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Here are 30 wonderful ideas for your November bucket list that will make the second last month of the year special and good for you.
November is the awkward middle child of months, sandwiched between Halloween’s chaos and the holiday season’s intensity.
The leaves are mostly gone, the weather can’t decide what it’s doing, and everything feels like it’s in this weird liminal space.
These might be some of the reasons why I don’t see many people being excited about this month.
But that’s exactly why November deserves its own bucket list!
This is the month for slowing down, getting cozy, and appreciating the quiet before everything gets loud again.
It’s the hygge season. It’s gratitude season. It’s the ‘wear sweaters and drink hot things’ season.
And if that’s not enough to convince you, it’s the second last month of the year.
In December, people usually let loose and stop trying to fix their lives because it’s too late anyway.
But in November, you can actually do something about your health, productivity, goals, and most important of all, your joy.
And in this bucket list, I’ve got ideas related to all of that, keeping the coziness of the season in mind so that you actually love ticking off the activities.
Pin this post now to save for later!
If I’ve managed to get you even a little excited, then please read on.
Here’s how to make November actually great instead of just surviving it:
The Ultimate November Bucket List
1. Perfect Your Hot Beverage Ritual
November is the month to get serious about your warm drink game.
Experiment with different teas, perfect your homemade hot chocolate recipe, or finally figure out your chai latte situation.
I have found that treating it as a ritual makes the drink even better.
You know, things like using your favorite mug and taking five minutes to just sit with it. Maybe read something cozy while sipping.
This is like you and your beverage having a nice moment. Makes the experience aesthetic and wholesome.
2. Build a Blanket Fort
Who decided blanket forts were just for kids? Reclaim this joy in November as an adult!
String up some sheets, pile in the pillows and blankets, add some string lights, and create your own cave of comfort.
You can watch a movie in there, read a book, take a nap, and eat snacks, feeling like you’re getting away with something even though you’re an adult and can do whatever you want.
It’s ridiculous, but that’s the entire point! Because honestly, November needs more ridiculous, and I am so here for it.
3. Start Your Holiday Baking Practice Runs
Before the pressure to bake perfect things hits you for the holidays, use November to experiment with baking.
Try that cookie recipe you pinned, attempt homemade bread, and make a pie.
The stakes for baking are low in November. If it’s terrible, only you’ll know. But if it’s amazing, you’ll get a head start on December.
Either way, your home will smell incredible, and you’ll get to eat yummy baked goods.
4. Create a Rainy Day Playlist
November is peak gray-sky and drizzly-weather territory. I know it can be bleak for some people, but instead of fighting it, lean in.
Curate a playlist specifically for those days when the world feels dark, muted and rainy (even if it’s not literal).
Add artists like Bon Iver, Novo Amor, Phoebe Bridgers, Iron & Wine, and whatever matches that particular melancholy-but-beautiful vibe.
Make it long enough that you can just let it play without interruption while tackling your routine tasks.
5. Start a Gratitude Jar
Get a jar, decorate it nicely, and every day in November, write one thing you’re grateful for on a small piece of paper, and drop it in.
You can write things like:
- Good coffee this morning
- Mom’s hug
- Playtime with my dog
On New Year’s Eve (or whenever you need a pick-me-up), dump the jar and read everything you wrote.
It’s a weirdly powerful reminder of how many small good things happen that we usually forget.
6. Have a Proper Afternoon Tea
Hot teas are a luxury that your body can’t afford during the hot months of the year, but in November, they’re a great pleasure.
So, make sure to have an afternoon tea this month and make it a whole experience.
Brew a pot of good tea, make some scones or grab some nice bakery treats, set out your fancy cups, and use cloth napkins.
You can always invite a friend over or make it a solo ritual.
Take your time with it and pretend you’re in a British period drama (like Downton Abbey).
Discuss important matters with your pinky up, and embrace the elegance of doing something slowly and intentionally.
7. Write Thank You Notes to People Who Changed Your Life
Since we’re on the topic of gratitude, let me add another practice for November — writing thank-you notes to the people who changed your life.
Not the people you’re obligated to thank, but the ones who actually made a difference.
It can be to a teacher who believed in you, a friend who showed up when things were hard for you, or a mentor who gave you real advice.
You don’t have to send the notes (though you can). Sometimes, just acknowledging the impact someone had is enough.
8. Create a Wins Document
Open a note on your phone or a document on your computer and list every win from this year (every single one), like:
- Got out of bed on hard days
- Finished that project
- Had a good conversation
- Made someone laugh
- Survived things I didn’t think I would
We’re so bad at celebrating ourselves, but this is your permission to actually acknowledge what you’ve accomplished, no matter how small it is.
