January can be a confusing time for many. We’re being inundated with messaging about fresh starts and new beginnings, but it’s also the dead of winter, when all we really want to do is hibernate! I’ll speak more to that “fresh start in January” mentality another time. But one thing I’ve noticed is that a majority of my friends are finding themselves frustrated with winter. “Why isn’t it warm yet?” “I’m so sick of the cold!” “Where is Spring?!”

I understand that winter really isn’t for everyone, and some people just hate the cold. However, I think a lot of this discontent stems from looking too far forward, instead of embracing the season we’re in right now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m bad at this, too! I hate summer and find myself longing for Fall when it’s only June. I’ve also found that I am MUCH happier when I can find ways to enjoy my current season, whether literally or metaphorically. When we move to the rhythm of nature and find the beauty in each season, we find ourselves more content!

So, here are 5 ways to help you embrace and enjoy winter:

1. Decór

If you want pops of color and sunshine in your home and decide to bring in fresh flowers, I’m not going to stop you! I love flowers, and adding that life to your home can be lovely. But I think there’s something to be said for the decorations that fit winter but not the holidays. Taking down the Christmas tree can feel sad, but what if when the tree was gone, there were still sprigs of greenery around? What if you still had twinkly lights, and decor that mimicked little piles of sparkling snow? In our home, throughout winter we decorate with a lot of deep greens and white. We add that element of light to the cozy winter vibe. We have deep green paintings, little fake flocked trees, sprigs of greenery, and a lot of twinkling lights (more on light later). We take this chance to bring in a calm and clean look, while still embracing the coziness! Bringing the beauty of winter indoors can make this time feel magical, instead of like a letdown.

2. Light

The Winter Solstice marked the start of our days getting longer again, but clearly that takes a while. While we’ve had our longest night, we know that it still gets dark quickly, and that makes a lot of people sad. As someone who enjoys the dark, I still need light in my life! This is where adding light into your home and day can make a huge difference during the winter! Keep some of those twinkly lights up from the holidays. Add some extra candles around and light them every evening for a truly amazing vibe. Turn on your lamps and keep the house well lit— you can be frugal about turning lights off in the summer. During the day, open the curtains and let as much natural light in as possible! Adding all of this light can really help turn your winter frown upside down, and lighting candles every night?! How romantic!

3. Coziness

To me, one of the BEST parts of winter is getting to be cozy! Personally, our house doesn’t have air conditioning, so in the summer months I can’t be cozy under blankets or snuggle with my husband without melting. In the winter, I LIVE for the cozy vibes! I have a hundred thousand blankets on the couch (maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but not enough of one. I have a lot of blankets), I wear sweaters and hoodies every day, I wrap my toes in the fuzziest of socks, I cuddle with my cats and my husband, I sit by a crackling fire, I drink cozy drinks like hot cocoa and tea, and more! The joy of being cozy is unmatched. Seriously, what is better than cuddling on the couch under a mound of blankets and watching a good movie or reading a great book? Embrace this chance to be SO COMFORTABLE, before it gets hot outside!

4. Activities

A lot of people associate winter with being stuck inside with nothing to do. While I understand that it can feel that way at first, I also want to remind everyone that we went through a worldwide pandemic where everyone was stuck inside, and we found things to do. I think we can handle winter! For indoor activities, make a list of things you’d like to do, and challenge yourself to check them all off! Our winter bucket list includes reading good books, having a weekly movie night, writing by the fire, crochet and other crafts, baking delicious treats, and more. But winter doesn’t HAVE to be an indoor-only season! Have you ever gone on a snow walk? It’s so beautiful! The way the trees glisten, the air seems clearer, and the brisk temperature has you feeling alive is such an invigorating experience! Bundle up, head outside, and see what you can observe about the beauty of winter! Better yet, do it with a friend! And hey, you can have a cozy drink and blanket waiting for you at home when you’re done.

5. Community

Last, but possibly the most important, is community. Being inside so much more during the winter can feel isolating. Don’t let it! Have friends over to your home to play board games, watch movies, or just hang out. Invite a friend out to coffee and have a chat! Even from a distance, there is FaceTime, virtual book clubs, and more. Go Live on social media and chat with people or do a reading sprint. Text your bestie and plan an evening to both watch the same movie and text each other throughout. Whatever works best for you… do it. Community is always important, but if you feel especially alone during the winter, then it’s especially important now! The great thing about all of the above ideas is that none of them need to happen alone. Having your home decorated and using light and coziness will mean your friends can experience that magical vibe, too! Trying new activities to have fun or be cozy can be done together, not just all by yourself. The letdown of the holidays is partly the excitement, but a lot of it is the sudden lack of togetherness. The holiday parties and family get togethers are over. So change that! Have a party, have a game night, plan a family dinner… whatever it is, just make sure you have your friends.

I’m not going to tell you that winter will suddenly be your favorite season. Maybe it won’t! And it’s ok to still look ahead and be excited for Spring! Having something to look forward to is actually really nice. Just don’t let it ruin THIS moment. Don’t let longing for something steal the joys of NOW from you. There is still beauty to be had, here! I hope you can embrace it.

Sending you all the warm and cozy vibes,

Dannika