Wintering: How to Weather Difficult Times

About this episode

Leah Smart interviews Katherine May about her book 'Wintering' and the importance of rest during difficult times.

As we approach the new year, we’re bringing back one of our favorite episodes of Everyday Better, where Leah sits down with Katherine May, author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. Each winter, life slows down. It’s dark and cold, yet the season offers an opportunity for rest. In Wintering, Katherine shares the story of navigating a personal ‘winter’ – a challenging period of time during which she retreated into herself in order to cope with everything happening around her. Drawing on research about how Northern cultures weather their own harsh winters, Wintering is a balm for weary souls everywhere. In this episode, Leah and Katherine discuss the art of slowing down and how to embrace the metaphorical seasons we all go through in life. Find Katherine’s book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times here. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Katherine May on Instagram.

People in this episode

Host: Leah Smart

Guest: Katherine May

Topics covered

• wintering
• personal growth
• mental health
• self-care
• resilience

Keywords

• wintering
• rest
• retreat
• mental health
• self improvement
• Katherine May
• Leah Smart

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

More episodes of Everyday Better with Leah Smart

• Welcome to Everyday Better! · March 2, 2026 · 3 min
• The Best of Everyday Better: Your Starter Kit for Creating Positive Change · February 3, 2026 · 59 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Dan Harris on Training the Mind Through Meditation · January 27, 2026 · 45 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Gabby Bernstein on Accessing Unshakable Faith · January 20, 2026 · 39 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Debbie Millman on the 10-Year Plan · January 13, 2026 · 36 min
• The Year for Irrational Hope: Bruce Feiler on Navigating a “Lifequake” · January 6, 2026 · 52 min