Whether you’re a winter skeptic or a winter lover, this post will teach you to enjoy the cold months more and make every day count.
Winter often gets a bad reputation.
Most people just want beach activities and endless summer days, and while I get the joy of sunny days, I’ve always been a winter child.
So, when someone says, “I hate winter!”, I immediately jump in to defend my favorite season.
You can’t force yourself to change your preferences, I know, but you sure can teach yourself to like and even love something.
Winter is a beautiful season. It makes you slow down, get cozy, and take a rest from the need to always be running and doing something.
If you are willing to change the way you see this season, I bet I can get you to start loving it more.
I’ve got 8 winter tips below that will make you embrace the season of snow, frost, and long nights.
Even if you’re someone who already loves this season, these ideas will take your winter joy to another level.
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If you’ve always been a winter skeptic, here’s how you can transform your relationship with the coldest months and discover the unique joys they offer.
How To Enjoy Winter More
1. Shift Your Perspective on Darkness
Okay, first and foremost, let’s start with the thing that makes people dislike winter the most — darkness.
The days are shorter during winter, and the sun is rarely visible. This makes winter a dark season, which sun-loving people absolutely hate.
But I think darkness (especially coming from nature) is a good thing.
Yes, we have early sunsets in winter, but don’t you think it’s an invitation to slow down?
The long winter nights create natural boundaries that encourage rest, reflection, and cozy indoor activities.
Any light you can get becomes precious and meaningful.
The warm glow of candles, the twinkle of holiday lights, and the golden hour sunrise — all of it feels more magical when it’s scarce.
So to truly start loving winter, you need to start seeing the darkness as nature’s way of encouraging hibernation and restoration.
Use this time to read books you’ve been putting off, learn new skills, or just enjoy the art of doing nothing without guilt.
This, dear reader, is what winter is about more than anything else.
2. Embrace Outdoor Winter Activities
Warmer months of the year are popular because they open doors for outdoor activities.
But winter doesn’t close all doors for you. It actually opens up a completely different world of outdoor experiences that you can’t get in summer or spring.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to rekindle old interests, you can find something that you’ll genuinely enjoy doing outdoors.
Physical activities are always great options. You can try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, or brisk walks in the snow.
You can also get outside to find beauty in winter landscapes.
Take up winter photography, go on nature walks to observe how trees look without leaves, and sit on a bench bundled in layers while watching your surroundings.
And lastly, build something out of snow and do snow activities. Make snow sculptures, go sledding, and have a snowball fight.
Reconnect with the playful side of winter you might have forgotten since childhood, and you’ll have a very strong reason to love the cold.
Check out: 31 Winter Bucket List Activities You’ll Love Ticking Off This Season
3. Create Cozy Indoor Rituals
Okay, now we come to my favorite part of winter — cozy indoor activities. It’s what I miss the most in summer.
Winter is the perfect time to master the art of hygge, the Danish concept of cozy contentment. So, lean in to it fully this season.
Warm up your space with soft blankets, warm lighting, and a fireplace or some candles. Your indoors should feel like a refuge from the cold, a space you really want to spend time in.
Next, develop comfort food traditions with cooking and baking. They’ll warm your home and give you delicious treats to enjoy.
Learn to make hearty soups, fresh bread, and warm drinks like hot chocolate and spiced cider.
In your free time, do puzzles, board games, and crafts. These activities feel more satisfying when there’s nowhere else you’d rather be, which is what winter is known for.
Oh, and do not forget to read a lot. Books were made to be read in winter, so get loads of reading done and finish the reading goal you’d set for the year.
Don’t miss: 15 Winter Self-Care Ideas To Make Your Days Cozy
4. Dress Well and Comfy
Much of winter hatred comes from being cold and uncomfortable. You can fix this by making your winter wardrobe better and prettier (romanticizing all the way).
Invest in quality winter clothes that actually keep you warm and dry.
Layer up well, invest in good boots, and wear warm hats and gloves before stepping outside.
And when you’re indoors, wear clothes that feel good. Oversized sweatshirts, comfy pants, cute socks, and knitted sweaters that feel like you’re being hugged.
When you feel comfortable and good in your clothes, you’ll find yourself wanting to spend more time in winter’s beauty, both indoors and outdoors.
5. Find Your Winter Community
Winter days may be short, but they can get lonely and isolating.
But thankfully, we’re living in the age of the Internet, which means you can easily find things happening around you and show up to join in.
Look for winter-specific social activities in your area, like winter farmers’ markets, seasonal festivals, skiing, or skating groups.
You can also just join your neighbors who enjoy winter walks.
There’s something special about the camaraderie of people who choose to embrace rather than merely endure the season.
So, find your winter community, and make the season less lonely and more interesting for yourself.
6. Plan a Winter Vacation
We talk about summer vacations all the time. It’s a major reason why people look forward to the warmer months.
But winter vacation can be fun too, in a totally different and cozy way.
If you can make it happen, then head to a hill station for a few days and spend some time exploring the place.
If that isn’t possible, then just plan something for the weekend. Book a cozy cottage in a scenic location and just enjoy the place.
It’ll give you a nice mental break from life and also make you genuinely excited for winter months.
7. Lean Fully Into The Holiday Season
What’s the best part of winter? Christmas, of course! While it may be a one-day holiday, the season begins from 1st December onward.
You’ve got gifts to plan, meals to prep, shopping to do, and holiday decor to put up.
In my family, we never celebrated this festival growing up, but I was always so mesmerized watching it on TV and seeing all the decor in the market.
Now, as an adult, I lean fully into the holiday season, even if I am spending it alone.
So, if you’re someone who doesn’t celebrate, start now. It’s a beautiful holiday with beautiful traditions.
Decorate your house, bring home a small Christmas tree, put up some fairy lights, and spend December watching holiday and winter-themed movies.
Lean into the season fully and embrace the joy that comes from this merry occasion.
Recommended: 12 Important Things To Do Before The Holidays
8. Practice Gratitude for Winter’s Gifts
If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you’d know I used to hate the summer season. But I turned my feelings around by tapping into gratitude for the season.
You can and should do the same for winter, too.
Every season is unique and comes with its precious gifts that no other season can give you.
Here are some winter things we all should be grateful for:
- Clean and fresh air that feels invigorating to breathe
- Peaceful quiet when snow muffles sound, and fewer people are outside
- Natural rest period that aligns with your body’s need for more sleep
- Stunning natural beauty in frost patterns, snow-covered trees, and dramatic skies
- Hot drinks, warm baths, and cozy spaces
Can you come up with three more? Do it as you read the end of the post.
Make Winter Special, Not Something to Survive
Instead of counting down the days until spring, create things to look forward to throughout winter.
You can plan a winter vacation, start some winter hobbies, and establish weekly winter traditions with your friends and family.
You don’t need to pretend winter is summer, but appreciate what makes it unique.
When you stop fighting the season and start working with it, you’ll be able to realize how much beauty and joy it contains.
Winter asks us to slow down, turn inward, and find contentment in simplicity.
So this winter, instead of just surviving until spring, try falling in love with the snow, the quiet, the coziness, and the unique peace that only comes when the world is blanketed in white.
You might discover that winter wasn’t the enemy after all. It was just waiting for you to see its hidden gifts!
Read next: The Ultimate New Year Bucket List That Will Tick All Your Boxes
What’s the one thing you like about winter, and one thing that you dislike? Let me know in the comment box before you go! It’s always fun chatting with you.
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