Winter Wellness Tips: How Collagen and Bone Broth Keep You Thriving Through the Season

Winter has a way of slowing us down. The days get shorter, the air gets colder, and suddenly your body is stiff, tired, and seriously considering a social hiatus.

Instead of fighting it, what if we leaned into the season with more intentional routines? A few smart habits that actually help you feel better instead of giving you another checklist to forget by February.

That’s what this winter wellness guide is for. These healthy winter habits are simple, cozy, and grounded in real science. They’re the kind of ideas you can steal immediately and repeat all season long, preferably with a warm mug of bone broth in your hands. 😊

🍲 WHY IS BONE BROTH GOOD FOR YOU — ESPECIALLY IN WINTER?

Bone broth has been a winter staple long before wellness became a buzzword. And honestly? It still earns the hype. It’s made by slowly simmering animal bones for 12+ hours, which pulls out collagen, amino acids, and naturally occurring minerals to create a rich, savory broth. 

Researchers say we can thank those nutrients (especially collagen!) for all the bone broth health benefits we know today. Together they help support your joints, skin, gut health, immune function, hydration, and even sleep — all the systems that winter tends to stress the most.

The best part? Bone broth and warm collagen drinks deliver those benefits in a form that your body already knows how to use. It’s also comforting, easy to digest, and effortless to work into your day. Very winter-approved.

🩵 7 COZY WINTER WELLNESS TIPS

These winter health tips are here to make the season feel a little gentler on your body:

1. MAKE YOUR PROTEIN GOAL NON-NEGOTIABLE

When your protein intake dips too low, your body doesn’t have the building blocks it needs to fight off pathogens or bounce back quickly.[*] Definitely not ideal during cold and flu season.

That’s why consistently hitting your daily protein goal is one of the best winter nutrition tips. It helps keep your energy steady, cravings under control, and your immune system ready when it seems like everyone around you is coughing.[*][*] 

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Unlike basic stock or problematic bouillon, you can use bone broth for immunity and your protein goals. You can sip it, cook with it, or sneak it into meals without overthinking it. And it doesn’t require a big appetite, a blender, or motivation you don’t currently have.

💪 Our Instant Bone Broth provides 10 grams of protein per stick, which makes hitting your daily goal feel way less intimidating.

Building protein into your everyday habits may look like:

• Starting your day with bone broth. Not a big breakfast fan? Bone broth provides just enough protein to tide you over until lunch.

• Swapping one water refill for bone broth. That water jug you carry everywhere will finally start living up to its full potential.

• Sipping bone broth between meals. Want to cut down on snacking without missing out on protein? Bone broth has you covered.

• Cooking with bone broth. Make winter eats more satisfying and supportive — whether you’re making healthy holiday meal ideas or an easy weeknight staple. 

Simple protein habits like these make a winter wellness routine feel doable, even on your lowest-energy days.

2. WINTERIZE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

Winter skincare is less about the glow-up and more about survival. Cold air, indoor heat, and nonstop handwashing can destroy your skin barrier, which is why dryness, irritation, and dullness tend to show up around this time every year.

A few easy upgrades go a long way:

• Swap lightweight lotions for thicker creams with ceramides, glycerin, or shea butter.

• Moisturize right after washing to lock in hydration.

• Keep lip balm and hand cream within arm’s reach.

• Use the SPF — winter sun (especially off snow) is sneakier than it looks.

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Research shows that adding collagen to your diet supports skin hydration, elasticity, and barrier strength in as little as a few weeks.[*][*] 

And since your natural collagen production declines with age (rude), bone broth and other collagen-rich foods give your skin some much-needed backup from the inside out.[*]

🧖 Want the deep dive? Throw on a face mask, make a warm bone broth drink, and check out our guide on collagen for healthy skin! 

3. TURN WARM DRINKS INTO A WINTER RITUAL

This one sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly powerful: swap the cold drinks for warm sips once winter hits.

Cold beverages can feel jarring when your body is already working overtime to stay warm. But warm drinks send a calming signal to your nervous system, helping your body shift out of stress mode and into rest-and-digest.

