We’re in the heart of winter. With the world outside feeling dim, cold, or brittle, the light we cultivate within our homes—both our physical shelter and our inner world—becomes a steady source of warmth, joy, and hope. And like anything sustaining, it requires maintenance.
“You’re glowing.” It’s what we say when someone looks well-rested, nourished, at ease, happy. Usually, what we’re really noticing is care. A person who’s been tending to their needs in small but meaningful ways.
That’s the intention behind February’s theme: glow. We’re sharing activities, creative practices, and advice to help you notice what’s already lighting you up, and how to gently amplify it.
Your first task: Tend to something slowly. Choose an ordinary act—watering plants, mending clothing, kneading dough, sharpening pencils, matching Tupperware sets—and give it your full awareness. Let the pace be unhurried. Notice what it feels like to maintain, restore, or prepare, rather than produce. This is where glow begins.
Recreate this Mood Board for yourself:
- Turn your home into a welcoming third space
- Perfect the timeless art of making a wish
- Comfort all five senses with cure-all “little pasta” soup
- Choose a low-budget Galentine’s craft
- Curl up with a book to help you heal
- Listen to this personal love poem or sit with what you already know
- Catch some rays with a DIY suncatcher
- Broaden your mind with self-led learning
- Put yourself first and leave what doesn’t serve you
- Pick a glimmery Pantone color and dress the part
Life, unplugged
💌 Write a letter signed, sealed, and delivered with love
Get in bestie, we’re going to the post office. A fun and unexpected way to show gratitude and brighten the day of the people who keep you afloat? Old-fashioned snail mail. Unwrap your best stationary, grab a few envelopes, and get crafty. Write a handwritten letter to:
#1: A family member, teacher, or mentor who’s shaped you in a meaningful way. What’s something they said or did that still shows up in how you move through the world? What part of you exists because of them?
#2: Your long distance best friend. Share a recent moment that made you think of them or a cherished memory of the two of you that makes you smile.
#3: Your future self. Where are you right now—emotionally, mentally, energetically? What are you proud of, and what do you want future-you to remember about this season?
Give each letter a unique personality: Draw flowers on the envelope. Use too many stickers. Write with glittery gel pens even if it’s messy. Include a few small items that serve no other purpose than to surprise and delight:
- A doodle, painting, or favorite quote written in cursive
- A postcard from a restaurant, vintage store, or recent trip
- A pressed leaf, flower, or four-leaf clover
- A handmade recipe card
- Tea bags or hot chocolate packets
- Magazine clippings (articles, images, recipes, horoscopes)
💫 Map your inner constellations
Constellations map our universe—and our lives. These familiar beacons often go unnoticed, yet we’d feel their absence instantly. The same is true of the relationships, routines, and moments that quietly orient us. Use this exercise to notice the patterns in your life that offer guidance, connection, and clarity.
Step 1: Answer the following:
- Which “stars” in your life help guide your choices?
- Is there a pattern in your support system that you can lean on more?
- If your challenges were a constellation, what shape would they make?
Step 2: On a blank page, create your own constellation.
Make small dots for each “star”—the people, routines, or moments that guide you. Connect any that feel linked. Notice the shapes that emerge before or after you answer the prompts. If you want to bring your constellation to life, rearrange your fridge magnets to match the pattern and let your everyday space reflect what guides you.
Familiar comforts
🔥 Turn your home into an après-ski lodge
Après-ski culture centers on intentional rest after physical exertion. After a long day in the cold, you kick off your boots, gather around a fire, sip something warm, and unwind with the people around you. It’s a tradition of presence without an agenda. Stories are shared, laughter flows easily, and connection feels restorative.
Now recreate the same feeling at home. Pull on your comfiest pajamas, text blast your group chat to come over for a cozy night in, and transform your living room into an après-ski chalet.
Set the scene: Arrange blankets, pillows, and couch cushion seating in a loose circle around a fireplace or cluster of flickering candles. Throw on some cabin ambience jazz, keep overhead lights low, and leave phones on do-not-disturb, out of reach.
Serve something warm: Make a big pot of soup and serve it in bread bowls or heat up a fondue set. Microwave s’mores, brew spiced tea, or simmer some mulled cider or wine. The goal here is to savor comforting classics, slow and communal.
