With the arrival of colder, darker days, you might find yourself struggling with ‘the winter blues’ – perhaps feeling bored, restless, or sad. This can make it difficult to keep motivated and busy.
However, research shows that people with hobbies tend to experience lower rates of depression and higher levels of happiness, health, and life satisfaction.
So, to help you avoid a winter slump, we’ve come up with 13 indoor activities to keep you busy and uplifted on dark winter days.
1. Experiment in the kitchen
Cold weather can be the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. Why not whip up your favourite sweet treat, experiment with a new dinner recipe, or explore a cuisine you’ve never tried before? The options are endless and, no matter what you make, you’ll have a tasty treat at the end to enjoy.
Winter can also be a great opportunity to do some batch cooking. By stocking up your freezer for the coming months, you won’t have to spend as much time indoors cooking when spring arrives if you don’t want to.
For inspiration, head over to the food and drink section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from nostalgic baking recipes to recipes from around the world.
2. Pamper yourself
While having fewer daylight hours can sometimes feel a bit depressing, more time at home can be a nice excuse to pamper yourself. In our busy lives, it can be tricky to make time for ourselves, but self-care is important and can boost health, happiness, and energy levels.
From running a luxurious bubble bath to painting your nails or trimming your beard, there are many ways to carve out a bit of ‘me-time’ in your day. For ideas, check out our article: 33 self-care ideas to boost your mental and physical health this winter.
3. Keep connected
It can be easy to slip into a hibernation bubble and communicate with loved ones less regularly when it’s cold outside. But, it’s important to keep connected as, if left unchecked, loneliness can begin to affect our mental and physical health.
Arranging a catch-up with loved ones – whether in person or in the form of phone or video calls – can be helpful. You could consider hosting a dinner party, organising a craft afternoon, or simply inviting someone over for a cup of tea or some mulled wine.
For those who don’t live locally to friends or family, writing someone a letter or making them a card can be a thoughtful way to stay connected. In today’s digital age, it’s rare to receive post, so a handwritten note is sure to make someone’s day!
Alternatively, check out the free community groups on Rest Less Events – there’s everything from book and lunch clubs to quizzes and writing groups.
4. Get creative
There’s a creative hobby for everyone and wintry days can be the perfect time to experiment.
Research has confirmed that activities like knitting, painting, and carpentry are forms of mindfulness, which is fantastic for de-stressing and focusing on the present moment. Plus, it can be really satisfying to see your creative skills progress as you practise.
For inspiration, head over to the art and culture section of our website or read our article: 13 winter arts and crafts ideas. Or, why not browse the creative classes running on Rest Less Events?
5. Dive into a good book
In our technology-driven world, reading often takes a backseat to screens and other digital distractions. Yet, for bookworms, nothing compares to losing yourself in a captivating story.
Beyond pure enjoyment, reading is enriching in plenty of ways – it can increase empathy, spark creativity, boost motivation, and reduce stress. So, whether you’re drawn to cosy winter reads, thrilling adventures, or romance novels, why not get stuck into a great book today?
If you’d like to discuss your reads with others, you might be interested in joining one of the Rest Less Events book clubs.
6. Exercise
We all know that exercise is good for us. From boosting heart health and lowering cholesterol to strengthening bones and improving balance, the benefits are undeniable. However, during winter, it can be particularly challenging to find the motivation to workout.
Fortunately, whether you’re looking for heart-pumping, high-intensity fitness sessions or more gentle, self-paced routines, there are thousands of virtual workouts available that you can do from the comfort of your home.
For ideas on where to start, check out our articles: 5 steps to staying fit from home and 7 low-impact exercises you can do at home. Alternatively, why not join one of the upcoming virtual fitness classes on Rest Less Events? There’s everything from yoga and Tai Chi to dance and aerobic fitness.
7. Declutter and clean
Decluttering and cleaning might not seem the most exciting way to keep busy, but it’s surely one of the most satisfying. And winter is the ideal time to get everything spick and span.
Plus, the benefits of decluttering and cleaning extend far beyond having a tidy space. Studies show that it can help to boost mood, focus, concentration, and even physical health. Our article, How to declutter and reorganise your home, has some tips to get started.
