50 winter wonders that will boost your mood
The clocks have changed and temperatures are dropping - but there's no need to feel gloomy. From warming cocktails and cosy yoga to stargazing and sunrises, Hannah Britt explains why winter is a season to celebrate
1 Take a dip “Wild swimming in winter, if done carefully, is magical. Cold water has an anti-inflammatory effect,” says Vicky Allan, author of The Art of Wild Swimming England & Wales.
2 Warming cocktail Create a delicious hot toddy by mixing 120ml whisky, 30ml sherry vinegar, 300ml boiling water and 4tsp honey. Serves two to three. Visit ncnean.com for more recipes.
3 Go go glitter “Winter is the time to experiment with glitters, metallics and jewelled tones,” says make-up artist Christiane Dowling (christianedowling. com). Try MAC Glitter Reflects in Bronze, £17.50 (maccosmetics.co.uk).
4 Puzzling Board game makers Gibsons found a quarter of Brits feel an increased sense of happiness after completing a puzzle. What better excuse to cosy up with a family jigsaw?
5 Brownie in a box Get creative in the kitchen with Lele’s Brownie in a Box mix, £4.99 (leleslondon. com). Eat warm for a toasty treat.
6 Cool crafts Pick up pine cones when out and about. Spray paint them gold and attach to twine to create a festive garland.
7 Scented candle creation Make your own scented candle for less than a fiver with a Hinkler Create Your Own Candle Kit, £4.99 (Aldi).
8 Light it up Create a cosy space with lighting. “Change to warmer LED bulbs and place more floor and table lights around your living room,” says Sylvia James, interior designer at homehow. co.uk.
9 Christmas markets Most places have a Christmas market, selling everything from trinkets to mulled wine. See visitengland.com to find one near you.
10 Have a hug A warm hug is universally comforting. “This is because the bonding hormone oxytocin is released, as well as endorphins,” says psychologist Dr Audrey Tang.
11 Have a hot date From cosy pubs, to winter walks, this is the ideal season for setting up a hot date. “Do something to make it more memorable,” says relationship expert Neil Wilkie.
12 Try a dark lip “A dark lip adds an instant pop of glamour to your look, perfect for the festive season,” says Christiane. Try Maybelline Super Stay Matte
Ink in Voyager, £9.99 (Superdrug).
13 Slow cook it A slow cooker makes creating hearty meals from casseroles to soups easy. Need inspiration? The Slow Cooker Bible (£18.99, Pyramid) has you covered.
14 Mull it over Make mulled wine with this simple recipe from BBC Good Food. Add 750ml red wine, one cinnamon stick, 2 star anise, 4 cloves, 2 strips lemon zest and 4 tbsp of sugar to a pan and heat.
15 Curl up with a good book There’s nothing cosier than settling down on the sofa with a gripping read. Why not pick something new from your library?
16 Familjemys (family cosiness)
Be inspired by Sweden and enjoy familjemys – time reserved to just be cosy with family, with no phones or other distractions.
17 Cosy home Rebecca Challinor, interior designer at Terrys (terrysfabrics.co.uk) says: “Create a cosier environment with rich velvets, wool and faux fur, and furnishings such as cushions, throws and drapes.”
18 Go sloe Make gin and jam with foraged sloe berries. “You can find them in forests, hedgerows, in meadows and on scrubland,” says horticulturalist Anne Britt (@annebrittdesign).
19 Feline friends
According to charity Cats Protection, 87 percent of owners say their feline friend brings joy into their lives. So why not adopt a moggie? cats.org.uk)
20 In the knit Snuggle up in this season’s nicest knits. jumper, £39.50 marksandspencer.com).
21 Christmas lights My Christmas Trails will see 14 outdoor venues around the UK sparkle with illuminations, carols and more. Visit mychristmastrails.co.uk.
22 Hygge yoga The cosiest workout of all, hygge yoga was made for winter. “Do your yoga moves in your softest, comfiest clothes, surrounded by soft blankets,” says yoga teacher Lucy McCarthy movementformodernlife.com).
23 Outdoor ice skating From family fun to date nights, what could be more magical than skating under the twinkling lights of an outdoor ice rink?
