Winter wonde that w boost your mood

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

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

Slow cook it

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).