Speaker, & Writer
2026 How to Winter Retreats
October 2-8, 2026
Arnøya, Norway
6 spots available
A once-in-a-lifetime immersion in the natural beauty of Singla, an island off of the island of Tromsø, where How to Winter all began. Think slow reflection and conversation, art inspired by the mountains around us, and dips in Arctic waters. For those seeking a nature-filled, intimate gathering with shared rooms, no wi-fi, and saunas in place of showers.
November 5-8, 2026
West Kill, New York
8 rooms available
Spend a long weekend at a charming inn run by a fellow writer amidst the changing leaves of the Catskills. Think a mix of wintertime mindset activities, slow meals with seasonal local catering, and evening fire pit hangs. For those seeking a cozy reset heading into winter with easy access from New York City.
Your hosts: Kari & Becky
Kari Leibowitz, PhD, is the author of How to Winter: Finding Warmth on Cold, Dark, and Difficult Days. As a world-renowned expert on the science of winter well-being, she helps international audiences embrace the chillier months and find light in dark times.
Becky Lee is a leading experience designer and strategist who creates meaningful gatherings that inspire growth, learning, and change. Kari and Becky have been friends since middle school, visited each other on three continents, and even had babies 3 weeks apart!
The How to Winter retreats are their latest joint venture and they're looking forward to sharing their love of deep conversations, insightful exploration, and intentional rest with new friends in new places. Full bios can be found below.
Kari Leibowitz, PhD, is a health psychologist and the author of How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. Her PhD is from Stanford University, where she conducted research on mindsets and wellbeing in the Stanford Mind & Body Lab and taught the ‘Mindsets Matter’ Stanford Continuing Studies Course.
As a US-Norway Fulbright Scholar, she lived in Tromsø, Norway and pioneered research on wintertime mindsets. Kari combines scholarly expertise with practical strategies to help people understand and harness the power of their mindsets and find joy in winter, and her writing has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
She has helped businesses, universities, non-profits, and organizations around the world embrace winter and find opportunity in challenge. Kari lives in Amsterdam with her husband, son, and dog, where she is learning to love biking in the rain. Read more of her writing at on Substack.
Becky Lee is a learning experience designer and strategist who has spent 15 years leading retreats, fellowships, and learning experiences around the world.
At IDEO, a global design and innovation firm, she worked with clients such as the Aspen Institute, Opportunity@Work, and NYU to create the conditions for people to think differently, connect deeply, and leave a little bit changed. From graduate students in Brazil to executives in the C-suite to workforce programs in New York City, she has designed learning for people at every stage of reinvention.
The daughter of a social worker and a travel agent, she brings a service orientation and sense of adventure to everything she does. She is also a writer, photographer, and the creator of Made In Place, a newsletter exploring how where we are shapes who we are. She lives in coastal Massachusetts with her husband, cattle dog, and surprise redhead toddler.
