During the winter, when it’s cold outside and we’re spending more time indoors, it can be challenging to come up with new ways to pass the time. However, there are plenty of ways you can embrace this frosty season, and keep yourself entertained both inside and outdoors.
From perfecting your chilli con carne recipe to going on a winter hike, here are 10 ways to beat the boredom over the next few months.
1. Complete a jigsaw puzzle
What better way to spend a warm, 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, then a jigsaw puzzle is a great place to start.
Puzzles require a lot of patience, thought, and focus – making them the perfect activity to really immerse yourself in for several hours at a time. Plus, every time we slot two pieces of the puzzle together, our brains release dopamine (a ‘happy hormone’), which is why we have such a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as we complete them.
Jigsaw puzzles also require us to spend time scanning the pieces to find different shades of colour, and different shapes – the details of which get stored in our short-term memory. Therefore, jigsaws reinforce existing pathways between brain cells and help to create new ones. This gives our short-term memory a boost and helps to speed up the pace at which we process our thoughts; making little things, like remembering what we need from the supermarket or where we left our car keys, much easier.
You can read more about these positive effects in our article; 8 health benefits of doing jigsaw puzzles.
For those looking to get stuck into a good jigsaw puzzle, Amazon has a huge range to choose from. If you’re new to puzzling, why not try one that has 1000 pieces? This creates enough of a challenge that you can spend a few hours or evenings completing it – but it’s not so difficult that you’re likely to get bored or give up. Alternatively, if you really want to push yourself, why not aim to complete one with 2000+ pieces?
2. Go on a winter walk or hike
Many of us don’t find the idea of going out for a long walk or hike appealing during the winter. Nevertheless, with the right planning and preparation, it can be very enjoyable.
Sometimes it’s the simple thought of walking around shivering in the cold that prevents us from wanting to get out there – but most times once we do, we adjust and adapt. Feeling the crisp winter air on your skin and getting your blood pumping when it’s cold out can be invigorating, and leave you feeling better mentally and physically when you return home.
Often, the best way to make the most of a walk when it’s cold (and sometimes wet!) outside, is to really embrace it. This means making sure to layer up and wear clothing that’s suitable for the elements; such as a good quality waterproof jacket, and some walking boots.
You could also consider packing a hot drink – or even some hot food like soup or chilli – in a flask to keep it warm, and take it along with you. A good playlist can also help you relax during a chilly walk or hike, and take your mind off the elements. A free basic Spotify account will give you access to thousands of songs, and allow you to create your own playlists.
It can also help to plan your walk or hike in advance, as this will allow you to get a better idea about what kind of conditions to expect. Consider using All Trails (available on desktop or as an app) – a site which allows you to find walking and hiking trails near you.
With a free basic All Trails account, you can start exploring right away. Or, if you want to go premium, you’ll get access to some additional benefits, such as the ability to download maps to use when you’re in an area with no smartphone signal.
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 take extra steps in the winter to look after our hair and skin, which can be drier as a result of the cold weather. Though, sometimes finding what works for yours after many months of glorious sunshine can take some trial and error – and not all of us have the money to buy and try endless moisturisers and hair care products each time the seasons change. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can keep your skin and hair hydrated without breaking the bank.
To start with, it can be helpful to read up on how best to treat your skin and hair during the winter. For hair, this can include tips such as keeping hair-washing to a minimum, using a hydrating hair mask once a week, and having regular trims. This guide from Hello! magazine includes these tips and more.
When it comes to skincare, using moisturising face oils or hand creams, and making sure that we’re eating a diet rich in nutrients are useful tips. Have a read of this article from Glamour magazine to find out more.
For a rundown of some of the best moisturisers out there, you might also want to have a read of our article; 10 of the best moisturisers for mature skin. Or, if you want to save some money and have a go at making some of your own moisturising skin care and hair products this winter, check out these 7 DIY face masks from Good Housekeeping, which use ingredients such as honey, coconut oil, and avocado.
4. Try stargazing
The amazing thing about stargazing is that it’s completely free, yet it offers an ever-changing show, a chance to connect with nature, and the opportunity to practice some deep reflection.
No matter where we happen to be in life, or what’s going on, the night sky can act as an anchor point that we can return to time and time again when we feel the need to connect to something greater, or when we need some quiet space to contemplate our past, present, and future.
The winter may be cold, but it also offers us shorter days. This means there’s plenty more time to get outside and take in the wonders of the night sky. Once you’ve wrapped up warm, whipped yourself up a hot drink, and made your way out to your garden or to sit in a local park, there are plenty of things to look out for. Sunsets, constellations, and shooting stars are just a few examples.
To find out more about what to look out for when stargazing, check out our introduction to stargazing. You can also find monthly guides to stargazing in the learning section of our site.
There are also a number of free apps you can download to help you identify what you see in the night sky, such as SkyView Lite (iOS/Android) and NASA (iOS/Android). You’ll find a roundup of some of the best stargazing apps on the Country Living website.
5. Tackle your inbox
It doesn’t take long for an email inbox to get out of control. Perhaps you watched your unread email number tick from double figures to treble or quadruple over the course of the year – but you still haven’t gotten around to sorting through them.
Or maybe your inbox is being flooded with spam emails, and you’ve been meaning to mark them as ‘junk’ or unsubscribe altogether, but haven’t gotten around to that either. We’ve all been there, and often the more swamped our inbox gets, the harder it is to motivate ourselves to sort through it.
