I think everyone finds it easy to enjoy winter during the busy and festive holiday season, but once the high of a new year wears off, it is easy to let that seasonal depression creep in. Don’t despair! If even one of these little tips help you get through the season, then I have done my job. Keep reading to find one that will help you:
- Buy cute winter clothes: I don’t know why I avoided this for so long, but as someone who loves summer clothes, the thought of buying winter clothes just repulsed me. Now that I have finally amassed a good collection of cute and WARM clothes to get me through the winter, it is so much less miserable to get dressed every day.
- Stock your house with equally cute winter decor and cozy blankets: This can be anything from fun and festive Christmas decorations to more neutral tones after new year’s. Obviously you can’t forget the blankets – the more the merrier! Trust me – you’ll want a fuzzy blanket (or five) when you are cuddled up in front of the TV for hour five of your Netflix marathon.
- Get some fuzzy socks and slippers: I know these are all pretty much no-brainers so far, but getting ones that are CUTE will make you want to wear them and will be so much more enjoyable. And the whole point is to enjoy winter, remember?
- Stock up on candles: I used to be a strictly incense kinda gal, but once I discovered that candles do so much more than smell good, I was hooked! The soft glow they give off is just *chef’s kiss* amazing! Light some of those babies around your house and consider the vibe SET!
- Play some chill music: I pretty much always have something chill playing (that’s just who I am!) but lately I have gotten back into the Lo-Fi Beats playlist on Spotify and lemme tell you – these vibes are IT for the winter! Go give it a try and get back to me. I’ll wait!
- Get cozy with someone you love: I will be the first to tell you that I am single AF, but (un)fortunately I live with my family at the moment so I always have cuddle-ready humans available and a fluffy dog, even if he likes to run away when you try to cuddle him!
- Keep the cozy drinks on deck: The options are truly endless here, and I love all of them! Hot tea, hot cocoa, hot apple cider (mixed with Crown Royal), hot toddies, you name it! I also love red wine in the winter, which you can drink at room temp or warmed up (and spiced if you feel fancy).
- Fire up the oven: Winter is the perfect time to bake and roast everything your heart desires! Between the cold temps and the long nights, there is no better time to spend an hour or two heating up the oven and cooking a bunch of veggies, chicken and/or baked goods. By the time summer hits, it will be too hot to use the oven and ain’t nobody got time for all that.
- Draw a luxurious bath: I do not have a usable bathtub in my current bathroom, but when I DO have one, there is nothing better than a hot bath to warm you up at night! Add some candles, crystals, chill music and a face mask, and you are well on your way to a self care party for one.
- Have a Netflix marathon: There is nothing better than cancelling your plans and staying in when it’s cold and/or snowy outside. I personally hate going out to do ANYTHING at night during the winter. After my bath, you can find me posted up in bed with a cozy drink all night!
- Enjoy the stillness of the season: Have you ever gone outside in the winter – especially after a big snow – and noticed how quiet it was? I think it is the most peaceful thing in the world. It is certainly more peaceful than the loud bugs cicadas that we hear all summer!
- Get some much needed rest: Personally, I’m always tired after hot girl summer and say I’m going to rest, then get swept up in basic fall activities and the long holiday season and feel more tired. By the time it gets to winter, I’m ready to stay in the house and give my body (and wallet) some rest!
- Get some exercise: If being active is more your thing, get as much exercise as you can to keep your serotonin up. Take a long walk outside in the middle of the day when the sun and temperature are highest. If you can go for a walk in the woods that’s even better – the way the sun filters through the bare branches is so pretty! I also love getting a nice long workout in at the gym in the dead of winter. If your gym has a sauna, make sure you use it! I personally like to use it BEFORE working out, because I’m always too cold to move when I first get there.
- Buy a light therapy box: For those who get seasonal depression, a light box can be a (literal) life saver. I found one recently on Amazon that is super affordable and works great. I also recommend getting outside in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest, even if you have to bundle up. Natural sunlight does wonders to regulate our nervous system, hormones and circadian rhythm.
- Read a good book: I am a huge book nerd – I go through at least 30 books a year – so I read year round, but winter is the best time to catch up on your reading! When you are stuck inside for so many hours a day, you eventually run out of TV to watch and need another activity to keep you busy. I also love going to a coffee shop and finding a good corner to cozy up with a book and a warm drink for a couple hours.
- Get creative: At a certain point, even books can get boring. I also have always loved arts & crafts, so a DIY project is the perfect way to fill my time in the winter. There are tons of DIY projects on Pinterest and YouTube, and if you are blessed with natural artistic ability, then you can just grab a pad of paper or a canvas to draw or paint freestyle. The options are limitless!
- Clean your house: Ok this one might just be for me – I am a super clean freak after all – but hear me out! When you are stuck inside all the time, the last thing you want is to get cabin fever AND go crazy from the mess you are surrounded by. Instead of waiting until spring to deep clean, do it now! As soon as spring comes and the temps rise, you are going to want to be OUTSIDE enjoying the weather, not INSIDE cleaning.
- Do some planning and set some goals: The warmer months are so busy and hectic that it can be hard to sit and actually plan your life out or set goals for the future. The winter is the perfect time to slow down and reflect on what progress you’ve made on old goals and set some new ones. Put a pause on your life and see how much more energy and focus you have once the weather warms up and life gets crazy again!
- Embrace the “hygge” lifestyle: This is a Scandinavian concept that describes the feeling of coziness that they welcome in the winter months. Most of the tips listed here embody the concept, but if you want to learn more, pick up a book and read more tips!
- Plan a tropical vacation: Sometimes, no matter what you do to enjoy winter, you just need a vacation! Just having something on the calendar to look forward to can work wonders in getting you through long weeks of crappy weather. If a fancy tropical vacation is not in the cards, there are plenty of ways to take a trip somewhere warm on a budget.Feel free to browse my travel tab for some wanderlust inspiration and helpful tips from previous trips! Enjoy 😘
