15 Ways to Embrace Winter With Joy
Make the Most of the Season with These Creative Winter Activities
Walking out to refill the birdfeeder, I hear the crunch of the snow under my feet. The world outside is quiet, except for the chickadees singing to each other from the nearby trees, eagerly awaiting the arrival of new birdseed. I look around. Trees with bare branches. My garden covered in a white blanket of snow.
The stillness of this winter scene makes me pause as I take a deep breath.
Stepping back inside, I put the kettle on and warm my feet in the slippers I keep by the door. I think of the animals, curled up and hibernating in their dens for the winter. I admire the trees through the window, thinking about the ways they’ve slowed down to compensate for the dropping temperatures.
In many ways we’ve done the same — adapted to the colder weather that comes with winter. And yet we struggle, often trudging through winter, simply yearning for spring.
For some, winter brings a magical excitement — fluffy, symmetrical snowflakes that sparkle in the sun, afternoons spent ice skating on the frozen pond, and cozy evenings in front of the fireplace. For others, the darker, colder days bring the heaviness of winter blues.
I understand this struggle from personal experience, but I’ve learned that with a shift in mindset and a little creativity, winter can become a season of marvel and joy. The winter season is a unique opportunity to slow down, rest, connect with others, and savor life in meaningful ways.
Here is a list I compiled of 15 winter activities to help combat the winter blues and enjoy the season.
I hope this list will inspire you to step through this season in a new way — with creativity, reflection, and wonder.
Step Outside and Experience Nature
Step outside every day — no matter how cold — if even just for a moment. So often we view winter solely as a time to be cozy and hibernate indoors. However, I’ve found that one of the best ways to embrace winter is to actually be outside in it. Winter brings a unique beauty to the natural world — ice crystals, frozen ponds, and light reflecting on the snow. Here are some ways that I love to explore and discover the wonders of winter.
Birdwatching
Set up a birdfeeder and watch the winter birds. Which birds visit? Do you notice any cardinals, chickadees, or goldfinches?
Make your own birdfeeder using a pinecone. Spread the pinecone with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed and hang it with twine from a branch.
Notice the different characteristics of the birds that come to your birdfeeder. Which birds tend to sit at the feeder and eat? Which birds tend to grab a seed and fly away to eat?
2. Winter Scavenger Hunt
Explore local parks, wooded areas, neighborhoods, or even your backyard looking for:
Pinecones and winter berries
Animal tracks and signs of animal life (burrow entrances, holes in trees, etc.)
What do you hear? Listen to the wildlife. Notice the crunch of your boots in the snow.
Bring your camera with you and capture details and vistas that you find beautiful.
Compare the branches of an evergreen tree with the branches of a deciduous tree. How have they each adapted to the colder temperatures of winter?
Enjoy the way the snow is falling or piled high on the branches.
3. Snowy Adventures
Grab your sled and head to your favorite hill.
Spend an afternoon ice skating at a local ice rink (indoors or outdoors).
Venture out on the trails and go cross-country skiing.
Build a snowfort or a snowman in your backyard.
Tip: bring a thermos of hot cocoa to enjoy after your time out in the snow!
4. Winter Hiking
Buckle on your snowshoes or put on a pair of ice cleats over your boots and step out to explore the snowy trails in your area.
Combat the winter blues with sunlight, time in nature, and movement. Research shows that combining exercise with time in nature can ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) symptoms and alter brain activity to reduce stress and promote relaxation. [1], [2], [3]
You may feel cold at first, but once you start moving your body, you’ll warm up and discover a sense of rejuvenation and calm from being out in the fresh, crisp winter air.
Bonus: One of the perks of winter hiking is you get to avoid all the bugs!
*A Few of My Favorites*
If you live in Northern Michigan or happen to be visiting, here are a few of my favorite places for winter hiking:
Treat Trail (in Empire) — This scenic trail winds through a wooded winter wonderland and historic farmland, before leading out to the bluff with an incredible panoramic view of Lake Michigan.
Brown Bridge Quiet Area (in Traverse City) — Here you’ll find a network of trails to take you along the winding Boardman River Valley. If you’re anything like me and gravitate toward the tranquility of moving water, you’ll find such peace walking these trails alongside the river, even in winter.
Ransom Lake (in Lake Ann) — This quiet wooded trail takes you along a flowing creek and then loops around all of Ransom Lake — a small, untouched lake that’s beautiful even when it's frozen.
Hartwick Pines (in Grayling) — While hiking these trails, you’ll find yourself stepping through an old-growth forest of pines. For an especially magical experience, bundle up and venture out on one of their scheduled lantern-lit hikes.
Peterson Beach (in Honor) We often associate beaches with summer, but there’s something so calming about walking the shoreline and listening to waves, even in the middle of winter. This is one of my favorite beaches to walk and gain a sense of renewal — winter or summer.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
What better time to be in the kitchen than during the coldest months of the year when you don’t mind having the oven on? Fill your home with the warmth and aroma of hearty meals and delicious baked goods. Invite others to join you in the kitchen!
5. Cook a Hearty Winter Dinner
Winter is a wonderful time to put together a hearty meal in your slow cooker — stew, casserole, chili, or a roast.
Cook a big pot of soup and pair it with freshly baked crusty bread or with a loaf of sourdough.
