you already do.
Choose one ritual that feels genuinely doable for the next 2–4 weeks:
Evening tea anchor
Brew a simple chamomile or chamomile‑lemon balm tea after dinner
Pair it with something you already do (reading, journaling, stretching)
Nervous system check‑in
Take a deep breath and notice your shoulders, jaw, and belly once or twice a day
If you have a nervous system ally like lemon balm or milky oats, pair it with this pause
Weekly herbal reflection
Once a week, jot down:
How was your energy overall
Any digestive or sleep patterns
How does your herbal ally feel in your body
Think of this as building a small bridge between your herbal intentions and your actual days in Ontario winter, not as adding more pressure.
Step 5 – Work with the season, not against it
It is tempting in December to vow that you’ll wake up early, exercise daily, meal prep perfectly, and overhaul your herbal shelf all at once.
But from a seasonal and herbal perspective—especially in a cold Ontario winter—this is often the exact opposite of what your body needs.
Some ideas for working with the season instead of against it:
Allow for a little more sleep when possible
Build warmth in simple ways (soups, stews, warming spices, cozy teas)
Notice how your body responds to sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, and adjust with kindness, not punishment
Make space for quiet, whether that is five minutes in the morning or a short solo walk
Herbal allies are there to support this shift, not to drag you through an exhausting self‑improvement project.
Step 6 – When to bring in a herbalist for extra support
Sometimes, a winter reset and a few herbs are enough. Sometimes your body is asking for deeper support.
You might benefit from a herbal consultation if:
You’re carrying long‑term stress, burnout, or grief into the new year
Sleep, digestion, or mood never really returned to baseline after the last few years
You’re juggling multiple health concerns and are not sure where to begin
You want herbal support that respects your medications, diagnoses, and real‑life responsibilities
A good herbalist will:
Ask careful questions about your health history, not just your current symptoms
Stay within a clear scope of practice and never ask you to abandon needed medical care
Offer a realistic plan that fits your capacity in winter, not a fantasy version of your life
If you’d like a deeper look at how I structure sessions, you can read: “What to Expect in Your First Herbal Medicine Consultation in Ontario.”
Step 7 – Gently sketch your herbal year ahead
Once you’ve reflected on your year, chosen a winter focus, and tried one herbal ritual, you might feel ready to think ahead.
Keep this part light. Instead of planning everything in detail, consider:
One area to tend in each season
Winter: nervous system and rest
Spring: transitions and digestion
Summer: circulation, skin, or first aid
Autumn: immune support and grounding
One or two herbs to delve into each season
For example, chamomile in winter, nettle in spring, calendula in summer, hawthorn in autumn
You can adjust this as the year unfolds, but having a loose map lets you say “no” to distractions that do not align with your body or your climate.
A gentle herbal reset for this December
You do not need another loud “new year, new you” message. You deserve support that honours your nervous system, your capacity, and the land you are living on.
To recap, your December herbal reset might simply be:
Reflecting on what actually helped your body in 2025
Choosing one winter focus that would make a real difference
Working with one or two winter‑friendly herbs in simple ways
Creating a small herbal ritual that fits your existing life
Considering a herbal consultation if your situation feels complex or heavy
If you’re in Ontario, Canada and would like personalized herbal support as you move through winter and into the new year, you can learn more about my herbal medicine consultations and book a session here: [consult link].
If you’d rather start with quiet education, you’re warmly invited to join the Ravenstar Herbals newsletter, where I share seasonal herbal insights, recipes, and behind‑the‑scenes notes from practice: [newsletter signup link].
Here’s to closing this year gently, with a little more warmth, a little more presence, and a few good plant allies by your side.
