Even though winter is not officially here, these last couple of days definitely felt and looked like winter.
I am not a big fan of winter. I find that during winter I tend to spend a lot of time inside, sometimes even too much. I don't like when it's too cold and I don't like when the snow is melting. I get lazy and the food is heavy during the holidays. I honestly feel like a sloth during the winter months.
This autumn I tried to focus on the things I like about it rather than the things I would usually complain about and it worked really well! Focusing on the good things that I enjoy made a big change so I will try to do this again, this time for winter.
Later this month I will share my winter bucket list but for now I want to share some ideas on how you can enjoy winter even if you're not a massive fan of this season:
1. Get into the holiday spirit
This is the time of the year when everything is holiday/Christmas oriented. You just can't avoid it. Movies on TV, music playlists, people sharing their decorations, Christmas cookies and first snow pictures on Social media (I am one of them raises hand). City streets, malls, cafes - everything is in the spirit of the holidays. Even the street musicians are dressed like Santa. Some years I try to ignore the holiday mood but eventually I just "go with the flow" and enjoy it.
I know that a lot of you have the tradition of buying gifts and if you have a big family and a lot of friends, it can be quite stressful. So I would suggest to make a list of gift ideas for each person, your budget and start shopping on time, wrap up the presents and you will be ready and stress-free.
2. Cozy nights in
I am sure that each and every one of us can appreciate a cozy night in during the freezing months. This is also the time when I wish (more than ever) that I had a pet, a dog or a cat or both, to snuggle in with. Watching a movie or TV series, reading a book or just scroll through Steemit, Youtube or blogs, maybe listening to some music and of course adding some popcorn or a hot drink is a must.
3. Decorate
Last year I put some red lights around my window and it really added a nice, festive touch to my room. I would turn them on in the evening while chilling in my room (sloth style) and I'm planning to do the same this year. Our Christmas tree is in the living room and sometimes we add lights on our balcony. Nothing crazy, we just use the same stuff we have each year, keeping it simple. I am also going to use some festive candle holders that we have for an extra touch.
4.Food and drinks
If nothing on this list so far makes you feel like you can enjoy winter, I am sure this one is the way to go. Freshly baked bread, soups, muffins or cookies. Hot cocoa, tea, cappuccino or mulled wine. This is something you can do by yourself, playing some music, dancing around and making your favorite food/drink or it can be a family/couple/friend activity.
5. Reflection, gratitude and a fresh start
I feel like this is the time of the year when we all look back at the things we did, wish we did, completed successfully or failed at, good memories, bad memories, times we laughed and we cried, embarrassing moments, things that happened but were not planned... No matter how this year was for you, there is always something you can learn and be grateful for. Make a list of those and you can also set some goals for the next year and make actual, detailed plans on how you can achieve them.
Today I am grateful for the positive attitude towards the upcoming season, trying to make the best out of it.