9. Go for a Walk in the Ugly Season
November gets called ugly, but it’s really just stripped down.
The trees are bare, the landscape is brown, and everything is exposed. There’s an honesty to it that’s actually kind of beautiful.
So, bundle up and walk through it anyway.
Notice the architecture of bare branches and see how far you can see into the woods now that the leaves are gone.
Feel how different the cold air is from the crispness of October, and let this be a reminder for you of the beauty in vulnerability and the changing seasons of life.
10. Volunteer Somewhere That Matters to You
November is a big month for giving back, especially around Thanksgiving.
So, find a cause you care about and give some time.
Food banks, animal shelters, literacy programs, community cleanups—whatever speaks to you.
It’s cliché to say volunteering makes you feel good, but it does. Reminds you that we’re all connected and even small actions can make a difference for someone else.
11. Watch the Sunrise
The nice thing about November is that the sun rises later, which means you don’t need to wake up exceptionally early to catch it.
Find a spot with a good view, bring your coffee, and watch the sky do its thing.
Even if the rest of the day is mundane, you had that moment, and it’ll stay with you till the end of the day.
12. Have a Bonfire Before It Gets Too Cold
If you didn’t get to this in October (or even if you did), November is your last chance for a bonfire before winter makes it impossible.
Invite people over, make s’mores, tell stories, stare into the flames, and contemplate existence.
It will be so fun and therapeutic at the same time, because that’s what fire can do!
13. Collect Things from Nature for Winter Decor
Pinecones, interesting branches, seed pods, the last colorful leaves clinging to life—gather them on your walks.
Bring them home and arrange them in vases or bowls.
It’s free decor, it connects you to the season, and it gives your walks a little purpose beyond just moving your body.
And since it’s all natural decor, it will look way better than store-bought items.
14. Master One Soup Recipe
November is peak soup season, and even if you’re not that good a cook, you should try to master a recipe so that you can enjoy soup all month long.
Pick whatever appeals to your taste (like French onion, butternut squash, chicken noodle) and make it until you’ve got it down.
You can also make a huge batch and freeze portions.
Future you, in January when you can’t be bothered to cook, will be incredibly grateful.
15. Host a Friendsgiving
It doesn’t have to be a perfect gathering or even near Thanksgiving.
Just pick a date that works for you and your people, and make everyone bring a dish, and have a meal together.
Order pizza if the cooking goes sideways, because nobody will remember the menu, but they’ll remember the laughter and cozy moments.
16. Cook Something from Your Heritage
November is a good time to connect with food traditions, whether that’s family recipes or researching dishes from your cultural background.
Make the thing your grandmother used to make, and learn the recipe that’s been passed down.
Food is memory and connection and history. Even if you mess it up, you’re participating in something bigger than just dinner.
17. Start Your Holiday Cards Early
If you’re the kind of person who sends cards, November is when you should actually start.
No pressure, no rushing, no crying over paper cuts while trying to get them in the mail by the 20th.
Just try to make the cards personal. Write actual, meaningful notes by putting thought into them, or design your own if you’re crafty.
You can also just skip cards entirely and send texts with photos (that is so me).
Do whatever feels authentic to you, but be early by sending your wishes in November, and stand out!
18. Begin a Winter Reading List
Winter is the season for reading, so make a winter reading list in November and get started on it right away.
With a reading list in hand, you won’t have to waste time scrolling on phone to decide what to read whenever you are in the mood for a book.
Here are the books I have on my winter reading list this year:
- A Court Of Thorns and Roses (I simply cannot wait for this one. It’s one of those series I can tell I am going to love without even picking up)
- The Bear and The Nightingale (the aesthetics scream winter and my friend swear it’s the most perfect triology)
- A With’s Guid to Magical Inkeeping (no winter list is complete without a witchy read)
Feel free to add some of those to your own reading list. I don’t think anyone can go wrong with these popular picks.
19. Rearrange Your Space for Winter
Your summer setup doesn’t work for winter, which is why it’s important (and nice) to spruce up your space for winter.
Move furniture to create cozier conversation areas, swap out light bedding for heavy blankets, and add lamps for better ambient lighting since it’s dark by 5pm now.
Make your space work for the season you’re actually in. It’s a small change that makes a big difference in how comfortable you feel at home.
20. Have Deep Conversations with People You Love
The cozy weather of November is perfect for taking your conversations beyond the surface.