Gather and share: Invite everyone to share a “campfire story”: a warm memory, something that felt comforting recently, or a small joy from the day. Then, encourage your guests to write down something they’re ready to let go of (a worry, habit, thought pattern) and one by one, tear up the paper or safely offer it to the flame as a symbolic release.
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Help desk
😌 Rituals to rest in togetherness
Resting in togetherness is the practice of being with others without the pressure to perform, entertain, or be “on.” The rest comes from shared presence, knowing you’re not alone while still honoring low energy, quiet, or slowness. There’s no expectation to host perfectly, fill the silence, or stay engaged the entire time.
Pick one ritual and remember showing up is the whole point:
🍽 Host a family-style potluck dinner. Invite close friends, chosen family, or neighbors. Pick a loose theme (a favorite comfort food, a shared cuisine, or “whatever’s easy”) and keep the setup simple. Everyone serves themselves and drifts in and out of conversation. Afterward, offer tea, espresso, and low-key games, or let the evening taper naturally.
🍪 Cook or bake something new together. Invite one or two people you’re comfortable sharing quiet with. Choose a recipe that allows for shared but separate tasks—chopping, mixing, stirring, cleaning up. Work side by side, letting repetitive motions set the pace. Conversation can come and go, but the focus is on the rhythm of making something, together.
☕ Go coffee shop hopping. Phone a friend and meet at a starting cafe with something to do—job applications, reading, journaling, doodling. Sit together without the pressure to talk the whole time. If you want more connection, build in a gentle goals check-in. When it feels right, move on to another café and switch activities.
🎮 Gather for a parallel play party. Invite people who are happy doing their own thing in the same room. Each person brings an independent activity: folding laundry, knitting, gaming, watching a show, scrolling, or crafting. The host sets a cozy tone, and participation is flexible.
Reader insights
🌟 Women share how to glow from the inside out
One of the simplest ways to boost your glow? Sleep. In the never-ending quest for better rest, our audience has experimented with everything from adjusting their bedtime routine to changing bedding, room temperature, and incorporating herbal aids. Of all the tests they’ve run, here are the surefire ways they’ve improved their sleep game—and their glow:
“Changing my caffeine intake has helped. I’m a light sleeper so try to minimize noise and light. I use pain patches to help with arthritis and limit liquids right before bed. Sometimes I usher Benadryl or Ashwaghanda (I’ve even tried making moon milk).”
“I highly recommend turning the lights as low as possible an hour before bed and my sleep Hypnotherapy app: 'Clear Minds Hypnotherapy.' Also, sleeping in a silk bonnet has helped my long hair wake up gorgeously, so I wake up happy knowing it's going to be a good hair day, everyday.”
“I've read every night in bed to go to sleep for years now. It helps me let go of the day's to-do lists and worries, and I've trained myself to relax during this time. I also take Magnesium at night (so great for women who become depleted of this as they grow older).”
“I now set the sleep timer on my TV and watch a favorite program as I drift off. This convinces my brain that it's safe to sleep since I don't have to worry about shutting off the TV. I seldom make it through an entire hour before I'm fast asleep.”
“Ritual: Good night, feet. (relax feet) Good night, calves. (relax calves) Good night, thighs. (relax thighs) etc. Lastly—good night, eyes. Good night, brain. (Relaxed from head to toe at that point.) Next stop, dreamland.”
And while sleep lays the foundation, there are small, daily habits that can help you shine in your waking hours. Try these 60-second glow-up tips from our team:
- Spritz your signature scent. “I’ve worn Burberry Brit for 15 years. I reach for it anytime I need to feel grounded or glowy. It’s a steady reminder of who I am.” –Beth C.
- Put on the jewelry you save for special occasions. “I reach for a pair of dangling earrings. Not only because I like the look, but also because I love the feel—like there’s a little shimmer in the air every time I move.” –Barbara C.
- Lean into the interests that make you you. “I watch one of my favorite live performances to feel inspired or to lift my spirits. Anything from Led Zeppelin, Heart, or Prince's guitar solo during the tribute to George Harrison.” –Victoria K.
- Say one kind thing to yourself in the mirror. “Any time I start stressing about getting older, I think about how Pamela Anderson talks about aging gracefully. She’s the epitome of embracing the beauty, wisdom, and charisma that come with time.” –Cara H.
- Splurge on your self-care. “A quick wash with my electric facial cleansing brush makes me feel like a new woman.” –Grace W.
