Once Christmas has passed, many of us start to feel the winter blues. Holiday parties are over, the magic of Christmas is packed away until next year, and the realization that winter isn’t over begins to set in.
But what if you became the type of person who genuinely enjoyed winter? What if you were able to maintain that feeling of joy and wonder throughout winter instead of letting it dissipate once Christmas is over?
Winter can be dreary, but it can also be full of beauty and wonder if you take the time to look for it. Instead of just waiting for winter to be over, we can lean into the slow pace and simplicity of the season by creating cozy routines and simple, hygge-filled moments.
Now, this doesn’t mean buying new blankets, throw pillows, and a bunch of candles. True hygge, true warmth and that “satisfied contentment” type of feeling comes from taking pleasure in little, simple things—sometimes alone, but best of all with the people you love.
Creating that moment doesn’t have to be elaborate, and it certainly doesn’t require you to buy more things from the store.
With that in mind, here are 30 simple things you can do this winter to enjoy the coziness and wonder of the season.
Cozy Winter Bucket List to Enjoy the Season
“Turning our attention toward small, mundane moments of beauty in challenging times strengthens our emotional resilience and helps us appreciate the wonder that accompanies being alive.” —Kari Leibowitz, How to Winter
This cozy winter bucket list is sure to warm your heart and home and help you enjoy the magic that winter can bring without buying a thing.
At Home
- Have a pajama day. Wear your cutest, coziest pajamas all day and revel in the warmth.
- Soak in a warm bath by candlelight (real or battery-powered). Bonus points if you include bubbles and a fun drink.
- Find a new hot cocoa recipe to try. Make it from scratch or let it be as simple as adding butterscotch chips or peppermint candy to a pre-made mix. Prefer coffee? Try my pumpkin spice latte recipe from scratch.
- Pick out a “first day of winter” outfit or “first snow” outfit. Passed the first day of winter or first snow? Just pick an upcoming winter holiday on your calendar.
- Spend an evening with just soft, warm lighting. Think lamps with warm yellow lights, candlelight, string lights, etc. Anything but overhead or bright white lights.
- Try a new soup recipe. Go out to your local library and browse the cookbook section. There’s something extra cozy about looking at recipes in real books versus on my phone.
- Bake something that makes the house smell amazing. (It’s OK if you don’t make it from scratch.) Wrap your baked goodies in a homemade beeswax wrap to keep it fresh.
- Redecorate your reading nook with string lights and blankets. Shop other rooms in your home to redecorate rather than buying brand-new things.
- Create a winter playlist. A couple songs I like for winter are “It Snowed” by Meaghan Smith and “The Hat” by Ingrid Michaelson.
- Explore a cozy, indoor hobby. It can be brand-new to you or something you used to enjoy but haven’t done in a while. Some things you can do for free include: drawing or sketching, photography or videography (with your phone), origami, creative writing, and singing. Check YouTube or your local library for resources. My library also offers puzzles, board games, and other hobby-related items to check out. Maybe yours does, too.
Looking for more ideas? You may also enjoy learning one of these 10 cozy homesteading skills.
Outdoors
For this list, I tried to choose activities you could do without snow for those who don’t get snow in winter. But if you do live somewhere snowy, then skating, sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. are all great outdoor activities that can only be done in the winter.
Create your own version of a grown-up snow day, and have fun!
- Make a backyard bonfire. Maybe even roast some marshmallows while you’re at it. This is really fun to do with friends! If you can’t make a fire in your own backyard, you may be able to at a nearby campground or public park with permission.
- Visit a new park or hike a new trail. Don’t forget to follow safety rules and let someone know where you’re going and when. Even better, bring a good friend along with you!
- Watch a sunset. Winter sunsets are brilliant and colorful. You won’t want to miss it.
- Take a warm drink with you, bundle up, and stargaze. Wait for a clear night and try to identify constellations.
- Sit beside a window and watch the clouds move and change. I know this isn’t technically “outdoors,” but it’s a good one to do if you tend to sit and stare at a screen for work. Even a few minutes of looking at the sky on a gray day will help ground you.
- Gather evergreens and put them in a vase for decor. We decorate for fall, why not for winter, too? Get some ideas from my post on making a winter planter with foraged evergreens.
- Go for a brisk walk to get your heart pumping. I know it’s cold, but you’ll warm up as you walk!
- Photograph interesting winter textures outside. This one is more about the process, not the result. Just going out with the intent to photograph will help you notice things you may have missed before. And if you happen to end up with a photo you love, please share it with the world.
- Make a natural “art piece” (i.e. build a snowman). When was the last time you played in the snow or made a little picture out of rocks or sticks? Channel your inner child for this one and just have fun with it.
- Take a sensory winter walk and investigate nature. Tip: Use your phone to zoom in on things you want to get a closer look at.
With Loved Ones
- Host a puzzle or cozy game night. Encourage everyone to bring a puzzle or their favorite card or board game and a snack to share. Make a big batch of this slow cooker pumpkin chai to enjoy together.
- Snuggle by a fire and reminisce. Sometimes these moments spontaneously happen, and sometimes we have to make them happen. Put your phone down for this one and just focus on being present with the person you’re with.
- Have a winter picnic. Hot soup and thick blankets and pillows will make this activity comfortable and enjoyable.
- Pull out old photo albums, family recipes, or keepsakes and swap stories with family or friends. You just might learn something new.
- Read winter-themed short stories and poems aloud to one another. I’m not a kid anymore, but I do still enjoy having others read to me. How about you?
- Invite friends over for a winter dance party. Or a karaoke night, or both!
- Spend an afternoon taking silly and serious photos with your favorite people. Frame your favorites.
- Pop popcorn and host a pajama and movie night. It’ll be just like when you used to go to sleepovers, except when it’s all over, you don’t have to sleep on the floor; you can just crawl into your own comfy bed.
- Trade homemade treats with your friends. Kind of like a Christmas cookie exchange, but you don’t have to limit yourself to Christmas cookies. Trade homemade cranberry jam, DIY herb salt, or other homemade goodies!
- Explore a new neighborhood or town with friends. Look for winter festivals or events unique to that place.
Make Winter a Season You Anticipate
These cozy winter bucket list ideas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enjoying everything that winter has to offer. I hope this list sparks some ideas for you to put on your own bucket list this season.
If you’re craving a little more structure or inspiration this winter, I created a beautiful, printable guide called The Cozy Winter Companion. It includes this bucket list, 30 days of thoughtful journaling prompts, seasonal bingo cards, quote cards, and simple trackers.
Everything in this 50-page book is designed to make winter restful, rejuvenating, and more enjoyable. You may even find yourself anticipating winter rather than dreading it.
Ready for a new kind of winter? Download your copy of The Cozy Winter Companion here.
Thanks for reading this post. I hope you have a wonderful winter this year.