People are more open to going deeper when the world feels quiet, so ditch the small talk in favor of deeper conversations.
Ask people how they’re doing and then prompt them to really answer it.
Talk about your hopes and fears, what you’re learning, how you feel about the month’s energy.
Share the messy and real stuff, and tell them your plans for the coming year and how you wish to improve.
Their insight might turn out to be helpful, and their own thoughts might spark something in you that you couldn’t figure out on your own.
21. Start a Cozy Project with No Deadline
November’s slower pace makes it perfect for starting something just for the joy of it.
Knitting, drawing, writing, learning an instrument—pick a cozy side project you want to try.
You don’t need any goals or even be good at it; just create for the sake of creating, because creativity is the greatest gift for your mind.
22. Reconnect with Someone You’ve Lost Touch With
There are people in our lives we end up going out of touch with, even though nothing bad ever happened (just life being life).
This November, text that friend you keep meaning to text, the family member you haven’t called in months, and the person you think about but never reach out to.
I hate to be cliché, but it is true that life is short, and so connections matter.
So, please send the message and make the call. Worst case, they won’t respond. Best case, you rebuild something valuable.
23. Host a Game Night
Invite your friends over for board games, card games, video games, or whatever your crowd is into.
Games are a shortcut to fun. They break the ice, they create stories, they make people laugh.
It’s low-pressure entertainment that actually brings people closer.
24. Plan Something to Look Forward To
Give yourself something on the calendar that excites you.
It can be a concert in December, a skiing trip in January, a trip in the spring, a weekend outing with friends, or just a dinner reservation somewhere new.
Doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s something that makes you think, “Oh good, that’s coming up.”
Having things to anticipate makes the present more bearable. It’s a hope in calendar form!
25. Establish a Solid Skincare Routine
Winter is coming, and it can be really harsh for your skin. Get ahead of it by creating a perfect skincare routine in November.
Figure out what your skin needs and start providing.
Invest in a good moisturizer, start using sunscreen every morning, and use a lip mask at night before your lips start cracking.
Taking care of your body is a form of self-respect and a necessity to keep yourself glowing and healthy.
26. Start Going to Bed Earlier
The days are shorter in November, so your body wants more rest.
Stop fighting it and start your night routine 30 minutes earlier than you think you should.
Sleep is the foundation of everything else. You can’t be your best self running on six hours and coffee.
So, give yourself permission to rest so that you can do all the things from your November bucket list without getting tired.
27. Move Your Body in Ways That Feel Good
November can make you want to hibernate.
But moving helps with the mood, the energy, and everything else that you need to feel good in your body and mind.
The way to actually make yourself want to move during this month is to make it fun.
Don’t force yourself to do activities that you hate.
Find movement that actually feels enjoyable, like dancing, walking, and yoga.
It’s seriously one of the best habits to start before new year so that you can enter the new era of your life feeling strong, healthy, and ready.
28. Schedule Actual Downtime
We’re so bad at resting and relaxing. We feel guilty for not being productive, for not doing ‘enough’.
But being able to rest and slow down is true mindfulness (and it’s smart too), especially in November when everything’s about to get chaotic.
Instead of leaving it for later, schedule downtime every single day in your calendar, and defend it like you would any other commitment.
Pamper yourself with a luxe bath routine, have a solo picnic outdoors on a day when the sun is out, and read a book in bed if that’s what you need.
29. Review Your Year So Far
November is close enough to the end of the year to assess, but early enough to still make changes.
So, do a yearly reflection and ask yourself questions like:
- What worked this year?
- What didn’t work?
- What do you want more of?
- What needs to go?
Be honest, and be kind. This isn’t about beating yourself up for what you didn’t accomplish; it’s about learning and adjusting.
With one month still left in the year, you still have time to fix anything that you’re not happy with.
30. Let Go of Something That’s Not Serving You
November is a lot of things, but most importantly, it is a month of release. All those falling leaves are trying to tell you the same.
It has an energy that is perfect for shedding anything that doesn’t serve you anymore.
Let go of:
- Commitments you don’t care about anymore
- Beliefs that are holding you back (about yourself, the world, or other people)
- Relationships that drain you
- Things in your home you’re keeping out of guilt or laziness
Make space for what matters by releasing what doesn’t, and get ready for a better life!
Related post: 10 Things To Let Go Of To Be Happy In Life
So, that was it! 30 things for you to try in November. Which ideas are you definitely going to add to your bucket list? Let me know in the comment box. May you have the coziest November ever!
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