28 Ways to Romanticize Your Life for Winter

A few years ago, I fell hard for the Danish concept of hygge. I read Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well cover to cover, convinced that if I bought enough candles and chunky sweaters, I could channel Scandinavian serenity into my apartment. For the uninitiated, hygge isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a lifestyle that centers around coziness and comfort through connection with others and cultivating a warm atmosphere. While it’s been rebranded through home decor and wellness practices, at its core, hygge is about slowing down to notice what feels good. And there’s no better time for that than winter. The shorter days invite introspection, swapping the hustle for soup recipes and soft lighting, and romanticizing the mundane. After running on summer’s social adrenaline, our overactive nervous systems need a reset and slower pace.

We get it—genuinely enjoying the chillier months can be challenging, but finding ways to savor your every day during this time of year can help keep the stress low and the joy coming. Think of it as your seasonal emotional tune-up disguised as a cozy routine. Whether you embrace hygge to the max, adjust your wellness routine to match the weather, or surrender to the holiday madness, winter practically begs you to recalibrate and soak it all in. Here are 27 ways to romanticize your life for winter and make it your coziest yet.

1. Do a life edit. Spending hours indoors during this time of year means you have a little extra time to take intentional pauses and self-reflect, so spend some some QT with your journal. Putting your thoughts onto paper actualizes them and gives them clarity and permanency.
2. Try a quick nervous system reboot. Take two sharp inhales through the nose, then exhale slowly through the mouth, or place your palms flat against a wall and push firmly for 20 seconds. Both tell your body you’re safe, snapping you out of “fight-or-flight” mode, fast.
3. Revive your college besties group chat to flex your social wellness muscles. According to the world’s longest-running study on happiness (AKA, The Harvard Study of Adult Development), it’s not our physical or mental well-being that determines our health and happiness—it’s the quality of our social connections.
4. Make your morning routine an “opening shift,” and make it slow. Open the curtains, make your bed, sip your coffee, stretch—whatever you need to do to feel calm, collected, and ready to take on the day. Because when you have a set opening shift morning regimen that you see through every day, you’re more energized, mindful, and productive (science says so).
5. Slow, cold weather mornings also call for hot, hearty, and high-protein breakfasts to start the day (a warm breakfast can help rev up digestion and a wholesome morning meal means getting in crucial nutrients that will help the gut stay healthy, especially during the holidays). Need some inspo? Maple cinnamon sweet potato protein waffles, protein bagels, pumpkin breakfast cake—say more.
6. Write and send letters to family and friends. Whether it takes the form of a holiday card or a “thinking of you” note, it can help you feel connected, especially when you can’t be there in person (read: it can ease feelings of loneliness and isolation). Plus, there’s the joy factor it brings to both you and the recipient.
7. Curate a holiday main character playlist. The holiday season can mean seasonal depression, so if you’re feeling the winter blues this year, put together a mash-up of songs that the main character in a holiday rom-com would love. We promise this will lift your spirits—listening to happy music literally rewires your brain chemistry to help cope with seasonal mood changes.
8. Take part in The Everygirl’s 30-Day Gratitude Challenge for a Happier, Healthier Mindset. Despite being “the happiest time of year,” it can also be the most emotionally draining, stressful, and even sad. But research (such as studies done by UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center) shows that gratitude changes the brain’s molecular structure, resulting in greater happiness. Gratitude and anxiety can’t coexist; when you feel gratitude, your anxiety and stress levels lower.
9. Forget 75 Hard—”75 Grow” is the other challenge you’ll actually want to stick to. Rather than subscribing to a “no excuses” rhetoric and routine, commit to three habits you’d like to “grow” (from each of these three categories: movement, avoiding avoidance, and creativity) over the course of 75 days. It’s about progress with a compassionate, growth-first mindset and positive change rooted in consistency. Not changing who you are entirely, but becoming your best self.
10. Redefine the Winter Arc or Great Lock In. End the year on your own terms: set 2-3 realistic goals, prioritize rest, slowness, and recovery, choose connection over performance. The end goal? To be intentional with joy as much as possible.
11. Manifest good things for yourself and the world in the new year. Test out a new manifestation method: a 4-step science-backed method, “life pie,” orgasming (yes, you read that right). Or, there’s always an app—the world is your oyster.
