Winter can sometimes seem like a slow ride. Many months of bad weather, cold feet and darkness. Especially if you live far north, like in Scandinavia. Luckily, Scandinavians have developed a culture and traditions to make it easier to cope with winter. Making it into a season that they are able to enjoy, even though conditions are hard. You have perhaps heard of the Scandinavian word hygge, which in many ways describes the key element in how to enjoy winter. It’s about staying cozy, candles, blankets and throws, a hot drink, a good book in front of a fireplace.
To make it a bit easier to survive the long winter months, a good idea can be to try to romanticize your life on a daily basis. Making the little things in life magical and memorable. But also giving you time to slow down and recharge. It’s the perfect time of the year to reset, exhale and get your life in order. Here are 30 different ways to make winter into a season you will love.
- Create a home movie night that you will remember for years. Bring your mattress, pillows and throws in front of your TV or projector. Add fairy lights or candle light and let the rest of the room go dark. Buy your favorite candy, popcorn and drink and put on your fuzzy socks. Pick a movie that only gives you good vibes. A perfect way to enjoy a dark and cold evening.
- Turn your phone off and find a good book that you have been wanting to read. Get cosy in the sofa or in a reading chair. Let only your reading light be left on in the room. Boil yourself some water for your favorite tea and place it on a small table next to the sofa or chair. Perhaps treat yourself to a cookie or a biscuit too?
- Make yourself some hot chocolate and put it in a thermos flask. Get the out in nature. It can be a forest nearby, or just a park if you are in a city. Go for a walk. When you find a good spot to sit, open you thermos and enjoy the hot chocolate. A perfect hot drink in the cold weather.
- Spend time in front of a fire. If you have a fireplace, then this is the perfect place to cozy up and create hygge. Put your chair close up to the fireplace, put on cozy socks and let your feet strech out towards the fire. Make yourself your favorite drink and pour it into your favorite glass. Just enjoy.
- Knitting. Knitting is the perfect therapeutic activity for winter and it is not difficult to get started. Have a goal of what you want to start knitting and start small. Perhaps some socks? Or a headband? Put on a podcast and you will quickly get into an enjoyable flow. Here is a YouTube video if you want to get started.
- Bake cinnamon rolls from scratch. Cinnamon rolls are actually very easy to make from scratch. You only need to set off some time to let the dough rise. The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls is the best smell to romanticize your home at winter.
- Have a complete clean out of your storage or attic. Why not get sorted and tidy up, and at the same time walk down memory lane? Having a clean out can make your reflect on your past and appreciate everything you have experienced. Light some candles and play some classical music while your are tidying. An audiobook can also be a good idea.
- Enjoy the sun when you have it. There might not be many days with proper sun in the winter. Make therefore sure to make the most out of it when you have it. Get out in the sun for a short walk at lunchtime and take some photos on your walk. Try to be creative and look for compositions that would look beautiful.
- Invite friends over for dinner. Even on a weekday. Set the table, light the candles, put some effort into how it looks. Make a meal that is warming and put on some jazz music in the background. It does not need to last more than 2 hours.
- Do a jigsaw puzzle. Buy a jigsaw puzzle with a cozy motive. Put some music on in the background and make yourself a tea. You can enjoy a jigsaw puzzle with your partner, your friends or just by yourself. It is also a great way to keep your brain active.
- Tidy up in your wardrobe and put on a movie you have seen before in the background. Look through the clothes you have, remove the clothes you have not used for many years and items that does not fit. Color coordinate your clothes and look for inspiration online to how you can style them.
- Go for a morning coffee walk. Before work, bring your coffee out for a walk around in the block or in nature. It does not need to be more than 15 min. Allow your mind to slow down before work starts. Put on a podcast which will inspire you.
- Write letters and send it to people that you care about. Buy some lovely cards that will make them smile. Go to a coffee shop and write them while you people-watch. Make sure to send them in the mail. Everyone loves getting a card in the mail.
