During the winter, when it’s cold outside and we’re spending more time indoors, it can be challenging to come up with ways to pass the time. However, there are plenty of different things you can do to embrace this frosty season and keep yourself entertained.
From perfecting your chilli con carne recipe to going on a winter hike, here are 10 ways to help you beat the boredom and embrace the winter season.
1. Complete a jigsaw puzzle
What better way to spend a wintry evening than snuggled up with a hot drink and a jigsaw puzzle?
If you’re looking for a way to keep your hands busy, stay mindful, and gain a sense of achievement, a jigsaw puzzle can be a great option.
Puzzles require a lot of patience, thought, and focus – making them the perfect activity to immerse yourself in. Plus, every time we slot two pieces of the puzzle together, our brains release dopamine (the ‘happy hormone’), which is why we can get such a great sense of accomplishment as we complete them.
Jigsaw puzzles can also benefit your physical and mental health. You can learn more about these positive effects in our article: 7 health benefits of doing jigsaw puzzles.
For those looking to get stuck in, Amazon has a huge range of jigsaw puzzles to choose from.
2. Go on a walk or hike
Many of us don’t find the idea of going out for a long walk or hike appealing during the winter months. Nevertheless, with the right planning and preparation, it can be very enjoyable.
Sometimes, the thought of walking around shivering in the cold can be enough to put us off. But, often, once we do, feeling the crisp winter air on your skin and getting your blood pumping can be invigorating. And, spending time outdoors can leave you feeling mentally and physically better when you return home.
To fully enjoy your walk, make sure to layer up and wear suitable clothing, such as a good quality waterproof jacket and some walking boots. You could also consider packing a hot drink to help warm you up if you get chilly.
If you’re finding it difficult to motivate yourself to get out for a walk at the moment, you might find some inspiration in our article: 11 fitness motivation ideas for winter.
3. Try a new beauty routine
Many of us may notice that our hair and skin become drier in the winter due to the cold weather. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can keep your skin and hair hydrated without breaking the bank or trialing countless different products.
For hair, it can help to keep washing to a minimum and use a hydrating hair mask once a week. For more tips, check out this guide from Hello! magazine.
When it comes to skincare, using moisturising oils and creams and making sure your diet is rich in nutrients are key. Have a read of our article, 10 of the best moisturisers for mature skin, for some good ideas. Or, if you want to save some money, check out these 8 home remedies for dry skin.
4. Try stargazing
The amazing thing about stargazing is that it offers an ever-changing free show and a chance to connect with nature and reflect.
No matter what’s going on in life, the night sky can act as an anchor point that we can return to time and time again. And with winter’s shorter, darker days, there’s plenty of time to get outside and take in the wonders of the night sky.
To find out about what to look out for, check out our introduction to stargazing. You might also like to sign up for the regular stargazing talks running on Rest Less Events.
5. Tackle your inbox
It doesn’t take long for an email inbox to get out of control. We’ve all been there, and often the more swamped our inbox gets, the more difficult it becomes to motivate ourselves to sort through it.
However, the winter can be a great time to knuckle down and delete spam emails or unsubscribe from any unwanted email newsletters.
Although managing your inbox might not be the most thrilling activity, it can be therapeutic – and many say that they often feel lighter and can think more clearly afterwards.
If you’d like to get started, check out our article: 8 easy ways to manage your inbox.
6. Volunteer your time
From befriending an elderly person over the phone through charities such as Age UK and Re-engage to volunteering with a 24-hour crisis text service like Shout, there are so many different ways you can make a difference without leaving your sofa.
Many local food banks also rely on the kindness of volunteers to keep them running over the Christmas period. It’s worth contacting your local food bank directly to see whether they need any additional help over the winter.
For more ideas and inspiration, check out the volunteering section of our website. Or, have a read of our article: What’s it like to volunteer for Crisis at Christmas?
7. Try some different winter warmers
For many of us, one of the big perks of winter is that we get to indulge in lots of delicious, cosy drinks, such as hot chocolate. Perhaps you could get creative and try a blackberry, cookies and cream, or red velvet version. You could also try making mulled wine or cider.
If you’re a tea drinker, winter is a great time to try some different flavours. From chai and hibiscus to apple and cinnamon, there are so many to choose from. Plus, tea can offer various health benefits. Check out our article, The health benefits of 9 different types of tea, to learn more.
For further ideas, why not read our article: 9 delicious hot drinks that will warm you up on a cold day?
8. Consider birdwatching
If you’re an animal lover looking for a way to unwind, you might like to consider birdwatching.
It’s easy to take birds for granted because they’re always around, but by looking a little closer, we can unlock an entirely new world.
Winter is a great time to birdwatch because there’s an influx of new birds, such as fieldfares and redwings, who migrate from colder regions like Russia and Scandinavia for winter. Plus, it’s also much easier to see bird activity during the winter when there are fewer leaves on the trees for them to be concealed by.
Birds will also be looking to keep warm by roosting and stocking up on food during the winter months. For many species, this means frequent trips to bird boxes and bird feeders in people’s gardens.
If you’ve never tried birdwatching before, you might want to have a read of our introductory guide, which will show you how to get started.
9. Enjoy comforting, warming dishes
When the temperature drops, many of us start thinking about what we can eat that’s both healthy and will leave us feeling warm.
Hearty winter dishes like soups or chilli are great go-to dinners in cold weather – they’re packed full of nutrition and flavour and there are plenty of meat and veggie options available.
So, why not try making one of these soup recipes for health and comfort? Or for a classic chilli con carne recipe, check out this version from The Hairy Bikers. You can make it as mild or spicy as you’d like and can add a range of different vegetables such as peppers, leeks, sweet potatoes, spring onions…the list goes on.
For more inspiration, you’ll find plenty of recipe ideas in the food and drink section of our website.
10. Cosy up with a good book
If you’re looking for some escapism, inspiration, or adventure (or all three!), getting lost in a good book is a great way to do this.
Reading can allow you to venture anywhere – to a sunny beach, a futuristic world, or into the past. Books can also offer a different perspective on the world by helping us to explore the countless ways that we could live our lives.
If you’re wondering what to read next, head over to the books, literature, and writing section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from ideas for your winter reading list to inspiring self-development books.
Final thoughts...
Winter can be a tough time for all of us, but there are also plenty of ways that we can make the most of the shorter, darker days – both indoors and out. By switching up your routine and trying a few new activities, your days will hopefully seem a lot brighter.
It’s only a matter of time before we’ll be hanging up our winter coats and welcoming spring once again, so we might as well make the most of mulled wine, starry nights, and cosy evenings in while we can.
For further reading, head over to the hobbies and activities section of our website.
Are you particularly fond of any of the winter activities above? Do you have any additional winter activities that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.