It’s common to discover items that you no longer want or need during a declutter. And, alongside donating things to charity shops or food banks, you might like to read our article, How to make money from your clutter, for information on how to make some extra pennies.
It’s also worth taking the time to declutter your digital spaces – for example, clearing emails, culling social media accounts, and sorting files on your laptop. Not only can this improve mental well-being, but online security too.
8. Revamp your home
It’s easy to feel bored of your surroundings when you’re spending more time at home during the winter. So, what better time to experiment with refreshing your living space?
From quick changes like hanging new artwork, rearranging furniture, and making your space cosy to bigger projects like painting a room or upgrading your bathroom, there are plenty of ways to make your mark.
For more inspiration, head over to the home and garden section of our website.
9. Play a game
Playing isn’t just for children; in fact, studies have found that games can help boost mental and physical health in adults too. And, the good news is that there’s a game for everyone to enjoy.
Board games are a popular rainy day activity and, as well as being fun, research has linked them with better brain functioning and a reduced risk of dementia. You don’t have to miss out if you live alone either, as there are plenty of one-player games available. Check out this list of solo board games from Dice Breaker for ideas.
Alternatively, why not try playing a video game? Any gamer will tell you how quickly time can pass when engrossed in a game – perfect if you’re looking to keep busy indoors over winter! And, studies have found that they can actually improve mental well-being too. To get started, check out these 10 best games for people new to video games from The Gamer.
If you don’t want to play online or are looking to limit your screen time, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, and sudokus are some other great options.
10. Scrapbook
Many of us have thousands of photos sitting in boxes or on our phones that we never quite get around to displaying. And gloomy weather can make the ideal time to bring these memories to life.
Of course, you could pop your photos into frames or albums to cherish for years to come. But displaying them in a scrapbook is a great way to get creative and have fun. You could create collages of photos, use funky backgrounds, add handwritten memories, and even stickers. It’s really up to you how you want your scrapbook to look, but hopefully, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment after you’ve finished!
Part of what makes scrapbooking so enjoyable is that it gives us a chance to look back and reflect. Studies have found that nostalgia can reduce stress, while recounting memories and thinking imaginatively can improve brain cognition. So, not only will you have a keepsake afterwards, but your brain will thank you too.
To get started, this article from Scrapbooking Coach has some useful tips.
11. Enjoy a movie marathon
For many of us, few things beat the simple pleasure of watching a film. And what’s better than watching one? A movie marathon!
So, get comfy on the sofa, grab some snacks, and settle in for a few hours of good cinema entertainment. You could dive into an epic film series, choose a genre for a themed evening, let each member of your household choose a film, or tick off a classic that you’ve been meaning to see…the options are endless. For example, how many of our best films of 2024 have you watched?
Head over to the film and TV section of our website for more inspiration.
12. Consider your goals
Research has identified several benefits of goal-setting, including improved mental health and self-esteem. And, extra time indoors can offer an ideal opportunity to consider your goals and get excited for the future.
Before looking towards what’s next, it’s worth taking time to acknowledge and celebrate what you’ve already achieved. Not only can this increase confidence and positivity, but it can help boost motivation too. You might like to do so by spending some time journaling and writing down what you’re grateful for.
From here, you can think about what you’d still like to do in life and potential areas for growth. Some people find it useful to make a vision board to help affirm their goals for the year ahead.
13. Learn something
It’s never too late to learn something new. And research has found countless benefits to expanding your knowledge – including improved memory, delayed onset of dementia, and slowed cognitive decline.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn to play the harmonica, speak French, discover new management skills, or have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt. No matter what you’re interested in, there’s an online course, tutorial, or guide out there to learn from.
Head over to the learning section of our website for ideas. Or to get started, have a read of our article: 12 new skills that you can learn from home.
Final thoughts…
From baking and fitness to crochet and scrapbooking, we hope some of these ideas have inspired you to make the most of your time indoors this winter.
For further reading, check out our articles: 6 ways to beat the winter blues and 14 ways to get out of the house.
Do any of these ideas appeal to you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!