15 Unique Things To Do In Winter To Enjoy The Season

Here are 15 special things to do this winter instead of letting the days pass by. Best cozy, seasonal, and fun winter ideas!

Winter has a way of slowing life down in the best possible way, and that’s exactly why I love this season so much.

The air feels fresh from morning to night, the sunlight is soft on the skin, and even the simplest everyday tasks feel cozy.

Most winters, you’ll find me reading, baking something warm, sipping endless cups of tea, or writing in bed under a blanket.

But this year, I want to step outside my usual routine and try a few new things, and I thought it would be fun to share them with you, too.

If you’re looking for classic winter activities, you can check out my winter bucket list.

But if you want this season to feel a little different, a little richer, and a lot more memorable, keep reading.

In this post, you’ll find 15 unique winter ideas to make the colder months feel warmer, cozier, and full of tiny moments worth remembering.

Pin this post before reading on, please!

Now, read on for some of the best seasonal winter ideas!

15 Things To Do In Winter

1. Create a Winter Comfort Box

A winter comfort box is one of those small things that isn’t talked about enough, but it can be the difference between a sad winter and a happy one.

The idea is simple enough.

You fill a small basket or box with things that feel cozy and comfy to you, like:

• Fuzzy socks
• A lip butter
• Calming tea bags
• A tiny notebook
• A scented candle
• A few dried rose petals

Keep it somewhere accessible, like next to your bed or work desk.

Every time you feel drained, cold, or overwhelmed, just open the box and pick one thing.

It can be your personal winter ritual this season to ground yourself and find comfort on your own.

2. Take a Sunlight Walk Every Afternoon

I was just telling my friend the other day that the best thing about winter is that you can get outside for a walk any time during the day.

It’s such a blessed thing for someone like me who loves taking long walks outdoors.

I’ve always been aware of this perk, but never taken full advantage. I plan on changing that this season by taking a walk every afternoon.

You should do the same because: a) You’ll be able to get the rare winter sunlight on your skin, and b) It’ll keep you fit and happy.

About an hour after your lunch, step outside and walk for however long your schedule allows.

Keep your pace slow and joyful, and enjoy your time in nature away from your screens.

3. Upgrade Your Bed for the Season

Winter sleep hits differently when your bed is set up for warmth.

So, take time to change your bed’s aesthetics and feel by matching it with winter’s vibes.

Swap your regular sheets for flannel or cotton-blend winter sheets. If you can find velvet sheets and pillow cases, even better.

Pick either frosty colors like pale blue or cream-white, or go for something bold and bright like red or navy blue.

Add one thick throw blanket or a soft shawl at the end of the bed.

If your room gets dry during winter, then definitely put a tiny bedside humidifier to avoid that morning dryness.

Keep a small basket with hand cream, a water bottle, and a book right next to your bed.

These small tweaks are what give your room a warm hotel-like vibe.

Your winter nights will be cozy, and you’ll actually look forward to going to bed earlier. A win for your sleep schedule, too!

4. Host a Warm Food Potluck With Friends

Warm food in winter is like therapy for the body and mind.

It personally makes me very happy, and if I get to eat a warm meal with my friends, it’s even better.

If you want to try something seasonal with your friends, then host a warm-food-only potluck.

Every person has to bring one comforting dish, like soups, stuffed parathas, baked veggies, or brownies straight from the oven.

Nobody has to stress about cooking a full meal since everyone is contributing, so that vibe will be effortless and cozy.

5. Make a Seasonal Scrapbook

Winter has so many aesthetic moments.

There are foggy roads, warm plates of breakfast, chai cups, sweaters piled on chairs, and golden sunlight slipping through windows.

A seasonal scrapbook will help you hold on to these tiny and beautiful moments.

You can paste printed winter photos from your phone’s gallery, movie tickets, pressed leaves, and handwritten notes.

To make it even more cute, write captions under everything and make fun doodles.

This memory-keeping ritual will slow you down and make you appreciate the season more deeply.

And later, flipping through your winter scrapbook will feel like reliving your own little cozy world.

6. Use Winter Scented Candles

I am a scented candle girlie who loves burning them year-round, but of course, candles are truly meant for the winter season.

Scents have a magical ability to define seasons, and winter scents are some of the best (cinnamon, vanilla, pine, cocoa, and sandalwood).

This season, romanticize winter by using your favorite seasonal scented candles.

I actually just did a scented candle haul from Bath & Body Works.

They all smell so freaking good! Take a look:

I seriously don’t know how they do it, but each of their candle smells true to their name. Definitely try at least one of these to make your home smell like winter.

7. Make a Winter Bucket Jar

Instead of writing a bucket list on paper, write small winter activities on tiny slips and drop them into a jar.

Every weekend or whenever you’re free, pick one winter activity from the jar and do it.