However, while in the summer months you might have avoided organising your inbox because you’d much rather be enjoying the sunshine, the winter can be a great time to knuckle down and sort through any outstanding admin tasks that have been weighing you down.
Although managing your inbox might not be the most thrilling activity out there, it can be incredibly therapeutic – and many say that they often feel lighter, and can think more clearly afterwards.
If any of this sounds familiar and you feel ready to tackle those unread emails, have a read of our article 8 easy ways to manage your inbox.
6. Volunteer your time to those who need it most
Even though the weather has dipped, there are still plenty of ways to volunteer your time for the greater good without leaving your sofa. 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 that you could make a difference from the comfort of your own home.
Alternatively, if you’re okay with the idea of volunteering away from your home, it’s worth keeping in mind that homeless charities such as Crisis, who work hard to provide food and shelter for those who need it, will often need extra help during the winter months.
Many local food banks will also be relying on the kindness of volunteers to keep them running for individuals and families who need them over the Christmas period. It’s worth contacting yours directly to see whether they need any additional help over the coming weeks.
If you have a few spare hours each week, and a strong desire to make a difference, you might want to check out our online volunteering guide, or our wider volunteering section, for more ideas and inspiration.
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 winter warmers, such as mulled wine and hot chocolate.
If you usually drink the same hot drinks every year, this year could be the time to mix things up a bit. Perhaps you could try a different take on a classic hot chocolate, by making a blackberry, cookies and cream, or red velvet version. Country Living’s article 30 of the best hot chocolate recipes, will hopefully offer you some inspiration.
You could also make your own mulled wine or cider. This is a great way to get creative in the kitchen and will also give you the opportunity to explore different flavours – and make a winter warmer that’s exactly to your liking. For mulled wine, you can check out our own recipe here, or for mulled cider, try this one from Delicious Magazine.
If you’re a tea drinker, winter is also a great time to try some different flavours! From chai and hibiscus to apple and cinnamon, there are so many to choose from. The Wiltshire Tea Company has a huge selection of teas, as do Twinings.
If none of these ideas has taken your fancy, why not try one of these 9 delicious hot drinks that will warm you up on a cold day?
8. Consider birdwatching
If you’re an animal lover, a nature enthusiast, or you’re just looking for a way to relax and unwind, you might want to consider birdwatching.
Birds are everywhere if you really look for them – on top of houses, waddling along the pavements, nesting in trees and buses, and soaring through our skies – either alone or in groups. It’s easy to take them for granted because they’re always there, but just by looking a little closer, we can unlock an entirely new world.
Winter is a great time to bird watch because there’s an influx of new birds, such as fieldfares and redwings, who migrate from colder regions like Russia and Scandinavia to the UK for winter.
Across all species, birds will also be looking to keep warm by roosting and stocking up on food. For many species, this will mean frequent trips to bird boxes and bird feeders in people’s gardens. 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.
Whether you have any knowledge of different bird species or not, they’re still fascinating to watch. They fiercely protect their young, just as we humans do, and they also have squabbles, and daily routines when it comes to things like feeding and bathing.
If you decide to read up on any birds that you come across, things will just get even more interesting. You’ll begin to understand the habits and life cycles of specific breeds and discover more about why they behave the way that they do.
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 a hearty bowl of soup or a spicy chilli
When the temperature drops, many of us steer away from salads and start thinking about what we can eat that’s healthy but will leave us feeling warm. This presents us with a great opportunity to practise some cooking skills by trying out some new recipes or perfecting those we already like.
Hearty winter dishes like soups or a spicy chilli are great go-to dinners for cold weather, as they’re packed full of nutrition and flavour – and there are plenty of meat and veggie options available. When it comes to soup, the possibilities are endless; from carrot and coriander to chicken and sweetcorn. Have a look at these BBC Good Food soup recipes to get inspired.
A chilli recipe also comes with a lot of flexibility because you can make it as mild or spicy or sweet or smokey as you like. Plus, you can add a range of different vegetables such as peppers, leeks, sweet potatoes, and spring onions – and choose whether to serve it with rice, tortillas, quinoa, bread, guacamole, sour cream… the list goes on.
For a classic chilli con carne recipe, check out this version from Hairy Bikers. Or to mix it up a little and try some interesting variations – for example, meatball chilli con carne or slow-cooked bean chilli – have a look at this list of inspiring chilli recipes from Olive magazine.
For more inspiration, you’ll find plenty of recipe ideas in the food and drink section of our site. From leftover recipes and worldwide cuisines to easy dinners for one, hopefully there’s something for everyone.
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 while you’re all cosy at home is a great way to do this.
Reading can allow you to venture anywhere – to a sunny beach full of holiday romance, a futuristic world set thousands of years ahead, or into the past to relive some of the most notable historical events of all time.
Books can also offer us a different perspective on the world by helping us to explore the different ways that we could live our lives. The possibilities of what we can discover every time we open the cover of a new book are endless.
If you’re wondering what to start reading next, and you’re in need of a little inspiration, head over to the books, literature, and reading section of our site. Here, you’ll find everything including ideas for your winter reading list, inspiring self-development books, and must-read books.
Final thoughts...
Winter can be a tough time for us all, but there are also plenty of ways that we can embrace and 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 in the spring once more. So we might as well make the most of mulled wine, starry nights, and cosy evenings in while we can.