12. Treat yourself to a new vibrator. Extra time inside means extra time for spicy activities, so there’s no time like the present to add a new vibrator to your nightstand. If you’re not sure where to start, we have a few suggestions.
13. DIY Starbucks’ holiday drinks or viral protein coffee at home, and make them healthier while you’re at it. For starters, go for a dark roast, choose coffee beans that are organic and fair trade, and swap artificial sweeteners for natural alternatives.
14. Get morning sunlight (or bio-hack with a light therapy lamp) for better sleep, more energy, and improved mood and digestion. You just need five to 10 minutes of exposure on a sunny day or 15-30 minutes on a cloudy day. Take a walk, sit on a park bench, or sip your coffee on your balcony. 
15. Go for a hot girl walk (yes, even when it’s chilly). A study in Science Advances showed that contact with nature is associated with increased happiness, well-being, positive social interactions, not to mention a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
16. Take a stab at a winter sport. When you want to switch up your brisk winter walk or hike, go ice skating. Cozy cardio counts.
17. Take intentional time away from your electronics. Hygge-ing (or bed rotting) it up with nothing but your phone and TV has its time and place, but ICYMI, getting fresh air and natural light and being present with your loved ones is where it’s at.
18. Bring the outdoors in. Just because it’s dreary out (and you may be confined indoors), it doesn’t mean you can’t bring liveliness indoors. By filling your space with elements of nature like flowers and plants, you’ll be doing your mental health a favor (a study found that looking at greenery, including green walls and potted plants, can lower cortisol and reduce stress). Visual ASMR, FTW. 
19. Get in sync with your circadian rhythm and aim to get into bed 15 minutes earlier than the night before. Listening to your internal clock becomes even more important in the wintertime when the body needs more rest, so wind down early whenever you can. If your sleep hygiene is lacking, give the 3-2-1 sleep method—three straightforward pre-sleep tweaks to set your mind and body up to fall and stay asleep quickly—a whirl.
20. Knock out all of your yearly doctor’s appointments. Take the set-it-and-forget-it approach and schedule all of your health exams for the year (and, of course, follow through with said appointments). Taking charge of your health is the best gift you can give yourself. Don’t worry—we made a checklist for you.
21. Go to a heated workout class. The feeling of stepping out of a hot Pilates or yoga studio into cold, dry winter air is a breath of fresh air (literally), so go turn up the heat (solo or with friends). Chances are, you’ll reduce any lingering stress and improve your mood while you’re sweating it out.
22. Keep the heat turned up by taking an extended, steamy shower once a week. You know those days when the hot water feels especially good, and you don’t want to get out? Those are the perfect days to honor your body and take an everything shower. And when you’re feeling extra, pair it with a 30-second cold shower. Alternating exposure to hot and cold temperatures (AKA contrast therapy) translates to more energy and focus, faster metabolism, and less cortisol.
23. Give your immunity more TLC. Getting sick during cold and flu season is very unromantic, and it means less time that you could be spending doing things that bring you joy. Get enough quality sleep, prioritize eating whole foods, take vitamin C, and fit in regular movement.
24. Take yourself on a money date. Use the extra motivation that often comes with the new year to finally tackle your finances (money is a key part of self-care and wellness, too), but make it glamorized. Light a candle, pour yourself a glass of wine, and start with budgeting based on what brings you joy.
25. Stay hydrated throughout the day. Winter dryness can be combatted with moisturizers and creams, but it’s much more effective to start at the source. When in doubt, reach for hot water with lemon and honey—it’ll warm those winter chills while boosting your immune system.
26. Take a step outside of your regular dating routine, whether you’re single and ready to mingle or already spoken for. Spice up your typical dates with your partner or try something new on the dating scene.
27. Rewatch your favorite comfort show. Whether escaping to Star Hollows or Central Perk on repeat is your cup of tea (or coffee), watch unapologetically. The familiarity of your favorite show gives your brain a rest and can trigger positive emotions.
28. Rethink complicated wellness rituals (betterment burnout is real). How about a 7-day micro-wellness reset that actually works? The takeaway? Relish in slow living, get more rest, and pare down your morning and evening routines. Reconnect to the “why” behind your practices, remove the “I shoulds,” and make your own definition of self-care.

Feature graphic images credited to: Jessica Guardado | Dupe, Ashley Singerling | Dupe, Michelle A. Moraes | Dupe, Olia Danilevich | Corelens | Canva, Isabella Bonnet | Dupe, Olivia Haltom | Dupe

The post 28 Ways to Romanticize Your Life for Winter appeared first on The Everygirl.