You might pull out something like

• Buy warm street food
• Watch a foggy sunrise
• Clean your room and light a candle
• Make a new warm drink

This jar will add spontaneity to your winter.

You won’t have to overthink or overplan. Just show up for simple and cozy experiences.

It’s fun, surprisingly motivating, and gives you something to look forward to.

8. Try a One-Month Warm Drink Routine

Listen, I love my hot cocoa drink during the cold months just like anyone else, but this is the season to explore warm drinks that go beyond your usual options.

Try a one-month warm drink routine where every day you make a different drink, like:

• Golden milk
• Ginger tea
• Rose tea
• Cinnamon water
• Matcha latte
• A new coffee recipe
• Hot cocoa
• Kadha
• Warm lemonade

You’ll most likely discover at least one drink that will end up becoming your winter comfort for the remainder of the season, and possibly even for years to come.

9. Create a Cozy Reading Spot

Pick a comforting corner of your room — a chair, a window, a corner of your bed — and turn it into your official winter reading spot.

Add a throw blanket, a soft pillow, and a warm light like a lamp or fairy lights.

Keep your current book and a bookmark nearby so you don’t have to search for anything.

The moment you sit there, your brain should associate that spot with calm and warmth.

Even if you only read for 10 minutes a day, it will be like a mini escape from your routine.

10. Do a Winter Clean-Out

We always hear about spring cleaning, but hardly anyone talks about winter cleaning, which is honestly even more useful.

Winter cleaning is all about making your home warm, functional, and cozy.

You want to make sure all your warm things are out, and all the light things are locked in to have plenty of space outside.

Start by decluttering sweaters, reorganizing blankets, cleaning your skincare shelf, and checking your pantry for old spices or expired snacks.

Then, rearrange your room in a way that makes daily life easier in the colder months.

Another reason to reset your home in winter is that you spend more time indoors. So, make sure you prep your space well and set yourself up for peaceful days ahead.

11. Map Out a Winter Self-Care Month

Winter is already slow, so it’s the best time to be gentle with yourself and pour into your self-care cup.

Create a 30-day winter self-care calendar and give each day a simple winter-friendly self-care activity.

Things you can add:

• Hair oiling
• Slow journaling
• Warm shower with eucalyptus steam
• Moisturize your feet and wear socks
• Rearrange your desk
• Go to bed 30 minutes early

These tiny rituals will make you feel soft, happy, and healthy in your mind and body.

By the end of the month, you’ll feel more rested, more organized, and more connected to yourself.

12. Learn a Useful Winter Skill

Winter is ideal for learning a slow and cozy skill, something you can do while sitting under a blanket with warm tea beside you.

Think how cool it would be if you knew how to knit blankets and scarves, or bake fresh bread, or make scented candles.

Even being able to make good soup from scratch is an art that needs practice and patience.

These skills feel naturally wintery and calming, and most importantly, they are useful.

They’ll also give you a break from constant phone scrolling, which, believe me, all of us need more of.

If you stick with your skill, you’ll end up with something cute and useful that you made with your own hands, which is the best winter feeling ever.

See: 22 Cozy Hobbies That Will Give You Joy and Comfort

13. Watch a Sunrise Wrapped in a Blanket

Wake up early one winter morning, wrap yourself tightly in a warm blanket, make a warm drink you love, and sit outside to watch the sunrise.

Winter sunrise has a special kind of beauty. It’s quiet, golden, and slow.

Watching it reminds you how peaceful mornings can be when you’re not rushing.

It’s one of those moments you don’t forget because of how still and beautiful life feels for those few minutes.

So, if possible, make it a once-a-month ritual for winter, and enjoy nature at its peak beauty.

14. Make a Winter Traditions List

Create a small list of winter traditions you want to repeat every single year.

• Weekly hot chocolate day
• Winter wardrobe switch
• Candle-lighting ritual every Sunday evening
• Visiting a winter market
• Doing a mini bedroom makeover

Traditions are important because they make a season more special.

They add comfort, predictability, and joy to a season that can sometimes feel too cold or dull.

Over time, these traditions will become a part of your identity and your winter lifestyle. Main-character energy all the way!

15. Take a Weekly Winter Photo Challenge

Take one photo every week that captures a winter moment.

The morning fog, your favorite winter outfit, a warm meal, chai steam, street lights on a cold evening, and sunlight hitting your wall.

This challenge will make you more present and help you appreciate the season in a deeper way.

You’ll start noticing how beautiful the smallest winter details are, and just how magical the season is.

By the end of winter, you’ll have a collection of soft and meaningful photos that tell a story.

It’s fun, low-effort, and doesn’t require any special camera. Just your phone and a bit of awareness will do.

You just discovered 15 things to do in winter! Which two ideas stood out to you the most? Let me know in the comment box. Happy winters!