6. Host a Diner-Style Breakfast
Invite friends and family to your home for a cozy diner-style breakfast: pancakes or waffles, eggs, breakfast meats, and fresh fruit.
Or bake a hearty breakfast casserole with eggs, cheese, bacon, and kale.
Enjoy a slow morning together with the people you love — what a way to start a cold winter day!
7. Winter Charcuterie Board
Put together a delicious spread with seasonal ingredients:
Winter cheeses (fresh goat cheese, aged cheddar, smoked gouda)
Dried fruits (apricots, figs, cherries)
Spiced nuts
Fresh vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, sliced golden beets)
Fresh fruits (grapes, figs, pears, pomegranates)
Whole-grain crackers and bread
Italian meats (salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, bresaola)
Olives, pickles
Dark chocolate
Be Intentional About Connecting with Others
It’s easy to feel isolated during the winter months, especially after winding down from the busyness of the holiday season. As we slowly find ourselves back in our normal routines, it’s important to be intentional about spending time with the people in our lives — not to mention it’s way more fun to walk through winter with the ones you love!
8. Winter Bonfire
Gather around a firepit with blankets, marshmallows, and thermoses of hot cocoa.
Share stories or simply enjoy the warmth and opportunity to be together making lasting winter memories.
9. Start a Crafting Circle
Invite friends to gather and craft something together — knit, embroider, paint, or make candles.
If you’re looking for a simple craft to start with, try making aromatherapy sachets with dried lavender — tie with string or ribbon.
10. Host a Game Night
Invite friends and family over for a fun evening of playing board games.
Have everyone bring their favorite comfort snack to share!
For a larger group, set up 2-3 game areas and have people join in on the one that sounds fun to them.
*A Few of My Favorites*
In our household, we love to play board games! We’ve always found it a great way to connect and have fun together. Here are a few of our favorite games and ones I’d recommend.
Strategy Board Games:
Splendor
7 Wonders
Settlers of Catan
Ticket to Ride
Legends of Andor
Everdell
New York Zoo
Entertaining Party/Family Games
PicWits!
Apples to Apples
Cover Your Assets
Wavelength
Card/Dice Games
UNO
Skip-Bo
Qwixx
Find Ways to Be Cozy and Rest
With the natural world slowing down around us, it feels fitting that we crave a quieter pace as well. The gentleness of winter is an invitation for us to rest and find balance before the renewal of spring. Explore ways to embrace the stillness of winter with creativity and reflection. Create opportunities for coziness and take time to nurture your whole self — mind, body, and spirit.
11. Spa Night at Home
Carve out time for yourself to relax by first creating a tranquil atmosphere. Light a candle, use essential oils, drink hot herbal tea, and play calming music in the background.
Focus on self-care with a warm bath, a face mask, or by simply resting your mind and your body.
12. Get Creative with Crafting
Try a new crafting hobby or take time to do one you love — knitting, crocheting, macrame, painting, or making a winter wreath.
Let this calming winter activity be a form of mindfulness — a break from the hustle culture we’ve grown so accustomed to.
13. Journal or Write
Start a gratitude journal — write down at least one thing you’re grateful for each day or record three things that went well that day.
Take time to reflect and write — reflect on winter memories, dreams for spring, or creative writing prompts to spark your imagination.
Dream about your summer garden. What perennials do you want to add this year? What herbs and vegetables would you like to try growing?
14. Puzzles
Slowing down to put together a puzzle is a great solo or group activity.
If you have a table that can be designated for your puzzle, set it up and come back to work on the puzzle whenever you get a moment or need something relaxing to do for a bit of time during the day.
I recommend 300-500 piece puzzles if you have older children in the household — or if you don’t want to commit to a 1000 piece puzzle.
Tip: if you don’t have any puzzles (or if you’re looking for a new puzzle) check out your local library, as they often have puzzles of various designs and sizes.
15. Create a Cozy Nook
Design a reading and journaling space with fuzzy blankets, soft pillows, and warm lighting.
Use this space as a refuge and comfort during tired or blue moments.
Settle into this cozy nook on winter afternoons and allow yourself to get lost in a good book.
*A Few of My Favorites*
I’ve been on a mission these last five years to read more classics. They are well known for a reason, have stood the test of time, and many are really quite enjoyable to read.
Here are 10 of my favorite classic books:
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
And so with more wintery days ahead, I encourage you to try something new this winter season. Explore a hobby from the list of winter activities above or branch out and try something you’ve always been curious about.
We don’t have to step through winter with dread; we can find ways to embrace this season with joy. It’s not just a long stretch of time between autumn and spring — it’s a season full of unique opportunities and incredible beauty. Winter is a gift — a gentle invitation to slow down and find balance in our lives.
So whether you’re exploring the wonders of nature, nurturing your creativity, savoring the warmth of a hearty meal, or sharing laughter with a friend, embrace winter as an opportunity to truly nourish your spirit.
How will you embrace the magic of winter?
Cited
Hopman, R. J., LoTemplio, S. B., Scott, E. E., McKinney, T. L., & Strayer, D. L. (2020). Resting-state posterior alpha power changes with prolonged exposure in a natural environment. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 5(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00247-0
Melrose S. (2015). Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview of Assessment and Treatment Approaches. Depression research and treatment, 2015, 178564. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/178564
Pearson, D. G., & Craig, T. (2014). The great outdoors? Exploring the mental health benefits of natural environments. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 1178. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01178