24 Take a bath A long, hot bath lowers blood pressure, eases muscle tension and aids cold and flu symptoms. Add Neal’s Yard Aromatic Bath Salts, £15 (nealsyardremedies.com).
25 Hot tub boat The UK’s first hot tub boat experience is go. Cruise the waterways of London and Essex in the comfort of 38 degrees. From £32, visit skunaboats. com.
26 Warm it up When decorating, think warm. “Fiery reds paired with comforting oranges will create a warm glow to your home,” says Sylvia.
27 Home candle Treat yourself to Neom Perfect Peace Candle, £32 (neomorganics.com) and scent your home with wintery pine, myrrh and lime.
28 Winter meditation “Let daily meditation practice set you up for a stress-free winter,” says energy healer Aysha Bell (ayshabell.com). “When we take time for ourselves we are less likely to fall into negative patterns.”
29 Blanket Update your sofa with a cosy throw. Chunky knit throw, £30, George Home at Asda.
30 Log fires Nothing could be more warming than a roaring log fire. Don’t have a fireplace? Netflix has a real fire programme, and there are lots of videos on YouTube too.
31 Hot chocolate A creamy, delicious hot chocolate is just the ticket at this time of year. Extra marshmallows, please.
32 Plant bulbs “Most bulbs should be planted in winter,” says Anne. “Striped ‘Whitewell Purple’ crocuses will appear in February, and the domes of Allium ‘Globemaster’ will rise above the late May herbaceous borders.”
33 Winter wildlife Winter is tough for wildlife, so give them a hand. Fill bird feeders with seeds, put out leftover meats, veg and cheese for badgers, and unsalted nuts for squirrels.
34 Classic movies From Home Alone to James Bond and Elf, the festive season sees reruns of all the classics.
There’s never been a better reason to stay in.
35 Morning walk “Walking is simple, free and open to anyone,” says personal trainer Laura Connor. “Getting outdoors will lift your mood as well as giving you a much-needed boost of vitamin D.”
36 Build a snowman Fabulous, fun and free – building a snowman is the ultimate winter activity. Don’t forget the carrot.
37 Smell the cold “A cold day smells different from a hot one because our noses aren’t as sensitive to smells in the winter,” says Pamela Dalton, olfactory scientist (childrensmuseum.org).
38 Be grateful Winter is a time to take stock and realise what you have. Jot down five things you’re grateful for. It could be anything, from a warm house to the smell of mince pies.
39 Toast marshmallows Whether you toast them over a bonfire in the garden, or over the hob, kids (and big kids) love gooey marshmallows.
40 Super sequins “Tis the season to sparkle,” says fashion writer Emma Johnson. Dress, £49.99, Zara
41 A slower pace of life “Winter can be a time for slowing down,” says Dr Tang. “Humans benefit greatly from rest periods. And solitude can be a wonderful opportunity to reflect and recharge.”
42 Lovely landscape Stripped bare trees, red berries, pale grey skies – winter paints a beautiful picture if you take the time to look.
43 Party season Dress to the nines and drink bubbles – anything goes in party season. And after 2020’s festivities were cancelled, this year it’s time to indulge.
44 Comfort food From stews to bakes, now’s the time to hunker down and enjoy comfort food. “Good food in good company lifts our spirits,” says TV chef Ainsley Harriott.
45 See the sunrise There’s no need to get up at silly o’clock to see the sunrise in winter, so enjoy that morning glow.
46 New season, new scent A change in season is a great excuse for a new perfume. Try the warm and woody Givenchy
L’Interdit Rouge, £53.50 (theperfume shop.com).
47 Stargaze Make the most of the dark evenings and, on a clear night, stargaze. Can you see the Plough?
48 Scavenger hunt Explore your local area and find hidden treasures with a DIY scavenger hunt. Make a list before you go: berries, animal tracks and crunchy leaves are a good start.
49 Go to a museum With exhibitions from art and nature to science and transport, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
50 Bake bread “Bread making is easier than you think,” says Rhiannon Abbott of theepsom bakehouse. co.uk. “Using just flour, water, salt and yeast, a loaf can cost 50p, meaning you’ll save money too.”