ways to romanticize the winter

Ways to Romanticize the Slowness of Winter

Published on February 4, 2025September 6, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Winter is always the time of year where things slow down and there’s less happening. Years ago, I used to dread this time of year, it’s colder, darker, and the holidays are over. But, throughout the last few years, I’ve learned to make the most of this time and romanticize the slowness this season brings. Here are some of my tips on how to romanticize this time of year.

My Tips

Work on a home project. After the holidays, I always seem to feel inspired to work on a new area of my home. I suspect it’s because the home can look like a blank canvas after the holiday decor is put away, but it’s fun devoting extra time to certain areas within the home.
Have a game night with friends. Since it’s typically colder in the winter months, time inside is more likely to occur. Make it fun with some friends and enjoy a night in together.
Plan a weekend trip. I talked a lot about this in my recent post about prioritizing travel but there’s so much to be said for a weekend trip even if it’s a local trip. Having a fun weekend away or weekend plans can be a great way to romanticize the slowness of the winter season.
Create cozy routines in the home. Since we are more likely to stay in this time of year, creating a routine that’s romanticized is a fun way to make the most of the time. This could be enjoying coffee or tea in the morning with a book, cuddling up on the couch with extra blankets, lighting candles at night to bring in more light, cracking the windows to let in some fresh crisp air, etc. Have fun with this one!
Pick up a new hobby. I’ve had so much fun lately exploring new hobbies such as watercoloring, scrapbooking, embroidering, and practicing with new film cameras. Hobbies are a great way to find life work balance and they also give you more activities to prioritize at home or during slow seasons.
Spend time outdoors. If you live in an area that snows, go for a snowy walk! If not, spend time outside bundled up taking in some fresh air, walks and time in nature are still important in the winter.
Explore new shops, restaurants, or coffee shops in your area. Spend time in a new coffee spot, find a new thrift store, try out a restaurant for a meal, etc. Making the most of indoor activities in the area can be a fun way to romanticize the winter.

How to Romanticize the Winter Season

Published on January 7, 2024January 7, 2024 by Skylar M. Beck1 Comment

Now that the holidays have passed and the new year has begun, slow season is upon us. This time of year can be hard with winter in full swing, shorter and darker days, cold temperatures, and not many breaks or holidays to look forward to.

During the last few years, since working full time especially, I have found one way to make this season a little easier is to romanticize it! Romanticizing to me, is making something more beautiful or highlighting the beauty in our daily life, even the mundane moments.

I’ve been reading The Little Book of Hygge, Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking. It focuses on the presence of Hygge, the danish term for essentially homey or coziness. Throughout the book, Wiking focuses on how danish people thrive in the winter season and slower months because of the concept and feeling of hygge. It further inspired me to incorporate hygge into my life throughout this new season and embrace the winter instead of dread it.

Some ways I’ll be incorporating coziness and romanticizing my life this winter:

Candles– helps with the darker nights and creates a warm inviting space
Lots of cozy layers– blankets, pillows, etc on the couch and bedroom
Books– reading a new book, cozying up on the couch after a long day
Making fun meals– I love making fun breakfasts or dinners during the week to have something different and “weekend like” to look forward to
Plan fun winter activities– walks in the snow, making a new soup, building a snowman, ice skating etc.
Plan a trip– a winter trip is one of my favorites! and it brings that feeling of something to look forward to
Incorporate seasonal elements– bring in cool tones (whites, cool neutrals) into the home and small valentines day touches can make the home feel in line with the seasons
Create a winter bucket list– creating a list of things to embrace in the winter and work towards can make the season more fun
Spend time in the snow– you either love or hate the snow but it’s definitely something to try and embrace during the season (especially if you live in a place that snows often).
Cherishing time indoors– this season is all about staying warm, and cultivating a space inside that brings joy and comfort

One of my favorite parts about romanticizing a season or time of life is that it usually doesn’t require material things or an excessive amount of effort. We can romanticize our lives and seasons with what we already have and what we already do. Challenging our mindset about a particular season or time of life is the biggest way to shift how we feel. Cheers to embracing a new season and the start of 2024!