Warm liquids have also been shown to help:[*][*][*]

• Soothe sore throats

• Relieve the chills and that “I can’t get warm” feeling

• Ease coughing and sneezing

• Reduce fatigue when you’re feeling run-down

• Open airways and make breathing feel easier

Bonus: Warm drinks tend to be easier to sip consistently, which means better hydration without forcing yourself to chug cold water.

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Turning warm drinks into a ritual naturally slows your pace, encouraging you to pause, breathe, and actually check in with your body instead of rushing through the day.

👉 Looking for cozy ways to get more collagen naturally into your routine? Save our list of 15 Warm, Nourishing Drinks to sip all winter long.

4. EAT MORE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Inflammation isn’t bad; it’s how your immune system responds to stress and infection.[*] 

But winter is basically an inflammation factory. Cold weather, less movement, higher stress, heavier holiday eating, and seasonal bugs can push inflammation into chronic overdrive. The result? Stiff joints, achy muscles, low energy, repeated sick days, and generally off vibes.[*]

So if you’re wondering how to stay healthy in winter, we have two words for you: anti-inflammatory foods. They help calm things down so your immune system can do its job without staying stuck in high alert.

✨ Bare Bones Tip: According to studies, collagen may help block inflammatory signals and support a more balanced immune response, so inflammation doesn’t linger.[*] Warm, nourishing, and actually helpful? We love that for you.

5. KEEP ENERGY (+ YOUR JOINTS) MOVING

Adding gentle movement to your winter wellness routine is one of the simplest ways to support your body and mind during the colder months.

Low-impact activities like walking, stretching, yoga, or a quick mobility flow help circulate synovial fluid (aka your joints’ natural lubricant), which can ease winter stiffness and help joints feel smoother and more comfortable.[*]

Regular movement also boosts circulation, mood, and immune health.[*] Studies even link moderate exercise to a lower risk of infections.[*] 

Need a little nudge out of hibernation mode? Try a:

• Bundled-up walk for fresh air and sunlight

• Quick stretch break between emails

• Hot yoga class at your gym

• Restful, full-body stretch before bed

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Research on collagen and bone broth for joint health suggests a warm mug may support flexibility, cartilage repair, and less stiffness — talk about cozy and productive![*][*]

6. TAKE MORE WARM BATHS

Showers may get you out the door, but warm baths are the winter self-care idea worth slowing down for.

A good soak does more than feel indulgent. Warm baths increase blood flow, relax tight muscles, and offer temporary relief from joint stiffness and aches, which is exactly why they tend to feel extra good in colder months. 

Science also says warm baths may help support better mental health, sleep quality, heart health, and even stress levels.[*]

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Pair your bath with a warm bone broth. In one study, having just 5 grams of collagen per day reduced joint pain by nearly 40%.[*] It’s no wonder so many people start looking into bone broth for joint pain when winter rolls around.  

7. LET WINTER TEACH YOU HOW TO REST AGAIN

Honor your body’s natural urge for more rest in the darker months — your immune system depends on it.

During sleep, your body releases immune-supportive proteins called cytokines. Skimp on sleep, and that whole process gets harder, which is why poor sleep can leave you more vulnerable during cold and flu season.[*]

A calming, repeatable nighttime routine helps your body get into rest mode sooner. Here are a few tips to help create yours:

• Eat dinner a bit earlier.

• Dim the lights or switch to red lights closer to bed.

• Step away from blue-light screens and do something screen-free, like journaling, meditating, or listening to calming music.

• Wind down with a collagen-rich sleepytime drink.

Aim for 7–9 hours when possible, and let winter take the lead.

✨ Bare Bones Tip: Bone broth and collagen contain glycine, an amino acid shown to help you fall asleep faster, reduce nighttime awakenings, and improve sleep quality.[*][*][*]

A warm mug before bed may support deeper, more restorative sleep — one of the most underrated natural ways to boost immunity.

🫶 A SOFTER WAY TO DO WINTER, LOVE BARE BONES

Winter asks for less hustle and more intention, and now you know how to answer. Choose what feels good, repeat it often, and let this season work with you for once.

You’ve got Bare Bones Instant Bone Broth and Elevated Drink Mix for support, which can both be enjoyed warm, whether you’re cozy at home or heading out into the cold.

Consider this your official permission to log off, light a candle, and start.