- Write down your thoughts. Practice getting your thoughts down like you are preparing to become an author. Let your heart tell the story it wants to tell. Have a book dedicated for your inner Jane Austen. Make sure that your surroundings are cozy with candle light and warmth.
- Put on atmospheric music in the background. Have you seen the cozy background videos on youtube that makes you feel like you are sitting on a porch or in a café. The perfect way to romanticize any task you are doing.
- Dress up even if it’s winter. Many can get used to stay in warm and comfy clothes the entire winter, but this might not lead to you loving this season. Instead, try to be creative with your clothes and how you are styling it. You can always add a thin wool layer underneath. Try also to dress up even though you are not leaving your home.
- Buy a newspaper or a magazine and enjoy it with a cup of coffee. Our minds run a hundred miles an hour and it’s challenging to keep our focus when we are on our phone. Therefore, try to do some light reading without a screen. Sit in a room alone and just enjoy what’s on the page. You will perhaps learn something new.
- Long breakfasts. Scandinavians love a long and formal breakfast. Make sure to get all the food out on the table, decorate the table like it is a formal dinner. Light the candles and put on some enjoyable radio in the background. You do not need guests to do all the effort. Allow yourself some good bread, good coffee and lot of fruit and berries. It’s the perfect way of starting a weekend morning.
- Take a bath. Add a bath bomb, some candles and steaming hot water. Make yourself a drink of your choice. Turn off all the light in the room. Watch a movie on an iPad or a phone and let your body slow down.
- Make plans for the next 3 months. Winter is the perfect time for planning. Sit down with a pen and paper and write down what you want to do for the next 3 months. Add a few goals to the list as well. Then, make sure that you book the things you want to do into your calendar and commit to it.
- Plan your next holiday. Sometimes at winter, you just want to escape it. So why not spend some time on planning your next adventure? It does not need to be a long and expensive trip, it can be in your own home country. But plan somewhere you really want to go. Make sure to commit to it and book the tickets. Having something to look forward to is a great way to make winter more enjoyable.
- Face care day. Winter is a perfect time to take care of your skin. Use a face mask, take an ice bath for your face, use a scrub and hydrate. Do your research and try out something new recommended for your skin type.
- Spend a day in your bathroom. Why not spend an entire day in your bathroom getting on top of everything hygiene and beauty. Light some candles, have a drink, put on a movie on your computer, do a hair mask, do your nails. You will definitely feel better after having a bathroom day.
- Do a yoga class at home. Put on a yoga video, dim your light and light some candles. Make sure to be alone in a room, or you can invite a friend to join you. Have some iced sparking water added with some berries ready when you are done. A perfect way to recharge.
- Book into a girls night in. Make a charcuterie board, buy your favorite candy and drink and invite the girlfriends over. Have a night just talking or bring out the board game. A perfect way to spend an evening in the winter.
- Re-arrange your home. Need a fresh start? Why not re-arrange your furniture in your home and make it into a happier place to live? Allow yourself to try different things out and move furniture around. Listen to a good audio book and the day will just disappear.
- Create a wreath that you can hang on your door. Find items in nature or at the garden centre and make your own wreath. Add ribbons in your favorite colors. It’s a great way to create a welcoming looking home.
- Learn to play an instrument. Why not try to learn a song on the piano or the guitar? It’s perhaps not as difficult as you think. Playing an instrument is a great way to log out and romanticize your life.
- Draw or paint your dreams. A good way to spend your time at winter, is to draw or paint. Put on some music on in the background and let your feelings flow. Have a plan for where the painting are going to be on display. This will guide you to what you should focus on. Here is a video to get started
- Have a wellness week. Get everything booked in, your dentist, your doctor, optician, and the other check ups you wanted to do. Finish the week with going to the hairdresser, a massage and a healthy meal. It’s a perfect way to end the week.
In following these 30 ideas, you can really make winter into your season. It’s the perfect time to take care of yourself and to romanticize your life. It will give you the perfect start for spring and summer season.
Other blogposts you will enjoy:
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8 easy steps to avoid Sunday Scaries and Sunday Blues
21 Easy Home Projects you can Finish over a Weekend
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